The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-04-04


 third WAS rescued only after two hours of dangling at the end of a rope.
 These were tho major nisha ps written into the log of q craft that for size, speed, nancuVcr ability, and cOmplexity represented the ut- most in the design of lightcr-than- air craft.
 The giant. gpidery. steel structure of tho Akron was still incomplete 1t was dcsignated only as ZKS-4 when tho sabotage plot waB charged. Paul r. Kagsay. former Austrian naval officer. ono of the workers was arrested in Akron and charged with attempting 10 weaken the structure.
 Kasscy confessed, they said. that he intended the Akron should never take the nir.'
 His plan, according to the con- fcsHion, was 10 omit rivctB and bra ccg nt vital parts of the dura- luminum frame work when possl- blc, and to damage the controls just before the launching. Kasecy was charged with criminal syndi- ca liBn and papers and communist literature found at his home were 
 seized.
 Officials of tho Good -ycar-Zcp- pcIln company assured the govern fncut that any damage by sabotaHe would bc discovered and rcrncdlcd. "Our inspection system iB fool proof" they said. Work continued, and on August z. 133i great | throng of 100000 gathered in | Akron 10 EGG Mrs Hoover christen | tho craft after the town. SGuhdrons of army and navy air- i plaincB wheeled In Dalut6 overhead. | Mfg Hoover stood on Il platform at the hangar. ad as rho uttered | the words: "J chrlstcu thee Akron" released fl flock of 4s piReona. The ship did not rise on Inc christening | day, however, aB much work re" | mDined io be done.
 It was not only almost two months intcr---9epie 23-~th6t | tho Akron made her first actual | flight. She rose from the portable mOorIng mast at Akron and cruig- cd for almost four hours over northern Ohio without Incident. She carried 1l3 persons. the lhrg- est number ever to get alOft up 10 that time. including scientists and members of the naval board of in- spection and survey.
 McaWhilc doubts ag to the air WorthineBs Of the ship Were ex- pressed in Washington. It had been found the Akron Was approXi- In3tely 10 toms over the contract weight. However, naval officials, including Rear Admiral William A. Moffctt, held thiA 10 be no serlOuH defect and attributed It to increas- ed safety features and military fac tors.
 Criticism continued. however and 1t was not until March II, I332. that the house naval com nittce finally reported unanimous | ly that the craft, which was then ht Lakshurgt, was without "poor
 workmanship or faulty material" 7" | The Akron, meanwhile, had | been flown from Ohio to tAkehurst | iu command of Lieutenant Com
 mauder Charles F. Hosendahl. II did not reach iig guaranteed speed
 on that trip. but this defect was | laid 10 the pr0pellera and plans were made to remedy fl. on February 2z. 1882, n group Of cOnRressmon headed by Rep. James | V. McClintic Of Oklahoma went to | iAkehurat for il trip. While they | waited to board the ship, il gust of wind lifted the Akron's tail SIS l the ground crew walked fl into po- sition, and part of the stern was ripped away.
 The repairs occupied several weeks and it was not until April 2z, that the Akron went aloft again. On May 6. three months behind its original schedule. the Akron's blunt n0se was headed for Sunny vale. Calf. from f.akehurst. Leis- ureiy it swung across the continent, meeting all kinds of weather with out miahap. Tbsn. in attempting 10 land at ths Camp KearDsy base. n gust Of wind lifted the craft with three men dangling from ropes.
 Robert N. EdsaIi and Nigel M. Fonton of the Ban Diego naval training station lost their grip and fell to their deaths. Bud Coward