R38 Class Airship - Operational History

Operational History

The R38 made its first flight on 23 June 1921 where it flew registered as R-38 but with US insignia ZR-2 painted on. It flew to RNAS Howden where the full conversion to American livery was to be made. After some modifications to the rudder and elevators, a second test flight flew on 17 July to Howden for airworthiness and acceptance trials. Some testing of the re-balanced control surfaces was performed on this flight which resulted in severe pitching. When in the shed at Howden, examination of the structure revealed damage to several of the girders. These were replaced and others were strengthened but there were increasing doubts being expressed about the design including some by Air Commodore E. M. Maitland, the very experienced commander of the Howden base.

Following a spell of bad weather the airship was finally walked out on 23 August and in the early morning took off for her fourth flight which had an intended destination of RNAS Pulham, Norfolk where she could be moored to a mast, a facility lacking at Howden. In the event mooring proved impossible because of low cloud and so the airship returned out to sea with the intention of running some high speed tests and then returning to Howden. The speed runs proved successful and as there was still daylight left it was decided to try some low altitude rudder tests to simulate the effects of the rough weather that could be expected on the Atlantic crossing. At 17:37, fifteen degrees of rudder was applied over the city of Hull. Eye witnesses reported seeing creases down the envelope and then both ends drooped. This was followed by a fire in the bow and then a large explosion which broke windows over a large area. The airship had failed structurally and fell into the shallow waters of the Humber estuary. Sixteen of the 17 Americans and 28 of the 32 Britons in the crew were killed. The only American to survive was Rigger Norman C. Walker. The five who survived were in the tail section. A memorial was erected at Hull, Yorkshire.

The Committee of Enquiry that was convened to investigate the disaster concluded that no allowance had been made for aerodynamic stresses in the design and that while no loads had been placed on the structure during testing that would not have been met in normal use, the effects of the manoeuvres made had weakened the hull. No blame was attached to anyone, this was not part of the committee's remit.