FORGOTTEN WEAPON: U.S. NAVY AIRSHIPS AND THE U-BOAT WAR

摘要

William F. Althoff, noted Naval Aviation historian, in his 2009 Naval Institute book tells the almost forgotten history of Lighter than Aircraft (LTA), blimps in the vast antisubmarine warfare effort to defeat marauding U-boats. The growing squadrons of K-type blimps also successfully addressed other demands of the World War II years. Hopefully, this article will provoke further interest in Althoff s contribution to the LTA history.rnIn his Preface, the author states, "What deserves examination are the naval, political, and technological environments in which the platform had to operate in the decade from 1935 to 1945…" His findings are remarkably thorough and presented interestingly. It is his attention to the context of every aspect of the LTA's role in the war effort that provides a sense of completeness and clarity to the aircraft's wartime history. This allows the reader to be part of the ongoing day-to-day LTA activities and to be aware of how the LTAs became part of the growing Navy's growing anti-U-boat efforts.