U-134 was attacked by K-74 of ZP-21 on July 18, 1943

        In July of 1943 workers at the Goodyear plant near Akron, Ohio were shown the final product of their labors.  Airships were not normally seen at the plant because inflation and final assembly was performed at the nearby 1918 Wingfoot Lake hangar.  The next ship off the line, for no particular reason the K-74, roared in and was masted in front of the workers.

        During the ceromonies, LT Joy Bright Hancock, herself twice widowed by the rigid airship program, christened the K-74.  CAPT C.V.S. Knox, Officer In Charge of war production at several Ohio plants and a rigid airship veteran, looks on with RADM S.E. Rosendahl, Chief of Naval Airship Training and Experimentation, in from Lakehurst.

        On August 30, 1944, Commander H.C. Spicer, Jr., acting for Commander, Fleet Airships, Atlantic presents the Purple Heart to AMM2/c J. L. Schmidt (at left), ARM2/c J.F. Rice (middle),and Ensign John Jandrowitz, all members of the crew of K-74, for injuries suffered in the action against an enemy submarine.  Ensign Jandrowitz was at the controls of K-74 and was comissioned after the attack.

 

        During her final patrol U-134 was attacked by airship K-74 of squadron ZP-21 based at NAS Richmond, Florida.  Records and photographs concerning this of this one-of-a-kind attack were generously provided by Richard G. Van Treuren of the Naval Airship Association.  See the links below to learn more about the Naval Airship Association and K-74's attack on U-134.
     
  The Naval Airship Association gathers, perpetuates and disseminates the Lighter-Than-Air expertise and knowledge accumulated during the U.S. Navy’s development and employment of L.T.A. principles.  Click on the icon at left to proceed to the Naval Airship Asociation website.
     
  The Gold Coast Railway Museum was formed in 1957 to preserve pieses of Florida history.  The museum is located on the former site of NAS Ricmond.  Their website contains pages on Naval Air Station Richmond and an article on K-74's attack on U-134 written by YNC Anthony Attwood.  Click on the Icon at left to proceed to the Gold Coast Railroad Museum's website page on K-74's attack.
     
  Kite Balloons to Airships...the Navy's Lighter-than-Air Experience is an excellent reference for information about the Navy's lighter-than-air experiences and history.  Click on the icon at left proceed to the US Navy Historical Center website page on Kite Ballons to Airships.
     
  LT Joy Bright Hancock, pictured above christening K-74, had a long and distinguished carer in the US Navy serving in both WWI and II and becoming WAVES director in 1946.  Click on the image at left to proceed to the US Navy Historical Center website page on LT Joy Bright Hancock.

 

 

Click the icons to view the associated records
Messages from Gulf Sea Frontier to COMINCH and Commander Fleet Airship Wing Two concerning K-74 attack on July 18, 1943
Anti-Submarine Action by Aircraft (ASW-6) report completed after K-74's attack
Intercepted message from U-134 concerning the attack by K-74
Reconstructed KTB of U-134 after she failed to return to base
Photographs of airship operations at NAS Richmond, Florida
Photographs of airship operations
Click the icon at left for records and photos of other attacks on U-134 during her final patrol