April 4, 1933 in New York history

πŸ“ On This Day πŸ“

91 years ago on April 4th, 1933

The USS Akron, one of history's largest airships, crashes into the ocean off the coast of New Jersey, killing 73 and leaving three survivors

The 785-foot-long airship was an airborne aircraft carrier, able to launch and receive fighter planes via a trapeze system and trap doors on its bottom side. It crashed into the ocean after storms and violent wind gusts pushed it too near the water, and its lower rear fin was torn off when it hit the water's surface. Another smaller Navy blimp also crashed while searching for survivors, killing 2 of the 7 crew on board. New Jersey would also be the site of the Hindenburg disaster just four years later and 10 miles away from the USS Akron crash site. As a result of the Akron's crash, its sister blimp the USS Macron was equipped with adequate life vests and inflatable lifeboats and only two crew members were killed when it suffered a crash into the Pacific Ocean two years later.

USS Akron flying over the southern end of Manhattan Island, New York City, circa 1931-1933 via U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command

References:

More events from April 4th in New York History


⏰ AGBC Rewind ⏰

6 years ago
Man Dies in Crown Heights Police Shooting

5 years ago
AGBC News Episode 16: Congestion Pricing, Blimp Disaster, and the Twin Towers


🌎 World History 🌏

Library of Congress  •  New York Times  •  BBC  •  Wikipedia


🌞 Weather Records 🌞

Record High: 80Β°F in 1892
Record Low: 20Β°F in 1874


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