Airship ZR-1 USS Shenandoah Crew Member Commendation from Secretary of Navy, October 1924, Signed by Lt. Commander Zachary Lansdowne

Lot 320

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American Historical Ephemera & Photography, Including African Americana:Premier Auction by Cowan's Auctions

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American Historical Ephemera & Photography, I...

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Jun 26, 2020

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Lot Description

Airship ZR-1 USS Shenandoah Crew Member Commendation from Secretary of Navy, October 1924, Signed by Lt. Commander Zachary Lansdowne

Lansdowne, Zachary (1888-1925). Commander of the USS Shenandoah during her famed 1924 round-trip voyage across the United States and a casualty of her infamous 1925 tour of the midwest. Partially printed DS as lieutenant commander, "Z. Lansdowne," 1p, 5.125 x 8.875 in. October 26, 1924. "USS Shenandoah." This commendation of Shenandoah crew member Charles S. Solar from Secretary of Navy Curtis D. Wilbur was transmitted to Commander Lansdowne, aboard the airship, and subsequently typed and distributed by Lansdowne.

Commendation reads: "'Hearties [sic] congratulations on the successful completion of the longest journey ever made by airship. It is believed that this has demonstrated the ability of the rigid airship to remain away from its base for a period much longer than has been thought possible, and will undoubtedly have notable influence on the development of this type of airship, for both military and civil purposes. The Department wishes to commend the Commanding Officer, Officers and men of the SHENANDOAH for the skill and perserverence [sic] which they have shown in this pioneer trip across the continent. It is a source of pride that the Navy built rigid airship should have first accomplished this round trip. / CURTIS D. WILBUR'."

Zachary Lansdowne was an experienced and well-known naval commander at the time of his death on September 3, 1925 aboard the USS Shenandoah. Having graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1909, Lansdowne was commissioned an ensign two years later, serving in the US Navy and Ohio Naval Militia before receiving aeronautical training in Pensacola, Florida and Akron, Ohio. Thereafter, in 1917, he was sent abroad to study the use of dirigible airships, remaining in Europe for the duration of World War I. Lansdowne served on board the British airship R-34 as it made history by flying non-stop across the Atlantic to the United States. After a brief stint in Germany as an assistant naval attache from 1922-1923, Lansdowne was given command of the USS Shenandoah. Under his command, the ill-fated airship conducted an historic round-trip voyage across the United States, in acknowledgement of which the commendation featured here was created. The most legendary of the airship's voyages, however, was the disastrous and deadly tour of the midwest, which ended as the ship encountered thunderstorms while crossing over Noble County, Ohio. Parts of the ship (including the control car, which Lansdowne and six other crewmen were occupying) began to tear off and separate from the rest of the ship, crashing into fields below. In total, 14 men lost their lives in the tragedy. The destroyer USS Lansdowne was later named in honor of the fallen commander.

Charles S. Solar (1895-1990) was one of the survivors of the Shenandoah disaster, who went on to survive both the crash of the USS Macon in February of 1935 and the attack on Pearl Harbor in December of 1941. Solar received a Purple Heart for wounds from actions during the infamous surprise attack.

Condition

Document with light spotting and soiling, numerous creases/wrinkles, and heavy wear to edges including some rips/tears and at least three larger noticeable areas of loss (including two along left edge extending from "hole punch" perforations). Left side of document with what appears to be adhesive residue. Text still dark in most places and legible throughout.
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