Name/Title
StereographEntry/Object ID
2023.055.3.0143Description
A black and white stereograph. Image is of two soldiers standing guard in a field, a large blimp is behind them, the blin has "R34" painted on its nose. Above the image "W162 (Star)" is printed, below the image "V19216 Through the Unchared Heavens She Blazed the Trail - Dirigbile 3-34 at Minneola." is printed, to the left of the image "Keystone View Company Copyrighted Underwood & Underwood Inc. Manufacturers MADE IN U.S.A. Publishers" is printed, to the right of the image "Meadville, Pa., New York, N. Y., Chicago, Ill., London, England." is printed. On the reverse the following is printed:
V19216
DIRIGIBLE R-34 AT MINEOLA
During the war great airships like this were sent long distances into enemy territory, sometimes to discover and report the location of supply depots and manufacturing plants, someitmes to hover in the enemy's rear, miles behind the firing line, and observe the number and dispostion of his troops. Sometimes they carried a cargo of high explosives, to blow up rail heads and other bases of military activity. Painted a light gray, and with muffled engines, they sped silently, like ghsots, through the heavens, Often the first indication of their presence was a deafening exploison, followed by falling roofs and collapsed walls.
Their journey through the uncharted heavens was attened by constant peril. The currents of the air were oftend as unstable as those of the sea and these airships, huge though they were, were tossed about and buffeted as the waves of the ocean batter vessels duirng a storm. Eddies, squalls and swirling currents of air carried them out of their course. At any time they might spring a leak and the excaping hydrogen gas, mixing with the air, cause an explosion that would send them flaming to earth. Serchlights might pick them up and shells destory them.
We can plainly see the outline of the ribs of the ship - the structural frame which stiffens the gas bag. THe "lines" of an airship are just as important as those of a vessel which sails the ocean. If correctly designed the ship will glide though the air without friction ; but if the design is faulty, currents of air will cling to the vessel and impede its progress, as weeds and grass do to a boat forcing tits way throught the water.
Copyright by The Keysonte Veiw CompanyCollection
Photograph Collection