In Atlantic City in the predawn hours of June 1, 1912, Melvin Vaniman, a well-known adventurer and photographer, was busily preparing his revamped airship Akron, the first to be constructed by Goodyear, for its maiden flight. His last attempt, during the fall of 1911, had ended with the airship nose down in the shallow waters of Grassy Bay near Brigantine.

Because of a series of postponements caused by the weather and mechanical problems, Vaniman had decided there would be no preflight…