Today is the anniversary of the first flight of a helium airship.

On December 1, 1921, the U.S. Navy blimp C-7 took to the skies inflated with helium. The ship was commanded by Lt. Cdr. Ralph F. Wood, assisted by Lt. Cdr. Zachary Lansdowne, Lt. C.E. Bousch, and CMM Farriss. C-7 made several flights from Norfolk, Virginia, beginning on December 1, including a flight to Washington, DC and back.