Colonel BRECKINRIDGE. Do you think that they ought to get at that right away, or wait until they see how the Macon gets along? Lieutenant Commander ROGERS. No, sir; I think it would be highly expensive. We thought of putting two air-cooled engines on the Akron in order to get the propellers out of line, but the cost of installation was prohibitive. Colonel BRECKINRIDGE. What I mean is, do you think they could build a ship immediately to replace the Akron, or wait until you find out what the Macon can do? Lieutenant Commander ROGERS. I think if the economic times were better, like they were in 1929, by all means we should do it. But right now there are so many things that are needed it is probably better to wait until more money is available. Colonel BRECKINRIDGE. Do you think the Macon should be commissioned and operated? Lieutenant Commander ROGERS. Yes, sir; very much so. Colonel BRECKINRIDGE. Do you think the Los Angeles should be put back into commission? Lieutenant Commander ROGERS. It would not cost much to put her in commission, and she might well be worth her value as a training ship. I would not advocate you using her as a scout with a fleet, because she is antiquated now. She is old and too slow. Colonel BRECKINRIDGE. Has the committee any further questions to ask of Lieutenant Commander Rogers? Representative DELANEY. Thank you, commander. (Witness excused.) TESTIMONY OF LT. COMDR. SCOTT ERNEST PECK, UNITED STATES NAVY Colonel BRECKINRIDGE. Commander, do you swear that the testimony you will give in this matter will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? Lieutenant Commander PECK. Yes, sir. Colonel BRECKINRIDGE. What is your full name, rank, and station? Lieutenant Commander PECK. Lt. Comdr. Scott Ernest Peck, United States Navy, attached to the Macon. Colonel BRECKINRIDGE. I will read you what I have before me as to some of the high points of your service, which you will correct if it is not accurate. You entered the Navy aviation from civil life during the World War, qualified as a pilot of the small nonrigid airships then in existence at Akron and Pensacola; went to sea for 32 years, returning to Lakehurst about 1927, where you took a refresher course in large airships, and subsequently were assigned to the Los Angeles, Akron, and Macon, as navigator, engineer officer, ordnance officer, executive officer, and you have served as mooring officer. Your airship experience covers a wide range, and you have had perhaps 4,300 hours flying experience. Lieutenant Commander PECK. That is approximately correct. Colonel BRECKINRIDGE. Did you hear the testimony of Captain Dresel and Lieutenant Commander Rogers? Lieutenant Commander PECK. Yes, sir. 176296-33--11 Colonel BRECKINRIDGE. On the whole you agree with their testimony? Lieutenant Commander PECK. I do. Colonel BRECKINRIDGE. Have you any comments on the Macon other than those you have heard that you would like to make yourself? Lieutenant Commander PECK. There is one thing about the Macon I don't like. I don't know whether anyone will agree with me, but that is, that I do not like to have the ship handled on the rear fin. Colonel BRECKINRIDGE. What exactly do you mean by that? Lieutenant Commander PECK. The mechanical handling of the ship in and out of the hangar, all takes part on the after part of the ship and the weight of it and the strains are on the after fin. Colonel BRECKINRIDGE. Will you explain to us from that model? Lieutenant PECK. Right down here [indicating on model]. Colonel BRECKINRIDGE. That assembly there on the well? Lieutenant Commander PECK. Yes. If, as happened in the case of the Akron, anything happened to that fin, you can't take to the air or you can't put her in the hangar either, unless your wind happens to be down hangar. That is about the only comment I can make on that. Colonel BRECKINRIDGE. How could that be avoided? Lieutenant Commander PECK. Well, on the Los Angeles we handled the ship on the after gear. The after engine was in the center of the ship, and it formed a very good point for handling the ship from that point. Colonel BRECKINRIDGE. Where was that after gear on the Los Angeles? Lieutenant Commander PECK. It started about here (indicating on model). Colonel BRECKINRIDGE. What was in that car? Lieutenant Commander PECK. Engine gear. Colonel BRECKINRIDGE. This is a criticism for the future and nothing can be done on the Macon as it exists now? Lieutenant Commander PECK. Nothing can be done on the Macon. Colonel BRECKINRIDGE. Which ships have you served on? Lieutenant Commander PECK. The Los Angeles, the Akron, and the Macon. Colonel BRECKINRIDGE. To what do you attribute the success and the long history of the Los Angeles? Lieutenant Commander PECK. Well, the conservative flying, careful study of weather maps before we left the hangar and avoiding any possible bad weather. Colonel BRECKINRIDGE. Do you infer that the lesson of the Akron crash is that the service must revert to the same sort of policy in the handling of the Macon? Lieutenant Commander PECK. No. Colonel BRECKINRIDGE. Why? Lieutenant Commander PECK. Well, I think the policy of the Los Angeles was perhaps too conservative. We had only one ship, and we had to take care of it. Colonel BRECKINRIDGE. We have only one ship now. But even with a better ship and better handling, better handling equipment, it is possible to fly much more than was ever flown by the Los Angeles. The Los Angeles was flown and docked by man power for many years. That is a very difficult means of handling a ship on the ground. After the mechanical handling was developed the ship really was flown a lot more than it ever had