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This section contains descriptions of unexplained facts provided by eyewitnesses or published in the media, as well as the results of their analysis by the group.

UFO. United States

ID #1632422675
Added Thu, 23/09/2021
Author July N.
Sources
Phenomena
Status
Hypothesis

Initial data

Initial information from sources or from an eyewitness
Incident date: 
11.10.1931
Location: 
Галлиполис, OH
United States

Huntington, West Virginia, HERALD-DISPATCH, October 11, 1931, page 1

Residents of the Ohio Valley near Gallipolis had to solve an aerial mystery when they retired.

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Henke and Robert McKenzie, all residents of Gallipolis, reported that they saw a blimp cross the Ohio River near Gallipolis, fly south through the hills of West Virginia, then deteriorate in the air and catch fire. They told Dr. Charles E. Holzer that they saw one parachutist leave the airship just before it bent, and the other two opened up as soon as there was a flash of flame. Dr. Holzer estimated that the point was 10 miles south of Gallipolis, a sparsely populated area.

The first reports said that it was the Akron ,but a message came from the home port of the giant airship that it was safely moored after a 12-hour flight over the Detroit area.

Dr. Holzer, the owner of the Gallipolis Airport, said he would send a lieutenant. Eckford Hodgson, a pilot from his field, flew over the area early this morning. Due to the wild territory in which the disaster was reported, efforts to further verify the reports last night were in vain. All the airships in Akron were accounted for.

Original news

Huntington, West Virginia, HERALD-DISPATCH, 11 October 1931, page 1

Mysterious Crash Stirs Valley Folk

Residents of the Ohio valley in the vicinity of Gallipolis had an aerial mystery to puzzle over as they retired last night.

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Henke and Robert McKenzie, all of Gallipolis, reported having seen a dirigible cross the Ohio river near Gallipolis, travel southward over the West Virginia hills, then buckle in the air and burst into flames. They told Dr. Charles E. Holzer they had seen one parachute leave the blimp an instant before it buckled and two others open up just as a flash of flame appeared. Dr. Holzer estimated the point was 10 miles south of Gallipolis, a sparsely settled area.

First reports said it was the Akron but word received from the home port of the giant airship was that it had been berthed safely after a 12-hour flight over the Detroit area.

Dr. Holzer, owner of the Gallipolis airport, said he would send Lieut. Eckford Hodgson, flier from his field, over the area early today. Because of the wild territory in which the crash was reported efforts to further check the reports proved futile last night. All blimps at Akron had been accounted for.

 

Hypotheses

List of versions containing features matching the eyewitness descriptions or material evidence

The airship

The aircraft lighter than air, which is a combination of the balloon with the mover (usually a screw with an electric motor or internal combustion engine) and the system of the orientation control (steering control), through which the airship can move in any direction regardless of the direction of air flow.
The shape of the airships are divided into:

Investigation

Versions testing, their confirmation or refutation. Additional information, notes during the study of materials
Not enough information

Resume

The most likely explanation. The version, confirmed by the investigation
Not enough information

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