Lakehurst, on the other hand, lay in an exposed position, in the path of coast-wise storms, a frequent battle-ground between onshore winds from the ocean and storms breaking over the mountains from the west. A study made later to determine bases for projected American passenger operations showed that of weather conditions prevailing between Boston and the Virginia Cape, those at Lakehurst were almost the most unfavorable.
Four stages in the evolution of the mooring mast. At the outset large ground crews held the ship on the ground.
Then a stub mast was placed atop a truck, to hold the ship on the ground, maneuver it in or out of the dock.
A high mast, made in sections, can be erected anywhere, anchored by guy wires, holds the airship securely against winds of gale force.
The little brother of the “Iron Horse”, which will receive the largest of the new Navy blimps, maneuver them on the field.
People knew little about airship operating when the Navy base was moved from Pensacola to Lakehurst on a waste site in the Jersey pine lands which the Army no longer needed after the war as a proving ground for its artillery.