During the summer of 1925, the U.S. possessed two of the world’s largest and most modern airships. Unfortunately, a rivalry would be created between them that would lead to the destruction of one, leaving the other to be the nation’s most successful.

The USS Shenandoah was the older of the two. It had been built at the Philadelphia Navy Yard and assembled at the giant Lakehurst hangar. Constructed as a weapon of war, it proudly bore the title of totally American made!

The newer airship, the USS Los Angeles, was constructed in Germany and delivered as a World War One reparation.