In 1942, a U.S. Navy blimp embarked on a routine patrol off the coast of San Francisco – but hours later the blimp came crashing down in nearby Daly City. Its radios were working, engines were running and life jackets were still on board, but the crew had seemingly vanished without a trace. To this day, their whereabouts are still unknown.
Image of the L-8 before the mysterious disappearance. Courtesy of Moffett Field Historical Society and SmithsonianMag.com
Image of the L-8 after the crash in Daly City. Courtesy of National Archives via Moffett Field Historical Society and SmithsonianMag.com
Image of Ensign Charles Ellis Adams courtesy of the United States Navy Memorial
Image of Lieutenant Ernest DeWitt Cody courtesy of USNA Virtual Memorial Hall and SmithsonianMag.com
Image of the crashed blimp courtesy of the U.S. Navy NHHC and the Zeppelin Museum
Image of the crashed gondola with the door open. Courtesy of the U.S. Navy NHHC and the Zeppelin Museum
Episode Source Material
WEB/SOCIAL MEDIA/MESSAGE BOARDS
- L-8: the “ghost blimp” whose crew disappeared during World War II. (online article).
- The 80-year mystery of the U.S. Navy’s “ghost blimp.” (online article).
- The mystery of L-8: the Navy’s “ghost blimp.” (Facebook video).
- L-8 ghost ship. (online article).
- The mystery of the L-8. (online article).
- A ghost blimp over California – the L-8 airship. (online article).
- Scientific study of unidentified flying objects. (PDF document.)
- Ghost blimp’s enduring mystery: how did crew vanish before Bay Area crash? (online article).
- L8: the ghost blimp. (archived blog).
- A navy blimp took off on a routine patrol off the coast. Its crew would never be seen again. (online article).
- How long is 145 feet? (website).
- Japanese sub attacks oilfield. (online article).
- NOAA/NOS/CO-OPS verified hourly heights at 9414290, San Francisco CA from 1942/08/15 to 1942/08/17. (auto-generated data).
- Tides and currents on the bay. (website).
- Treasure Island, San Francisco, California to San Francisco, California, to Daly City, California. (Google maps directions).
- Fort Funston. (Google maps location).
- Golden Gate Bridge to Treasure Island. (Google maps directions).
- Flying with the wind. (online article).
- In 1942, a war blimp fell out of the sky onto Daly City. Its crew was never found. (online article).
- The Golden Gate International Exposition. (website).
- US Navy lighter than air (LTA) World War II. (website).
- The history of airships and airship travel in commercial aviation. (website).