Evening star., 1933-04-14
TELLS Of ORDERING
|. BlMP TO AKRON
Acting Station Commandment
Felt Rescue Craft Could
Go Safely.
BY the Associated Press.

LAKEHURST, N. j., April A-Lieut
Comdr. Jesse L. Kenworthy, jr, who
became acting commandant of the
Naval Air Station when the conn
rnandant, Conndr Frederick T. Berry
went down with the Akron, told the
court of inquiry today that, although
the weather was bad when the hlimp
J-3 took off on her disastrous rescue
mission he believed she could be op-
Grated safely
Il would gladly have gone myself, y
Lieut. Comt'r David e.. Cummtns
commander of the non-rigid dirigible
Us. and one o. her crew. PaSuuale
8ettio, chief machinist s mate. lost
their lives when she went into the
kea while out searching for wreckage
and possible survivors of the Akron
April 4.
Named "fnterested Party"
at his own request was designated an
interested party as the Nays in
vestigating board turned from the story
Of the Akron to that of the ill-fated
J-3. A similar request was granted
Lieut.. Comdr. Herbprt v. Wiley in con-
nection with the Akron investigation
1t gives them the right to question wit
nesses and places them in position
somewhat similar to that of defendants
In a civil action.
1t was an erroneous report that
British tanker was alongside the Akron
wreckage and that 40 survivors. were
clinging to the airship's floating hull
that provided the final impetus for the
J-3s fight. Kenworthy said.
Use of the J-3 had been considered
since dawn, he said. but because of
winds and bad weather he refused to
order her out.
Corair. C,lmmins was IN his ofIice
Kenworthy testified when the report
about the 40 survivors came in. and
said quickly:
Now that hear all this. it looks
better for the use of the J-3. I'll 60
right down to the hangar"
A few minutes later the J-3 took OF,
carrying 40 life belts to be dropped at
sea when she sighted the reported
wreckage and the 40 survivors.
refused to Let Pianes Go.
Kenwarthy said his last words to
Cummfs1s, as the J-3 left, were
Don't lose any more men. The ship
Is nothing"
KenworthF said he had consistently
refused atrplare pilots permission to
take off ! In the early morning hours
although they were begging for a
chance to go.
Knowing myself to be the senior Of
ficer present curing major catastrophe
affecting service personnel" Kenworthy
said in reference to his final consent to
the J-3 flight. II felt I was entitled to
take extreme stes,s when thought lives
might be saved
He said repeatedly that he believed
when the ia finally did go aloft she
would be able to ride out the weather,
which had improved
She! had completed her search. Ken
worthy said, had found nothing and was
returning to the station when "circum-
stances other than weather occurred
which I believe were responsible for
her less"
He did not say what the circum-
stances were.
Kenwortty will be followed by Ma
guire. The five survivors are Lieuts.
j. M Thornton and w. M. Cockell,
Chief Radio Man H. E. Manly and
Aviation Machinist Mates A. A. Sprague
and w. A. Meyers.
Judge Advocate Pennoyer said he ex-
pected the blimp inquiry would be COM
pleted by noon Saturday, when the
court, headed by Rear Admiral Henry
v. Butler, will recess until Tuesday. At
that time 1t will convene at Washington
to complete the Akron investigation,
hearing Bureau of Aeronautics officials
and representatives of the Goodyear
Zeppelin Co., which built the fallen
queen of the skies.