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The Airship Roma Disaster: A Tragic Loss in Hampton Roads

Don Coleman

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The Roma

The Roma was a non-rigid airship built for the United States Navy during World War I. It was one of the largest airships in the world at the time, with a length of 850 feet and a diameter of 86 feet. The Roma was powered by six engines and had a crew of 50.

The Airship ROMA Disaster in Hampton Roads

by Nancy E. Sheppard

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
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The Disaster

On February 21, 1922, the Roma was conducting a training flight from its base at Langley Field, Virginia. The weather was clear and calm, and the airship was flying at an altitude of about 1,500 feet.

Suddenly, one of the Roma's engines exploded. The explosion caused the airship to lose control and it began to descend rapidly. The crew tried to regain control, but it was too late. The Roma crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Hampton Roads, Virginia.

All 34 people on board the Roma were killed in the crash. The disaster was a major setback for the U.S. Navy's airship program and led to the cancellation of the Roma's sister ship, the Akron.

The Aftermath

The Roma disaster was a tragic loss of life. It also had a significant impact on the U.S. Navy's airship program. The Navy had been planning to use airships for long-range reconnaissance and bombing missions. However, the Roma disaster showed that airships were vulnerable to attack and that they were not a practical weapon of war.

The Navy continued to operate a few airships after the Roma disaster, but the program was gradually phased out. By the end of World War II, airships had been replaced by airplanes as the primary means of air power.

The Legacy of the Roma

The Roma disaster is a reminder of the dangers of aviation. It is also a reminder of the importance of safety in all aspects of life. The lessons learned from the Roma disaster have helped to make aviation safer for all.

The Roma Memorial In Hampton Roads, Virginia The Airship ROMA Disaster In Hampton Roads

The Roma disaster is also a part of the history of Hampton Roads, Virginia. The city has erected a memorial to the victims of the disaster on the site of the crash. The memorial is a reminder of the tragic loss of life that occurred on that day.

More Information

For more information on the Airship Roma Disaster, please visit the following websites:

* [The Airship Roma Disaster](https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/naval-aviation/roma-disaster.html) * [The Roma Disaster Memorial](https://www.hamptonroads.com/news/the-roma-disaster-memorial-a-tribute-to-the-34-who-died/article_033f812a-4762-11e2-9cfc-0019bb2963f4.html)

The Airship ROMA Disaster in Hampton Roads

by Nancy E. Sheppard

4.7 out of 5