“QUEEN
OF THE SKY”
OVER
CAPE
HENLOPEN
April
1933, Lewes, Delaware
The
large lighter-than-air “Airship Akron” silently passed over Cape
Henlopen on a north bound voyage which proved to be it's last trip.
The Akron was almost 800 foot in length and was as tall as a 15 floor
building. The large 'hull', covered with fabric, held nonflammable
helium bags to keep her afloat, crew quarters for 90 some men, and 8
engines that could propel her to 90 MPH. Also carried were 4 fixed
wing aircraft which could take off and land while the airship was in
the air. It is no wonder the ship earned the nickname “Queen of the
Skies”.
On
it;s way north, just off the coast of Atlantic City, New Jersey,
heavy winds drove the Akron into the Atlantic Ocean, where the rough
seas broke her up, loosing most of her crew. Debris from the accident
washed ashore for weeks. The Delaware coast News reported that Mrs.
Wilbur Corkran of Henlopen Acres, Frank Tylecki and Dorman Johnson
of Rehoboth found parts of the Akron on the beach between Rehoboth
and the Indian river Inlet. The U.S. Coast Guard also found scraps
of wreckage which marked the end of “The Queen of the Skies”.
Michael
Morgan Collection, and Delaware Coast Press, 19 April 1933
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