Page 31 - Cadet Review Autumn 2021
P. 31

                                 HULL SEA CADETS – TS IRON DUKE
HULL MINSTER – 22 AUGUST 2021 – MARKING THE 100 YEARS SINCE THE AIRSHIP R38/ZR2 DISASTER IN HULL
Representatives from TS Iron Duke were invited to attend this service of commemoration to mark 100 years since the airship crashed into the Humber Estuary. Airship R38/ZR2 exploded mid-flight and came down in front of thousands of onlookers, killing 44 of its 49 crew – 16 of the 17 Americans and 28 of 32 British personnel on board. One can only imagine the horror of witnessing such an event, particularly as the airship was deemed advanced for the time in 1921, larger, faster and could fly higher than any of its predecessors.
It had been offered to the US Navy before it was finished, with plans to fly it across the Atlantic to join the country’s fleet of airships. The US Navy demanded significant changes/modifications and problems were discovered during test flights in June and July with repairs being undertaken at Howden. This was the 4th and final test flight when disaster struck and the effect of this
disaster caused ramifica- tions for future air travel. Attending the Service were Air Commodore Ian Stewart CBE DL RAF, the
Lord Mayor of Hull and Admiral of the Humber, with her Consort. AC Josh Smith (Lord Mayor’s Cadet) from TS Iron Duke, accompanied the Lord Mayor.
The Bible Reading was
read by Air Commodore
Stewart, The Roll of Honour was read by Air Vice Marshal Clare Walton RAF (British Personnel) and Captain Kevin Quarderer USN (American Personnel). Also in attendance were the Colors Parade Team – 48th Fighter Wing Honor Guard based at RAF Lakenheath, who accompanied the Standard Bearers led by Piper Ian Ashley of the RAF Waddington Pipe Band.
After the Service attendees were invited to visit the grave and memorial of crash victims buried at Hull Western Cemetery for a two-minute silence. The bodies of the American crew were returned home at the time. A Spitfire made a fly-past in tribute.
Group photo
     Lord Mayor’s Consort, Captain Kevin Quarderer USN,
 Colors Parade Team – 48th Fighter
 Wing Honor Guard, RAF Lakenheath
 The Lord Mayor of Kingston upon Hull
 and Admiral of the Humber and AC Josh Smith
  (left to right) Colors Parade Team – 48th Fighter Wing Honor Guard,
 Captain Kevin Quarderer USN, ACs Ben Atkinson, Alfie Holah and Josh Smith
    Piper (Ian Ashley of the RAF Waddington
Colors Parade Team with Air Vice
  Pipe Band) and the Standard Bearers
Marshal Clare Walton RAF
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