Los Angeles

U.S.S. Los Angeles

(Neptun L-12)

Service: Built as Zeppelin LZ-126. Delivered to United States as war reparation in October 1924, she was the largest aircraft in the world at that time and only the fourth to cross the Atlantic. Delivery flight made with hydrogen as lifting gas, changed on arrival in U.S. to helium which was safer but reduced her payload and range. Based at NAS Lakehurst, NJ, between Feb and May 1925 she flew twice to Bermuda and once to Puerto Rico and made test moorings with oiler Patoka. Started overhaul at Lakehurst in Jun 1925, her helium being transferred to Shenandoah. The latter's loss in Sep 1925 produced a temporary shortage of helium, delaying Los Angeles' return to service to Mar 1926. However she was actively employed for six years, making several cross-country flights, and even landing briefly on the aircraft carrier Saratoga. In 1927 she began experiments for basing airplanes aboard airships, and in 1931 she flew to Panama to participate in Fleet Problem XII. She then operated briefly with the new airship Akron before being decommissioned 30 June 1932 and placed in reserve. Reconditioned for use as a testbed in 1934, but never flew again. Stricken 24 Oct 1939 and dismantled at NAS Lakehurst.