been before. That was along toward the latter part of her career. Colonel BRECKINRIDGE. How do you think the Akron compared with previous ships? Lieutenant Commander PECK. It was a much better ship in every respect. Colonel BRECKINRIDGE. Do you think, so far as you can see, that all the lessons from past disasters had been applied in her construction?. Lieutenant Commander PECK. Yes; I would say so. Colonel BRECKINRIDGE. Do you consider airships vital to the Navy? Lieutenant Commander PECK. I do. I think they are a marvelous scout, absolutely a distinctive scout. There is no other type of craft, surface or air, that can fill the bill the airship can. There is no comparison between the airship and any other type of surface craft so far as scouting is concerned in my opinion. Colonel BRECKINRIDGE. In the face of the disaster to the Akron, this great loss of life and property, your view remains the same? Lieutenant Commander PECK. Absolutely. Colonel BRECKINRIDGE. Have you any other comments you would like to make? Lieutenant Commander PECK. No. Representative MCSWAIN. I am very much interested in your positive opinions. I assume you are a pilot of heavier-than-air craft? Lieutenant Commander PECK. I am unofficially. I have never qualified officially, but I flew planes a year for the fleet. Representative MCSWAIN. What capacity of Navy aviation did. you occupy during the World War, Lieutenant? Lieutenant Commander PECK. Flyer of nonrigid airships. Representative MCSWAIN. During those 31⁄2 years you were at sea, what sort of duty did you do aboard ship? Lieutenant Commander PECK. Well, I was first lieutenant of a ship for a while; I was navigator, watch officer, engineer officer for 3 or 4 weeks on a ship. Representative MCSWAIN. You must have been one of the very few civilians who obtained a commission in the Navy as a result of World War experience. Lieutenant Commander PECK. I think there were originally about 800. Representative MCSWAIN. I know there were that many commissioned for the war period, but I mean permanently commissioned after the war was over. You must have been one of the very few. Lieutenant Commander PECK. I don't know just how many there were. Representative MCSWAIN. Where were you educated, Lieutenant? Lieutenant Commander PECK. In Nebraska and Minnesota. Representative MCSWAIN. During this 16 years since the World War broke out, you have had nearly 13 years of air experience? Lieutenant Commander PECK. That is right, approximately. Representative MCSWAIN. As you see it, if we don't get into a war, is there any chance for you ever to be a captain or admiral? Lieutenant Commander PECK. I doubt it. Representative MCSWAIN. That being so, you can give us your opinion without hope of marring your chances of promotion. What is said around the table when the admiral and captain are not there about this rule of requiring every Navy officer to serve at sea, irrespective of the fact that his talents, his tastes, and his training fit him for the air? Lieutenant Commander PECK. Well, for my part, I would say that the average officer does not want to go to sea, but he knows it is a good thing for him and he knows it is a good thing for the Navy for him to go to sea, I would say, just off-hand, 1 year in 5. Representative MCSWAIN. Thank you very much, Lieutenant. Representative DELANEY. I think that is all. Thank you, Lieu tenant. Colonel BRECKINRIDGE. Is it the chairman's wish to continue? Representative DELANEY. I think we have had a pretty stiff day and we have other work to do at our offices today. So we will adjourn and meet in the morning at 10:30. (Whereupon, at 4:50 p.m., an adjournment was taken until 10:30 a.m. tomorrow, Thursday, May 25, 1933.) INVESTIGATION OF DIRIGIBLE DISASTERS THURSDAY MAY 25, 1933 CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES, Washington, D.C. The joint committee met, pursuant to the call of the chairman, at 10:30 o'clock, a.m., in the committee room of the Committee on the District of Columbia, Capitol Building, Senator William H. King (chairman) presiding. Present: Senator King, Representatives Delaney (vice chairman), McSwain, and Harter. Present also: Col. Henry Breckinridge. The CHAIRMAN. The committee will be in order. Proceed, Colonel. Colonel BRECKINRIDGE. Do you administer the oath? Colonel BRECKINRIDGE. Lieutenant Harrigan. TESTIMONY OF LIEUT. D. W. HARRIGAN The CHAIRMAN. You may be sworn. You do solemnly swear that the testimony you will give in this hearing will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God? Colonel BRECKINRIDGE. Lieutenant Harrigan, be seated please. Will you state your name, rank, and station. Lieutenant HARRIGAN. Lieut. Ward Harrigan, United States Navy, attached to the U.S.S. Macon, heavier-than-air unit. Colonel BRECKINRIDGE. Were you at Lakehurst prior to the final flight of the Akron? Lieutenant HARRIGAN. I was. Colonel BRECKINRIDGE. I will introduce a note as to the experience of the witness. You are a graduate of the Naval Academy in 1922. Lieutenant HARRIGAN. Yes, sir. Colonel BRECKINRIDGE. Qualified as airplane pilot with approximately 2,000 hours' experience, plus 750 hours in airships. In 1929 assigned to be in charge of airplane unit attached to U.S.S. Los Angeles and later Akron, from which position has supervised most of the airplane operations carried on from those airships. Has taken course and qualified as airship pilot in addition to airplane pilot. Has studied capabilities of airships as airplane carriers and studied doctrine, still in its preliminary stages, of operating airplanes in conjunction with airships. Is that a correct résumé of your experience? |