Fact or Fiction: The Los Angeles Rigid Airship Landed on the Deck of the USS Saratoga

The striking image above often circulates online, seemingly showing the USS Los Angeles (ZR-3), a massive rigid airship, appearing to rest fully on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga (CV-3). While captivating, this image is a fake composite—a digitally manipulated creation that misrepresents history. What actually occurred was a groundbreaking naval experiment, where the USS Los Angeles briefly moored to the Saratoga, demonstrating innovation and collaboration between air and sea vessels.

What Really Happened: The USS Los Angeles and USS Saratoga Experiment
On January 27, 1928, the U.S. Navy tested the feasibility of combining airship and aircraft carrier operations. The USS Los Angeles approached the USS Saratoga and moored temporarily to the carrier’s stern. This maneuver allowed for a limited transfer of supplies and personnel between the two vessels.

Importantly, the USS Los Angeles never fully “landed” on the Saratoga’s flight deck. The airship maintained its buoyancy throughout the operation, supported by its internal gas cells and engine thrust. Only a minimal amount of weight was transferred to the carrier to minimize risks. This carefully balanced mooring exercise was a controlled demonstration of naval ingenuity, not the full landing on the flight deck that the photo above falsely depicts.

Clearing Up the Confusion
The real photographs from this event show the USS Los Angeles moored at the rear of the Saratoga. However, many people mistakenly believe these images further reinforce the idea of a complete landing. The truth is far less dramatic yet equally fascinating, highlighting the Navy’s efforts to explore innovative ways to extend airship utility during the interwar years.

Adding to the Misconceptions: The USS Patoka vs. USS Saratoga
Adding to the confusion, some mistakenly conflate this experiment with images of airships like the USS Los Angeles or USS Shenandoah moored to the USS Patoka. The Patoka, a fleet oiler, was equipped with a permanent onboard mooring mast designed specifically for airship operations. This allowed it to act as a floating base for airships, enabling longer missions. In contrast, the USS Saratoga was an aircraft carrier designed for heavier-than-air craft, with a large flight deck and a completely different purpose. These distinctions are critical for understanding the unique role each vessel played in naval history.

Setting the Record Straight
The 1928 experiment between the USS Los Angeles and USS Saratoga remains a remarkable example of naval innovation. While the fake composite image might continue to circulate, it’s essential to recognize the true story behind this historic event. The brief mooring of the Los Angeles to the Saratoga demonstrated the Navy’s experimental capability, but it did not involve a full landing or integration of airships with aircraft carriers.

This story underscores the creativity and adaptability of naval technology during the interwar period, from the Saratoga’s temporary airship mooring to the Patoka’s dedicated airship base capabilities. Understanding these details helps to preserve the fascinating history of US Navy airship operations and dispel the myths perpetuated by manipulated images.

For a visual perspective of this historic event, you can watch the following footage:

Hi there 👋

Sign up for Airship News, Updates & more!

Select list(s):

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

GET THE LATEST UPDATES!

Choose an email list to sign up and get our latest news! We won't spam. See our Privacy Policy for more details.

Related Articles

Responses