Germany, Weimar Republic; United States. The Trip of the LZ 126 (ZRIII) to America (USS Los Angeles, USN) Record 81 Hours Medal 1924
Item #G48908
Price:
$135
In silver, marked "990" (silver) on the edge, obverse illustrating the bust of Dr. Hugo Eckener, with the engraver's initials at the base of the bust, reverse illustrating LZ 126 in flight over Friedrichshafen and Lake Constance, inscribed "AMERIKAFAHRT DES LZ 126 (ZR III) 1924" (America Trip of the LZ 126 (ZR III) 1926) above, inscribed "12. X. 6,35 ABFAHRT FRIEDRICHSHAFEN (Departed Friedrichshafen) / 3,30 EUROPA VERLASSEN (Leave Europe) / 13. X. 3,35 AZORENINSEL FAYAL (Azores Island Fayal) / 14. X. 12,00 SABLE ISLAND / 15. X. 10,00 BOSTON / 1,29 NEW YORK / 3,11 LAKEHURST" below, and maker marked "L. CHR. LAUER
Footnote:
1. Hugo Eckener (August 10, 1868 - August 14, 1954) was the manager of the Luftschiffbau Zeppelin during the inter-war years, and also the commander of the famous Graf Zeppelin for most of its record-setting flights, including the first airship flight around the world, making him the most successful airship commander in history. He was also responsible for the construction of the most successful type of airships of all time. An anti-Nazi who was invited to campaign as a moderate in the German presidential elections, he was blacklisted by that regime and eventually sidelined.
2. The rigid airship Zeppelin LZ 126 was the first passenger airship to be used for long distance flights. It took only 81 hours to fly from Friedrichshafen to New York in 1924, which was an absolute speed record for the time. It was built in 1923-1924 by the Zeppelin company in Friedrichshafen, Germany, as war reparation. It was delivered to the United States Navy in October 1924, where it was re-named USS Los Angeles, designated ZR-3, and after being used mainly for experimental work, particularly in the development of the American parasite fighter program, it was decommissioned in 1932 and dismantled in August 1940, after 4,400 hours of successful flight in United States Navy service