Still unpacking from our UK trip, we’ll try to get back online here to report on the many developments over the next few days.
On the way to visit the Cardington sheds and AIRLANDER, we noted a great deal more development around the town than our previous visits. The Shorts building (above) has been carefully restored to its 1917 glory (note historical marker) and is used as office space. The marker notes its having been nationalized to become the Royal Airship Works during the “Empire of the Air” days. Shortstown, the community of homes built to house airship workers, has not only been restored and is occupied, but has actually grown – with great care taken that the new construction matches the style of the old.
Friends we’d made in aviation kindly took us under wing and we got to fly around, visit several museums, and land at WWII airfields, each with their own historical displays. Our pals from Grimsby kindly drove us to Hull and for a considerable search to find the R.38/ZR-2 memorial. Finally locating the monument, we found reading the names of the honored dead quite an emotional experience.