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| Add Photo — Add Link — Add Commentary — Correct this page — Print | | Ava in Noble County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes) |
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Crash of the USS Shenandoah / Lighter-Than-Air Flight
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By William Fischer, Jr., December 23, 2008 | |
| | | 1. Crash of the USS Shenandoah Marker | | |
Inscription. Crash of the USS Shenandoah
September 3, 1925
On a stormy autumn morning in 1925, the giant Navy airship, christened Shenandoah, crashed near this site. Initially, the Shenandoah was commissioned to perform scouting missions for the Navy; however, she would soon be flying promotional missions. The Shenandoah had recently begun a six-day publicity tour across the Midwest when she crashed. The turbulent weather of late summer created strong winds, which ripped the 680-feet long Shenandoah in two and tore the control car from the keel. A majority of the 14 crewmen who died in the crash, including the captain, Lt. Commander Zachary Lansdowne of Greenville, Ohio, were killed when the control car plummeted to the ground. The stern section fell in a valley near Ava and the bow was carried southwest nearly twelve miles before landing near Sharon, Ohio. The Ohio National Guard was called in to control the crowds of spectators who traveled to the crash sites.
Lighter-Than-Air Flight
The USS Shenandoah was America's first rigid dirigible and was launched in 1923 at the height of the worldwide enthusiasm for lighter-than-air flight. By the early 1920s, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, and France all had airships, some suffered tragic | | | | 
By William Fischer, Jr., December 23, 2008 | |
| | | 2. Lighter-Than-Air Flight Marker | | |
crashes. In efforts to improve on the safety of European made airships, the Shenandoah was designed to be filled with nonflammable helium instead of hydrogen and became the first rigid dirigible in the world to use helium. One year after her initial flight, the Shenandoah successfully crossed the United States logging 235 hours of flight time. With the crash of the Shenandoah and two other American airships, the Akron and the Macon, the future of rigid dirigibles was uncertain. In 1937, the fiery crash of the German airship Hindenburg brought an abrupt end to the era of the great airships.
Erected 2002 by Ohio Bicentennial Commission, The Longaberger Company, Shenandoah Commemoration Committee, and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 2-61.)
Location. 39° 49.843′ N, 81° 34.445′ W. Marker is in Ava, Ohio, in Noble County. Marker is at the intersection of Marietta Road (Ohio Route 821) and Rayner Road, on the right when traveling south on Marietta Road. Click for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 50495 Ohio Route 821, Ava OH 43711, United States of America.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, as the crow flies. U.S.S. Shenandoah (approx. 0.5 miles away); a different marker also named U.S.S. Shenandoah (approx. 2 miles away); Claude L. Wilson (approx. 3 miles away); John Gray (approx. 4.8 miles away); a different marker also named U.S.S. Shenandoah (approx. 6.3 miles away); VFW Post #4721 Veterans Memorial (approx. 6.4 miles away); Noble County Veterans Memorial (approx. 6.5 miles away); Robert T. Secrest (approx. 6.5 miles away). Click for a list of all markers in Ava. |
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By William Fischer, Jr., December 23, 2008 | |
| | | 3. Crash of the USS Shenandoah / Lighter-Than-Air Flight Marker | | |
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By Jessica Tiderman, September 3, 1925 | |
| | | 4. Crash of the USS Shenandoah | [Hand written on the back of photo:]
East Side | | |
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By Jessica Tiderman, September 3, 1925 | |
| | | 5. Crash of the USS Shenandoah | [Hand Written on back of photo:]
North West End | | |
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By Jessica Tiderman, June 1, 2009 | |
| | | 6. Postcard of crash of the USS Shenandoah | | |
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| Credits. This page originally submitted on February 9, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Lancaster, Ohio. This page has been viewed 525 times since then. This page was the Marker of the Week August 30, 2009. Photos: 1, 2, 3. Submitted on February 9, 2009, by William Fischer, Jr. of Lancaster, Ohio. 4, 5, 6. Submitted on June 21, 2009, by Jessica Tiderman of Hamler, Ohio. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page. | | Add Photo — Add Link — Add Commentary — Correct this page — Print |
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