The Last of the Dirigibles

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Film Date
1964
Film Reference Number
V63840-2
Description
KPIX documentary film from 1964 narrated by Captain Donald Mackey about the US Navy's last rigid airship the U.S.S. Macon. Features archival footage of the Macon's construction at the Goodyear Air Dock in Springfield Township (Ohio) and of it's March 11th 1933 christening by Jeanettte Whitton Moffett and maiden flight. Also includes scenes of the Macon in action after it was commissioned on June 23rd 1933 at the Naval Air Station (NAS) Sunnyvale in Santa Clara County (now Moffett Federal Airfield) and on fleet maneuvers. Ends by re-enacting the Macon's final flight and wreck off the coast of Big Sur on February 12th 1935 using extracts from Captain Herbert V. Wiley's official report and artist sketches. This film was edited by Dick Scott written and produced by Dave Caldwell and the executive producer was Ray Hubbard.
Format
16mm b&w optical sound film