Helgoland Island air disaster

Coordinates: 51°10′57″N 7°53′07″E / 51.1825°N 7.885278°E / 51.1825; 7.885278
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Helgoland Island air disaster
Helgoland Island air disaster. Illustration by Achille Beltrame for the Italian publication La Domenica del Corriere, 28 September 1913
Accident
Date9 September 1913
SummaryWeather
SiteNorth Sea, off Heligoland
Aircraft
Aircraft typeAirship
Aircraft nameLZ14 (manufacturer's designation)
OperatorImperial German Navy
RegistrationL 1 (military designation)
Crew20
Fatalities14
Survivors6

The Helgoland Island air disaster occurred on 9 September 1913 after the airship Zeppelin LZ 14 had been transferred to the Imperial German Navy on 7 October 1912. As the first airship owned by the Navy, it was given the serial number L-1. Ordered to participate in manoeuvers, it departed the mainland in bad weather. With 20 people on board, L-1 flew into a gale, and, while 18 miles from its destination, the cold rain caused its gas to contract, causing it to settle 20 mi (32 km; 17 nmi) north of Heligoland into the North Sea, breaking in two. The control car sank, drowning 13 of its occupants. Seven were rescued by motor torpedo boats.[1] [2] [3]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ George Edward Plumbe; James Langland; Claude Othello Pike (1913). Chicago Daily News Almanac and Year Book. Chicago Daily News, Incorporated. p. 396.
  2. ^ The New York Times, September 10, 1913, p. 1.
  3. ^ The New York Times, September 14, 1913, p. 3.

51°10′57″N 7°53′07″E / 51.1825°N 7.885278°E / 51.1825; 7.885278