Up Ship - Naval Lighter Than Air

[PhrogPhlyer]

A busy day at Lakehurst in 1930.
This photo show six types of various LTA craft:
ZK (kite balloon), ZF (Free Balloon), ZMC-2 (Metal Clad Blimp), ZR-3 (Rigid) USS Los Angeles, J-2 and J3 Blimps (never designated with Z)
Golden years of LTA operations.

For perspective, as crowded as this looks, it is most likely 1/2 mile between the closest and furthest craft (USS Los Angeles is 656 ft in length).

Scramble!

View attachment 42477

 

[PhrogPhlyer]

SAR note #42... 'If you can't hoist them aboard, at least provide them with food, water, and lots of shade.'

 

[jointhelocalizer]

LTA Wings are still available online at the NEX:

Warfare Badge Full Size BALLOON PILOT Gold

Shop Warfare Badge Full Size BALLOON PILOT Gold at Your Navy Exchange. You Serve, You Save on the best brands and products in Warfare Devices & Command Badges.

www.mynavyexchange.com

So are five-star shoulder boards:

Soft Boards ADM (5 Star) Line Fleet

Shop Soft Boards ADM (5 Star) Line Fleet at Your Navy Exchange. You Serve, You Save on the best brands and products in Soft Boards.

www.mynavyexchange.com

 

[PhrogPhlyer]

LTA Wings are still available online at the NEX:

Interesting that the balloon pilot wings are available at the NEX.
Makes me wonder when the last designation was awarded.
I was just on McGuire's exchange today, and I know they don't have them, even as a Joint Base with Dix and Lakehurst.

 

[PhrogPhlyer]

So are five-star shoulder boards:

I see they are back ordered... must be popular with the posers.

 

[Griz882]

I see they are back ordered... must be popular with the posers.

That’s some 3D chess style stolen valor…”Yeah, I was a blimp pilot at the Battle of Hayseed Pass. I was awarded the Distinguished Blimping Cross for dropping atomic napalm on the enemy positions even though I had a gas bag leak. Too bad my records were destroyed in the fire, or it would have been upgraded to a Medal of Honor.”

 

[Griz882]

Stumbled across this one on cable today…I just I had to bring it up here.

 

[PhrogPhlyer]

I just I had to bring it up here.

Great video clip!!!

 

[Griz882]

Great video clip!!!

The movie is of ‘70’s quality, but the storyline is amazingly reflective of current events. Just think Lebanon instead of Gaza.

 

[PhrogPhlyer]

Training is always a good thing, especially with retrieval gear.
Note that the rope has one loop for friction over a rail inside the gondola, basic marlinspike seamanship.
Of course training "should" follow real life procedures, such as the officer standing at an open hatch with no fall restraint (today we'd say he's missing his gunners belt).

 

[CommodoreMid]

Safety third!

 

[JTS11]

Safety third!

But people always!...I guess this is why kids have to wear helmets riding their bikes now (when I didn't), and I had to worry about the goddam Fall Prevention program as a DOSS. 😄

 

[PhrogPhlyer]

DOSS

There are a few of us on here.
As an Air Station DOSS, the family and ground side of safety was harder than investigating an aircraft Class A.
Add in the host country PW work force and their union, and the days just kept getting better.
At least the Standardization S got me lots of F-18 simulator time.

 

[Griz882]

Safety third!

Let me check NATOPS on this….

https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/airship_pilot_manual.pdf?ref=beautifulpublicdata.com

 

[Griz882]

This is an interesting video (clearly PA stuff) but I’d love to see a VP wardroom with some comedians create a soundtrack and dialogue.