Worst Airship Disaster in History: USS Akron – April 4, 1933

Today is the anniversary of the deadliest airship disaster in history, the crash of the U.S.S. Akron on April 4, 1933.

The Akron disaster killed 73 of the 76 men on board, and two additional men were killed when the Navy’s J-3 blimp crashed during a rescue mission to search for Akron survivors. (In contrast the Hindenburg crash took 36 lives, and most of the Hindenburg’s passengers and crew survived.)

The three survivors of the USS Akron: Moody Erwin (left), Herbert V. Wiley (center), and Richard Deal (right)

The three survivors of the USS Akron: Moody Erwin (left), Herbert V. Wiley (center), and Richard Deal (right)

The Akron was a flying aircraft carrier designed to provide long-distance scouting in support of fleet operations of the United States Navy.

Akron crashed at sea during a storm off the coast of New Jersey in the early morning hours of April 4, 1933, after the ship’s tail hit the water.  Despite being a U.S. Navy vessel the ship carried no lifejackets, and only one rubber raft, and most of the crew drowned or died of hypothermia in the freezing water.

The Akron disaster was likely the result of poor command decisions relating to weather, navigation, and ship handling.  While it is possible that Akron’s tail was driven into the sea by a strong downdraft, it is likely that Captain Frank McCord simply flew his ship into the water. McCord was flying too low for conditions, and he may not have taken his ship’s 785-foot length into account while attempting to climb out of a downdraft; with the nose of the ship raised sharply to climb, the Akron’s tail may have pivoted into the ocean as the result of poor handling.

Captain McCord may also have relied on incorrect altitude indications on the ship’s barometric altimeter, which had not been recalibrated to take account of the low pressure in the storm.  McCord may have thought his ship was higher than it was, but as an aviator and aircraft commander McCord should have known that an uncorrected barometric altimeter will not display accurate readings after entering an area of low pressure.

Admiral William A. Moffett, killed in the crash of USS AkronThe crash also killed Rear Admiral William A. Moffett, Chief of the Navy’s Bureau of Aeronautics and a leading figure in America’s rigid airship program.  Admiral Moffett and Commander Fred T. Berry (the commanding officer of NAS Lakehurst and its Rigid Airship Training & Experimental Squadron) were aboard the flight as observers and VIP passengers and Captain McCord may have commenced and continued the flight in an attempt to impress them.  Both Moffett and Berry were killed in the crash along with McCord himself.

Another VIP passenger killed in the crash was Admiral Moffett’s guest, Lt. Col. Alfred F. Masury of the U.S. Army Reserve.  Masury was vice president and chief engineer of the Mack Truck company and a fan of rigid airships, having traveled on LZ-127 Graf Zeppelin. Mack is perhaps best remembered for designing the Bulldog hood ornament used on Mack trucks.

A complete list of the officers, crew, and guests on Akron’s last flight is available here.

Moody Erwin Gravestone

Gravestone of Akron survivor Moody Erwin (courtesy Rich Ardolino)

U.S.S. Akron’s sister ship, U.S.S. Macon, also crashed at sea on February 12, 1935, under the command of Akron survivor Herbert V. Wiley.  The Macon crash ended the American rigid airship program, but after the experience of the Akron disaster her sister ship was equipped with lifejackets and life rafts; of the 76 men aboard Macon’s last flight, only two were lost.

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Rebekah A. Boswell-BryantKenneth L. Rateikedavid helmsJoseph BoswellFred Wise Recent comment authors
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[…] USS Akron was on a mission to calibrate its radio equipment off the coast of New Jersey when it ran into trouble. Strong winds caused the Akron to plunge 1,000 feet in a matter of seconds, and the crew made the […]

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[…] was on a mis­sion to cal­i­brate its radio equip­ment off the coast of New Jersey when it ran into trouble. Strong winds caused the Akron to plunge 1,000 feet in a matter of sec­onds, and the […]

david helms
david helms

have corresponded with herbert wiley’s daughter, marie ross some years ago. also, i visited the grave of moody erwin in may 2017

Joseph Boswell
Joseph Boswell

My Great Uncle Henry L.Boswell lost his life on the Akron

Kenneth L. Rateike
Kenneth L. Rateike

Sorry about your Great Uncle. I have a USS Akron coast to coast Airmail envelope from the mail flight dated 5-6-1932. It has 4 newspaper articles of that time. COAST to Coast trip stamped at Lakehurst, SanDiego and BACK of the envelope stamped and dated, too. From Lakehurst N.J. to… Read more »

Rebekah A. Boswell-Bryant
Rebekah A. Boswell-Bryant

Henry is my great grandfather

Fred Wise
Fred Wise

Very interesting reading. I was stationed at NAS So. Weymouth in the early 1960’s and saw a couple of ships although don’t remember too much about them. However I have come into possession of what appears to be an ashtray made from an aircraft engine piston and it is stamped… Read more »

Peter Saling
Peter Saling

As a kid I saw a lot of stored dirigible parts store either on Base(LAKEHURST NAS) or in the town it self, in old Barn type buildings,this would be in the early 60’s.

LaVal Bruner Davis
LaVal Bruner Davis

I enjoyed reading about the Akron. When I was eight years old I was on my porch, in San Diego, Cal. I took a picture of the Akron in the far distance. I still have the picture( very faded) and small. I am 90 years old .My husband was stationed… Read more »

Lloyd M Kelley
Lloyd M Kelley

I had the privilege to see the Akron in the Goodyear Hanger in Akron, Ohio, Must of been an open house. It was in 1931. It just needed a little more covering near the tail and I think it would have been completed. The same experience happened in 1933 when… Read more »

david helms
david helms

is the hanger still in existence today? love to speak with you. call me anytime. thanks.
david : cell # 704-254-0859

Francisco Carvallo
Francisco Carvallo

RIP Akron crew..Admiral Moffett and all of the airship pioneers, those that care about airships/history will never forget you! God Bless!!