This Day in MendoHistory: October 17, 1924- A Navy Dirigible Sails Above Mendocino

On this day in Mendocino history…

October 17, 1924 – The big Navy dirigible, Shenandoah, sailed majestically over Mendocino at an altitude of 500 feet. The airship had left San Diego at 9 am the day before and was admired by thousands as she flew north along the California coast to Camp Lewis near Tacoma, Washington. In addition to a flight crew of 44, a newspaper correspondent and a motion picture camera man were on board.

The ship passed over San Francisco at night, and Point Arena reported her overhead about 10:30 in the morning. All other activity in Mendocino “was dropped to watch for the flying monster of the air.” About 11, she could be seen far down the coast with binoculars, but then disappeared because she was flying so low that the view was obscured by the hills. In a short time, she became visible just south of Kent Ranch.

Hundreds gathered to watch as the Shenandoah passed over town. The ship was 680 feet long, with 3 motors running. “In the distance, she resembled a huge bologna sausage covered with tin foil, but as she gradually came nearer winging her way slowly and deliberately along she showed up in all her majesty and power. The eager watcher could plainly see every detail with the naked eye. The subdued, steady murmur of the giant motors conveyed a sense of great power and very different from the sharp staccato bark of the ordinary flying machine. She passed almost overhead at 11:40 am and with a glass, passengers could be observed in her cabins located forward and under the body of the craft.”

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