Goodyear Blimps

RyanShort1 · **Posted:** Mon Jun 30, 2008 8:20 pm

Ok, so maybe they're not "birds" but "bags" but they do fly, and they did fight.
Does anyone have access to drawings of the L-series blimps? I'd particularly be interested in finding drawings that approximate the L-8, also known as the Ranger, and later as the America.

Ryan

P51Mstg · **Joined:** Tue Jan 25, 2005 11:36 am **Posts:** 1202

The one I flew on about 8 years ago never fought. It was powered by 2 turboprops if I recall correctly (and they rotated too). It had the X tail and was lost in a crash a month or two later..........

Strangest thing I've ever flown in..........

Mark H

uh1h430 · **Joined:** Sun Dec 30, 2007 5:38 pm **Posts:** 93

You got to tell me more. I guess this was when the Hornet had cleared the bay and did not follow much out to sea?

RyanShort1 · **Posted:** Mon Jun 30, 2008 8:37 pm

Well, I'm not sure exactly what the blimp brought out, but it was parts for the B-25s, maybe some sort of window units.

The L-8 also had a mysterious occurrence later in it's career with the crew disappearing. The Gondola was repaired and used again, flying with Goodyear for a number of years as the America.

Oh, and this thing was armed, too. Carried depth charges!

Would REALLY like to get my hands on a schematic drawing suitable for a model.

Ryan

uh1h430 · **Joined:** Sun Dec 30, 2007 5:38 pm **Posts:** 93

Ok dropping parts off for the 25s, still would seem to think that the Hornet was not too far out to sea when they made the drop. Maybe 100 miles or so.

Lets see the crew thing happen down in the LA area if i recall. Or was San Deigo. Never did find a trace of the crew did they, or what might have happen, it did have a radio at that time?

Robbie Roberts · **Posted:** Mon Jun 30, 2008 9:38 pm

As I recall, the blimp dropped mail only- The order was, anything that required serious repair would deadline the aircraft- and it would be pitched over the side. That was still during the first day or so at sea. They were supposed to launch a B-25 to test the concept one last time, but canceled that idea.

As a side note, the Naval Aviation Museum at Pensacola has a "K" type gondola which came from the storied junkyard estate of John Mahalchik, in Burlington County, NJ. They have fully restored it, and it hangs near the ceiling, with an observation platform from what I could see on their website.

Robbie

RyanShort1 · **Posted:** Mon Jun 30, 2008 9:52 pm

According to The Doolittle Raid by C.V. Glines it brought out two boxes containing Navigator's windows that Doolittle had ordered on April 3rd.

Ryan

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Mon Jun 30, 2008 9:53 pm

The L-8 departed San Francisco with a 300-lb. load of spare parts for the B-25 bombers to be used in the raid, and was ordered to rendezvous with USS Hornet (CV-8) off the coast of California. The freight was lowered by line to the deck of Hornet while the blimp hovered over the carrier. The transfer required careful maneuvering of the airship to enable Cody to land the cargo on a clear spot on the flight deck, since most of the flight deck space was occupied by the 16 bombers to be flown by the raiders.

Steve Nelson · **Posted:** Mon Jun 30, 2008 10:03 pm

Quote:

As a side note, the Naval Aviation Museum at Pensacola has a "K" type gondola which came from the storied junkyard estate of John Mahalchik, in Burlington County, NJ. They have fully restored it, and it hangs near the ceiling, with an observation platform from what I could see on their website.

When I visited the NMNA three years ago, they were working on a gondola in the restoration center, which I think the tour guide said was from the fabled "ghost blimp."

SN

warbird1 · **Joined:** Fri Sep 21, 2007 6:25 pm **Posts:** 2760

RyanShort1 wrote:

Does anyone have access to drawings of the L-series blimps?

I've got a drawing of my ex-girlfriend, does that count?

Sorry, couldn't resist!

ArtS · **Posted:** Mon Jun 30, 2008 10:12 pm

I was at the Mahalchik auction, I stood next to Harry Doan. He wanted to buy all of the gondolas in order to restore one and use the rest for trade, but when he found out that only one was for sale and had a high reserve, it didn't sell. I always wondered what became of them.

Does anyone know wqhat happened to the rest of the gondolas?

Regards,

Art S.

P51Mstg · **Joined:** Tue Jan 25, 2005 11:36 am **Posts:** 1202

Kermit has a few gondolas, I forget what they are from off hand.......

Mark H

Dan K · **Posted:** Tue Jul 01, 2008 12:11 am

Steve Nelson wrote:

Quote:

As a side note, the Naval Aviation Museum at Pensacola has a "K" type gondola which came from the storied junkyard estate of John Mahalchik, in Burlington County, NJ. They have fully restored it, and it hangs near the ceiling, with an observation platform from what I could see on their website.

When I visited the NMNA three years ago, they were working on a gondola in the restoration center, which I think the tour guide said was from the fabled "ghost blimp."

SN

You are quite right, Steve.

The gondola of L-8 (2005)

ZRX61 · **Joined:** Tue Jun 14, 2005 10:16 am **Posts:** 2309

I'm not comfortable with the name "WarBags" it brings up repressed memories of my ex mother in law.. :shock:

Swiss Mustangs · **Posted:** Tue Jul 01, 2008 1:46 am

aaahh

some photos that have been on my HDD for quite a while.... it's always good to keep stuff...

hope the following photos help somewhat....

I must admit, though, that I am absolutely not familiar with blimps, i.e types, designations, etc.... it seems these are earlier models ? Some education from other WIXers is appreciated.

cordially
Martin

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