They were more than just dependable... the US Navy's Zeppelin Patrol (ZP)squadrons played an important role in World War II. Now for the first time their complete story is told, drawing from unpublished official reports and recently declassified documents.
Members of the Lighter-Than-Air Society and the Naval Airship Association have gathered previously unseen Navy action footage, private company films, even home movies and personal snapshots to illustrate the nationwide effort to utilize Fate's gift of helium to counter the Axis submarine menace.
"The Blimp Goes To War...Again" begins with the origins of the K-type airship in 1937, and covers the heritage and continuing desire for rigid airships.
Goodyear's advertising fleet is commandeered to supplement the Navy's tiny buoyant air force following Pearl Harbor. The scramble to develop antisubmarine equipment and tactics following staggering losses to Japanese and German submarines centers upon the long-endurance K-type airship, but it is not until June of 1942 that intolerable sinkings lead to mass blimp production. The world's largest timber structures are created ringing the continental US to support a protective "helium umbrella." Drawing on experience from WWI, officers mobilize a training establishment using balloons and baby blimps. ZP squadrons gain strength and blanket patrols from ten major bases. Then airship squadrons deploy to Cuba, Jamaica, Trinidad, Brazil and Africa. Excerpts from U-Boat logbooks show a growing respect for the "little Zeppelins". The convoy escorts ... combat actions... jungle rescues... record breaking endurance missions... research and development flights... heartbreaking tragedies...the eventual victory.
Although ignored by mainstream historians, the Lighter-Than-Air story is one you won't soon forget!
Narrated By - Joseph Lundy, Jr. ZP-42 Command Pilot.
Executive Producers - James Johnson, Airship Pilot; Hepburn Walker, Jr., Airship Rigger.
Written and Produced By - Richard G. Van Treuren, Atlantis Productions, with the Historical Action Team
Video Original Cover Art by Courtney Skinner