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History ZX-11 HistoryHistory

Circa 1957

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: "...ZX-11 was a developmental (Devron) Airship squadron stationed at Key West Naval Air Station. It was disestablished in late 1957 or 1958..." Contributed by Nick Farnett nfarnet1@twcny.rr.com [12AUG2000]


Circa 1954

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: Naval Aviation News March 1954 "...Drafters Build Own Desks - Page 31 - Naval Aviation News - March 1954..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1950s/1954/mar54.pdf [02AUG2004]

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Circa 1952

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: "...FASRON-102, FASRON-103, FASRON-104, FASRON-795, VP-3, VP-5, VP-21, VP-24, VP-44, VP-49, VP-661, VP-861, ZP-1, ZP-2, ZP-3, ZP-4 and ZX-11) - Naval Aeronautical Organization OPNAV NOTICE 05400 for Fiscal Year 1953 dated 1 October 1952 is: DECLASSIFIED per Office of Chief of Naval Operations on 1 February 1965 by Op-501..." WebSite: Naval Historical Center http://www.history.navy.mil/a-record/nao53-68/fy1953-oct52.pdf [14MAR2007]

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HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: PB4Y ThumbnailCameraZX-11 History "...1952 squadron photograph for ZX-11 at NAS Key West, Florida..." Contributed by Tommy Tonguis ttonguis@cox.net [22MAY2005]

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: Naval Aviation News September 1952 "...Sub Rescues Errant Blimp - Page 14 - Naval Aviation News - September 1952..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1950s/1952/sep52.pdf [27JUL2004]

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Circa 1951

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: Naval Aviation News October 1951 "...VX-1 and ZX-11 Blimps - Page 5 - Naval Aviation News - October 1951..." WebSite: http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/backissues/1950s/1951/oct51.pdf [25JUL2004]

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Circa Unknown
Can you identify the Month and or Year?

HistoryA BIT OF HISTORY: "...AXED WITHOUT REPRESENTATION - ...OUR NAVY 15 Oct. 1959 Page 48..." [21FEB2002]

We were surprised and disappointed with the news that the airship program is being cut just about in half. The Airship Training Group and Airship Patrol Squadron 2, both based at NAS Glynco, Georgia., are to be decommissioned this fall.

That will leave only the Lakehurst squadrons. Airship Patrol Squadron 3 (ZP-3) and Airship Early Warning Squadron 1 (ZW-1), each composed of four blimps. It was hardly two years ago that three other light-than-air squadrons were disbanded, ZP-1 and ZP-4 at Weeksville, N.C., and ZX-11 at Key West. It wouldn't take much more to wipe out the airship program entirely.

The Bureau of Aeronautics is, of course, trying to buy and operate expensive aircraft with only limited funds and the airship program is not the only one which has suffered: some fine airplanes and missiles have been cancelled and squadrons of all types have had to be disbanded.

Yet it seems that no portion of naval aivation has had to suffer such huge cuts as lighter-than-air. Partly, we are told, this is because lighter-than-air people never are assigned to senior billets in the Bureau of Washington. The airship program has been, so to speak, axed without representation.

The Bureau of Aeronautics is now in the process of a merger with the Bureau of Ordnance into something new called the Bureau of Naval Weapons. How the blimps will fare in this missile and jet-oriented outfit is still to be seen but the prospects do not seem bright.


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