This is the final part in a series.

The month of October 1924 would always be remembered in the history of the US lighter than air program as one of the most successful. As the month began, the U.S.-built Shenandoah had left Lakehurst and cruised to the West Coast; days later the German-built ZR-3 arrived at the New Jersey site after a record-breaking transatlantic flight.

The public was captivated by the large flying giants. The New York Times’ special report of Oct.20 explained, “More than 50,000 persons from New York,…