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The Airship Heritage Trust Journal - Dirigible - occasionally receives requests from readers for information concerning artefacts that they have come across or for answers to questions related to airship history to which no one among the readership responds. A selection of these "Unsolved Mysteries" are now being put before a wider audience on this webpage. If any reader can help in any way with information concerning any of the following then the editor would be delighted to hear from them.

IS THIS A ZEPPELIN PROPELLER?

Can anyone help Jonas Sandlund from Sweden, who writes: "I am not sure that this prop is taken from a Zeppelin. The story behind it tells that it is. But you know how it is! Everyone loves a good story.

Anyway here you have the info that I have manage to read from the prop. S 1350 D 2750 120 MERODES (The first E could be a B) T.D.S 15.1/22 (T could be a P) N: 165"

[The prop is made of laminated wood with a metal leading edge and the identification marks are stamped onto the side of the boss. Information to me please - Ed.]

ANOTHER MYSTERIOUS PROPELLER

Can anyone help Don Cameron of Cameron Balloons, Bristol who writes: - "This alleged R101 Propeller … came with the large quantity of second-hand kit that we purchased from the receivers after the demise of Thunder and Colt Ltd in 1994. The label "R101 PROPELLOR BEDFORD 1931" currently mounted above it was with it at the time.

I am uncertain about its provenance and wonder if it really is what it says. Whatever it is, it is a magnificent wooden object. It is unlikely that it could have been on the airship at the time of its destruction, but it has been suggested that it might have been used for early trials or ground running tests. The blades are very square-ended; could they have been shortened at any time? I have looked at pictures of the R101 that seem to show a more rounded or tapered shape.

It will be very interesting if anyone can throw any light on this."

THE FLIGHT SIMULATOR AT CARDINGTON

Ces Mowthorpe writes:- "The late David Cook - son of "MASTER OF THE TALL TOWERS" [see last issue - Ed.] - recalled to me on several occasions that his father had taken him to a hut at Cardington, where a system of lines and pulleys operated a model of a rigid airship around the walls which approximated to an airfield circuit. This system allowed the model to 'land' anywhere in the centre of said hut. By operating further lines the model could be manoeuvred into most positions needed by the ground crew. It's main objective was to train future tower officers on how to bring a rigid ship to the tower under all conditions. Apparently there was a raised platform where the officer under instruction sat and gave his orders. David mentioned that he was not allowed to touch anything. He believed this apparatus to be his father's brainchild. That is all I know. He mentioned that the hut had been demolished quite early on.."

Has anyone else heard of this "Flight Simulator" or does anyone know what happened to it?

WHY "NULLI SECUNDUS" COTTAGES?

Don Rolt of the Westcott history group would like to know:- "If you can stir up anyone who has an idea why this pretty little village just west of Dorking, Surrey, has a pair of cottages called 'Nulli Secundus Cottages'?

The received wisdom is that the airship apparently flew over Westcott in 1906, hence the name to commemorate 'Nulli Secundus', but few know that there were actually two airships, NS1 and NS2. Also I gather the NS1 intended to go to Buckingham Palace but ended up at Crystal Palace and NS2 flew around Farnborough, Hants, so the puzzle is why the cottages were so named, especially if neither NS never ever came anywhere near here!

I attach a picture of the cottages and one of the stone with the carved inscription. The date is 1907 so it may be NS2 or it might just be to commemorate the Kings horse? [after which the airship was originally named - Ed.].

Any info would be interesting. Many thanks."

VICKERS SUBMARINE SUNK BY FRENCH AIRSHIP?

Submarine D3 was launched in May 1910 in Vickers Shipyard Barrow in Furness. On 7th March 1918 she left Gosport on an anti-submarine patrol in the English Channel commanded by Lt. Wm. McDougall Maitland of the Royal Canadian Navy. Little is known of her patrol movements but it is believed that a submarine spotted by a Royal Naval Air Service airship on 11th March was D3.

On the 12th March 1918 the French airship AT-0 was patrolling off Fecamp when at 14.20 hours a submarine was seen. The airship drew close for recognition purposes, and according to her Captain the submarine fired rockets at his ship. Four 52 kilogramme bombs were dropped by the airship. The submarine disappeared but several minutes later men were seen in the water. Attempts were made by the airship to rescue the men but it proved too difficult. The airship withdrew to seek help but all the men had drowned by the time it arrived. It was later confirmed that four men actually escaped from the wreck but did not survive. It is clear that D3 was the victim of a serious identification error on the part of the French airship, the identification rockets being mistaken for a U-Boat's aggressive gunfire.

Has any reader any information on the French Airship AT-0 and its ultimate fate please ?

INFORMATION -

Dirigible Editor
Giles Camplin
67 Gordon Road, London SE15 2AF
Tel/Fax 0207 732 0488
giles.camplin@gmail.com

Dirigible is the official journal of the Airship Heritage Trust. It is published by the Trust three times a year and is distributed free to all current members. Back numbers of Dirigible are available for sale to the public at the Trust's discretion.

The Editor of Dirigible is pleased to consider articles, correspondence and other contributions for inclusion in Dirigible, (also 'review copies' of new publications and journals) on all matters concerned with the preservation and history of airships and relevant lighter-than-air flight.

To submit articles, photographs or comments; or to request advertising information, write to: AHT Publications, 67 Gordon Road, London SE15 2AF (Tel/Fax 0207 732 0488). All submitted articles and photographs required for return must be accompanied by a suitably addressed envelope and full return postage. No responsibility can be assumed for unsolicited materials.

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