USS Macon Expedition Webcast

Filed in archive Aviation History on September 20, 2006

The airship USS Macon, a Goodyear-Zeppelin dirigible, was lost in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary after scouting for the Pacific Fleet in February 1935.

Only two men of 83-man crew were killed. The remains of the craft were discovered more than 20 years ago by a fisherman and now you have the opportunity to watch as an underwater expedition sets out to search the site.

From September 18-21 the Oceans Live Web portal will be providing video of the Macon expedition.

A few facts from LucidCafe:

The Macon carried its own protection - five Sparrow Hawk fighter planes were stored in the aircraft's belly. The airplanes were release via a trapeze and harness which lowered the planes through a T-shaped hole in the Macon's underside.

Like a performing air stunt, in order to return to the Macon, the pilots had to match their speed to that of the ship, and "catch" the trapeze with a hook at the top of the plane. The harness would then be attached to the fuselage, and the aircraft would be raised.

The Macon was kept aloft by non-burning helium contained in 12 large gelatin-latex cells inside the craft.

Inside the hull, the ship had eight large 560-horsepower engines driving outside propellers. The propellers could be pointed up or down to control the ship during take-off and landings.

For more information and great photos, visit the USS Macon at LucidCafe.