Click logo below to support the NAA:
ZR-3 U.S.S. Los Angeles
U.S.S. Los Angeles. The most successful of the U.S. Navy rigid airships, the "LA," was built in Germany and given to the United States Government in 1924 in reparation for World War I damage. Los Angeles was christened on November 25, 1924 by the first lady, Mrs. Calvin Coolidge. Limited by treaty to training and experimental activity, she made preliminary tests in the in-flight launching and recovery of heavier- than-air aircraft. In 8 years of service, Los Angeles flew 331 flights/4,181 hours before she was grounded for budgetary reasons in 1932. However, she was used in non-flight experimentation until dismantled in 1939.