The Washington times., 1933-04-13
NAVAL INQUIRY.
To SHIFT To
CAPITAL
Lieut.. F. A. L. Dartsch Tells
Of Forecast, Which CIashed
With That of Westcoat

LAKEHURST, N. j., April 13
ONSD-We Gather conditions
were so unfavorable on April 8,
the date the dirigible Akron took
off. that it was deemed mad
visable to let the blimp J-3 leave
its hangar at Lakehurst that
morning. However, the J-3 did
fly for a few hours in the after
noon when the weather cleared.
Testimony to this effect was
given today by Lieut.. F. A. L.
Dartsch, assistant aerologist at
Lakehurst, a witness before the
naval court Of inquiry conduct
ing an investigation into the Ak
ron disaster which cost 73 lives.
Will Go to COpital
The IAkron took off from Lake.
hurst at 7:45 p. M, despite the
forecast indicating threatening
weather.
Before Dartsch took the stand,
Judge Advocate Ralph G. Pen
noyer announced that Secretary
of the Navy Claude A. Swanson
had authorized the naval court
to adjourn, probably next Tuesday,
to the Washington navy yards
where additional testimony will be
taken.
DartSch testified his forecast
was partly cloudy, becoming over
cast late in the afternoon, with a
risk of showers in the evening
and clearing the following morn
ing.
His forecast, Dartsch said, diff
fered with the forecast of Lieut..
Herbert M. WeStcoat, aerologist
aboard the Akron, who lost his
life when the dirigible crashed at
sea off Barnegat Light.
No Risk of Showers
Dartsch said:
Lieutenant WestcOat's fore
cast differed with mine some
what, Mine pointed to the risk
Of showers. His was mostly
clear"
Both Dartsch's and Westcoat's
predictions were read into the
record. Westcoat's forecast said:
Tonight mostly clear with q
few high clouds. Tomorrow
mostly clear with a few scat
tered clouds"
The Washington Weather Bu-
reau forecast agreed with Dartsch's
forecast, the witness said.
DartSch read a weather report
received from the Newark IN. j.
airport about three hours before
the Akron took off. It warned
Of fog, a low ceiling and poor
visibility along New Jerseys air
ways and off the Jersey coast.
He was. asked:
did Ou think weather cOndi-
tiOns unfavOrable for a flight Of
the AkrOn?"
"No, did not"
did you think thunder
showers we're highly imprOb-
0ble?"
"NO, not highly improbable"
Rear Admiral Henry v. Butler
questioned Dartsch closely regard
Ing the kind of weather he antici-
pated off the Jersey coast that
night.
Dartsch said the indications of
showers in that region came at 8
o'clock, half an hour after the
Akron had left Lakehurst.
Judge Advocate Pennoyer asked
DartSch how he reconciled his
testimony that the weather was
regarded as unsatisfactory for a
flight on the Blmip J-3 in the
morning but favorable for the
Akron in the evening. He said:
1T was not favorable for the
blmp to ply in the morning
but around noon conditions
cleared. The J-3 did fly for a
few hours in the afternoon"
Maquire Summoned
The next witness was Lieut..
Charles j. Mcguire, aerologist at
the Lakehurst Naval Station.
Asked for an alalySis of the
weather for the 24-hour period
starting at 8 a. M, April 8, and
paying particular attention to the
area over which the Akron flew,
Mcguire said this was IAN ex-
ceed1ngly complex situation"