Zachary Lansdowne

Lieutenant Commander Zachary Lansdowne, USN (1 December 1888 - 3 September 1925) was a U.S. Navy officer and early Naval Aviator who contributed to the development of the Navy's first lighter-than-air craft. He died in command of the airship USS "Shenandoah" (ZR-1), which crashed in Ohio on 3 September 1925.

Born in Greenville, Ohio, Lansdowne was appointed to the Naval Academy 2 September 1905 and commissioned Ensign 5 June 1911. He subsequently served on the destroyer USS "McCall" (DD-28), and in the Ohio Naval Militia. After completing his aviation training, he became Naval Aviator 105.

Lansdowne was assigned to duty with the Royal Naval Air Service during and after World War I, to study dirigibles. He was awarded the Navy Cross “for distinguished service...as one of the crew of the British airship R-34, which in July 1919, made the first successful nonstop passage from England to the United States.” He married Margaret Kennedy Ross (September 30, 1902-June 9, 1982) on December 7, 1921 in Washington D.C. She was later remarried John Caswell Jr. on February 27, 1927. Caswell died on December 23, 1954 in Washington D.C.On 11 February 1924 he took command of the rigid lighter-than-air ship, USS "Shenandoah" (ZR-1), and was killed when she crashed at Ava, Ohio, 3 September 1925.

The crash of the "Shenandoah" was the trigger for Army Colonel Billy Mitchell to heavily criticize the leadership of both the Army and the Navy, leading directly to his court-martial for insubordination and the end of his military career.

Namesake

The USS "Lansdowne" (DD-486), a "Gleaves"-class destroyer, and Lansdowne Airport in Youngstown, Ohio were named in his honor.

References

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/l3/lansdowne.htm history.navy.mil: USS "Lansdowne"]
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/avh-1910/APP01.PDF Appendix I. "The History of Naval Aviator and Naval Aviation Pilot Designations and Numbers, The Training of Naval Aviators and the Number Trained (Designated)."] Grossnick, Roy et al. "History of United States Naval Aviation 1910-1995". Washington, D.C.: Naval Historical Center, 1997, p. 404.