Rear Admiral William A. Moffett, Chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics and loyal advocate of airships, was discussing the possibility of using Shenandoah to explore the Arctic.
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Rear Admiral William A. Moffett, Chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics and loyal advocate of airships, was discussing the possibility of using Shenandoah to explore the Arctic.
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Rear Admiral William A. Moffett, Chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics and loyal advocate of airships, was discussing the possibility of using Shenandoah to explore the Arctic. He felt such a program would produce valuable weather data, as well as experience in cold-weather operations. With its endurance and ability to fly at low speeds, the airship was thought to be well-suited for such work. President Calvin Coolidge approved Moffett's proposal, but Shenandoah's upper tail fin covering ripped during a gale on 16th January 1924, and the sudden roll tore her away from the Lakehurst mast, ripping out her mooring winches, deflating the first helium cell and puncturing the second. Zeppelin test pilot Anton Heinen rode out the storm for several hours and landed safely while the airship was being blown backwards. Extensive repairs were needed, and the Arctic expedition was scrapped.