It would soon shape up to be a maritime mystery for the ages, and one with an appropriate designation: the “ghost blimp.” Like many conflicts, World War II brought with it an urgent need for ...

The 10 crew members of K-Ships served in vital anti-submarine roles during WWII in the Atlantic. Ground crew are shown here preparing a K-ship before a patrol. Photographed October 8-14, 1943 ...

The blimp wasn’t seen again until nearly 11 a.m., when a pilot for the commercial airline PanAm reported seeing it near the Golden Gate Bridge. Other reports came in, placing L-8 eight miles off ...

Five different airship classes operated during World War II. That doesn't mean the U.S. government lost all interest in flying aircraft carriers, though. The USAF played with an idea that saw a ...

Because airships boast such exceptional “lift-to-drag ratios”, as engineers put it, they also consume relatively little fuel. This makes them—at least in theory—ideal freight vehicles.

This article was originally published with the title “ Cost of the War in Airships ” in Scientific American Magazine Vol. 113 No. 14 (October 1915), p. 294 doi:10.1038 ...

For airships larger than 500,000 cubic ft. the non-rigid type can be, and has been, used, but its efficiency tends to compare less favourably with the semi-rigid type as size is increased.

What were air raids like in World War One and who did they affect? Find out in this year 5/6 primary history guide from BBC Bitesize.