# VICE ADMIRAL CHARLES ROSENDAHL U.S. NAVY DIRIGIBLES & BLIMPS USS AKRON USS MACON SHENANDOAH 20224

This 1930’s era newsreel short “Sky Giants”, opens with a shot of a dirigible, probably USS Shenandoah, floating overhead. The film recounts the early era of ballooning and the golden era of air travel with heavy dirigibles or air ships. Vice Admiral Charles E. Rosendahl, the leading figure in America’s rigid airship program in the first half of the 20th century is featured. He was one of the most experienced airship aviators in the United States and was a tireless proponent of lighter-than-air aviation but is perhaps best remembered as the commander of NAS Lakehurst at the time of the Hindenburg disaster. Rosendahl’s distinguished career began in January 1923. He reported to Naval Air Station Lakehurst for training in April 1923, and by October he was assigned as a navigator and mooring officer aboard the USS Shenandoah. In March 1926, Rosendahl was assigned as Executive Officer of the USS Los Angeles, and was given command of the ship two months later. In 1931, Rosendahl was put in charge of the flight trials of the newly built USS Akron and then assumed command of the Akron when the ship was commissioned. Annapolis, Maryland, after the First World War. Many dirigibles fill the sky 1:00 . An air shipyard is shown with dirigibles under construction 1:05 . Stacks of gas containers are seen 1:16 . Navy test balloons fly overhead 1:30 . 1924 - the German built, USS Los Angeles, is ready for delivery to the United States 1:40 . Rosendahl takes the helm 1:45 . The German…

- Kind: Film
- Genres: Industrial and advertising
- Archive: [Internet Archive](https://archive.org/details/20224TheSkyGiants)
- Licence or status: none stated by the archive
- Who can watch: Tweens profiles and older (the archive gives no rating; placed by Invisible Network from its collection and subjects)

[Watch now](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/watch/archive/ia/20224TheSkyGiants?play=1)