July 1923 had seen newspapers across the nation speculate as to when the world’s largest flying machine, the ZR-1, would rise from the sands of the Jersey Pine Barrens at Lakehurst and roar to life. On July 27, the Lakewood Citizen gave an update.

“According to reports from the Naval Air Station at Lakehurst, the great bag of the ZR-1 will probably be inflated either today or tomorrow.