History 

History 

LTA operations on the West Coast centered around the three main operating bases: Santa Ana, Moffett Field and Tillamook. NAS Moffett Field was the first operational LTA air station to be established after hositilities began. The first squadron assigned to the West Coast was Airship Patrol Squadron 32. The squadron was established on 31.January 1942, at Sunnyvale. A directive was signed by the CNO on 29. December 1941, authorizing the formation of ZP-32.

Work began immediately on the airships TC-13 and 14 to make them fit for service and prepare them for transportation from NAS Lakehurst to NAS Moffett Field. These two airships were the nucleus for ZP-32’s operations. On 7. January 1942, LCDR George F. Watson, the prospective commanding officer, left NAS Lakehurst headed for NAS Moffett Field. Five days after his departure, 11 railroad cars loaded with the dismantled TC-13 and 14, plus spare parts, tools and miscellaneous gear followed. The first of these cars reached NAS Moffett Field on 24. January 1942 and work on the TC-14 began the next day. The day after the squadron was established, the TC-14 made her first test flight. A week
later, on 8.February 1942, the TC-13 was placed in service and flown by the squadron.

The first mission for the TC-14 was on 4. February 1942 when she made a wartime patrol with other units of the Pacific fleet. On 23. February 1942 an enemy submarine lying off the coast of California shelled an oil field of Santa Barbara. ZP-32 sent the TC-14 to search for the submarine and to escort any merchant ships in the area. The airship flew from NAS Moffett Field to Morro Bay and operated in the area on 24. February 1942. She escorted several tankers and searched for the submarine without any definite results. Even though the airship did not locate the submarine, the squadron was able to demonstrate its capability to respond to crisis situations.

ZP-32 continued to expand its fleet of airships, receiving its first L-type airship on 28. February 1942. This new airship, L-6, was the former Reliance from  the Goodyear commerical fleet. The L-8 was received on 5. March 1942 and five days later the third L-type was accepted. It was the L-4, Goodyear’s former airship Resolute.

On 11. April 1942 the L-8 was ordered to perform a special freight mission. She departed San Francisco with a 137 Kilogram load and was ordered to rendezous with CV-8 USS Hornet off the coast of California. The freight was lowered by line to the deck of Hornet while the L-8 hovered over the carrier. The transfer required careful maneuvering of the airship to enable her to land the cargo on a clear spot on the flight deck. Most of the flight deck space was occupied by B-25s. The delivered freight was vital for the success of a secret mission. It consisted of parts for the B-25s which were en route to a carrier takeoff in the middle of the Pacific to make the famous Doolittle raid on Tokyo.

On 16. August 1942, the L-8 was involved in a bizarre incident that has never been completely solved. The L-8 left Treasure Island on a routine patrol off the coast of San Francisco. Several hours later the airship crashed in Dale City. The engines were not running even though there was adequate fuel. The
radio equipment was operative but there was no one on board. She took off with two crew members, LT Jr Grade Cody and Ensign Adams. No trace was ever found of either man and there was no indication of what happened to them. The airship had apparently drifted with the wind toward land, exceeded her pressure height and deflated, settling to earth at Dale City. The L-8 was salvaged and completely repaired. She continued serving the Navy during WW II and after the war was returned to Goodyear.