Zeppelin Commanders Killed Explosion (1 results)

Hardcover. Condition: Near Fine. A small collection of eight sepia-toned silver gelatin photographs measuring between 1.5" x 3" and 3.5" x 5.5" with captions. Photographs are very good with some edgewear and slight spotting. The images are affixed to both sides of a sheet of heavy black photo paper with typed captions. A disbound photo page depicting zeppelin commanders killed in an explosion in 1921. One side of the page shows the four officers in portrait photos and the zeppelin they were killed in. A typed caption reads, "Comdr. L.H. Maxfield, USN, Comdg. ZR2 Lt. Comdr. E.W. Coil, USN, Exec., Lieut. M.H. Esterley, USN, Radio Officer, Lieut. H.W. Hoyt, USN, Sr. Watch Officer, killed in the explosion of the ZR2, on her third and last trial flight prior to the proposed flight across the Atlantic, over the Humber River at Hull, England, 24 August 1921." The verso shows three views of the zeppelin with the caption, "the ZR2 (R-38) on the field at Bedford, England." This ship was built for U.S. Navy service and as stated in the caption exploded during its trial run. According to a newspaper report the explosion "killed all but five of the 49 men aboard." A memorial to commemorate the men killed in the crash was erected in Hull shortly after. A modest but interesting collection of images documenting military victims of a zeppelin crash in 1921.