Hit the Deck

The U. S. Navy, strictly male organiza- tion, kept a secret. For some time plans had been brewing to land the giant dirigible Los Angeles on the deck of the aircraft carrier Saratoga. So delicate and important was the experiment that news was guarded until the trick was turned. Nosing out to sea last week the Los An-geles met the Saratoga off the Virginia Capes. Both headed into the light, gusty wind. The dirigible dipped gently, close to the carrier; then bucked like a frightened horse. A vagrant gust tossed it 200 feet in air. Again it angled downward, its sensitive nose smelling the sea ship tentatively. Ropes were dropped, sailors dragged the huge sky ship closer, held it fast. A hose was hoisted aboard the Los Angeles. Refuelling was simulated; supplies, passengers exchanged.

Naval bigwigs congratulated Com-mander Charles E. Rosendahl of the Los Angeles exultantly. The test proving that floating filling stations are feasible, widened immeasurable the range of dirigible utility. Commercial dirigible interests eagerly proclaimed that transoceanic airship travel was a more immediate probability now that dirigibles may nose safely down to the vast smooth expanse of landing deck superimposed on aircraft mother ships. The flying deck of the Saratoga is 880 ft. long; the Los Angeles 680 ft.