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Lakehurst is lighter-than-air

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Lauren Pitts
  • Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J.-- --  Residents of Ocean County got to experience firsthand the history of their community last week when a U.S. Navy airship made its way over Lakehurst.

The "blimp" belongs to the Naval Air Systems Command, headquartered in Patuxent River, Maryland, and is housed inside Hangar 1 on the Lakehurst side of MDL when not in use. NAVAIR's mission is to provide full life-cycle support to naval aircraft, weapons, and systems operated on by Sailors and Marines.

"In the hay day of the Navy Airship Program, many of these aircraft called Lakehurst home," said Carl Jablonski, president of the Navy Lakehurst Historical Society.

The "hay day" of Lakehurst and the "Lighter than Air Program" took place in the 1930's when the Navy's rigid airships peaked with the construction of enormous lighter-than-air vehicles that served as the "eyes" of the fleet. One of the most notorious airships was the Hindenburg that crashed at then NAS Lakehurst in 1937.

Unfortunately, as technology progressed through the years, the Navy began using less and less airships - making their appearances around New Jersey sparse.

"In the past, this was a major hub for lighter-than-air vessels," said Lt. Cmdr. Andy Bellina, Naval Support Activity, Lakehurst and air operations officer for the 305th Operations Support Squadron. "Now, we only see activity every few years when a mission need arises."

In his time on station at the joint base, Bellina had never seen the blimp in the local area. He's hopeful, however, that residents around Lakehurst were able to catch a glimpse of the airship operating in the local airspace.

"We get a vast assortment of various service aircraft at the base," explained Bellina. "So it was exciting, at least for my team and hopefully the town, to see and work with a navy blimp."

The mammoth doors of Hangar 1 created a perfect backdrop to the airship, explained Bellina. Watching the aircraft circle overhead, he believes it was easy to imagine the installation back in the 30's, with enormous airships roaming the skies.

"It was impressive to reach back in time to see airship operations in action," said Bellina. "Given the history of the base and the surviving infrastructure, I could not think of a better place to see a blimp return to the skies of Lakehurst."