Product Details

• Directors: R. G. Van Treuren
• Format: Black & White, Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• VHS Release Date: June 6, 1997
• Run Time: 90 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• ASIN: 0963974300
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #680,834 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Kent O'Grady reviews The Blimp Goes To War...Again VHS, May 13, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Blimp Goes To War Again [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Never before has such a conference of visual feast of World War II U.S. Navy lighter than air been assembled. The anti-submarine warfare role of the non-rigid airship in the United States is detailed from the 1930s to the conclusion of the war. Rare footage was acquired for presentation through the concerted efforts of the producer.

America's limited non-rigid airship construction by both the Army and Navy during the 1930s is covered at the start of the documentary. This sets the stage for the difficulties encountered as the U.S. enters the war, not having enough airships to deal with the onslaught of axis submarines. Authorization by Congress for small fleet of airships gives way to a rapidly expanded construction program as the mounting loss of shipping becomes intolerable. The mainstay of the Naval airship fleet, the K ship, is analyzed in construction and operation. The L type training ship is also presented, as are some of the less familiar airships utilized, such as the G type. The development of the LTA fleet is chronologically covered as the war progresses. The success of the K ship and search and rescue is detailed. Recently declassified information has been drawn upon to show that U.S. Navy airships were responsible for the destruction of axis U-boats. The M ship, proposed O ship, and airship operations in the Mediterranean are also detailed as the war draws to close.

Unexpected footage included a detailed look at the construction of the huge wooden airship hangers built at Weeksville, Richmond, Houma, Santa Ana, and Tillamook. There is a rarely seen clip of the dismantling of the ZMC-2, along with a World War II Russian naval airship in flight. The footage presented of K ships is comprehensive. There are few aspects of the video which are found wanting. Those not accustomed to the accents of the southern United States will have difficulty understanding the narrator [an actual WWII blimp pilot] at times. There a number of still photos presented and they tend to be phased out too quickly in order to move on to the next still. This means that the viewer cannot get a detailed view without recourse to the pause button the remote control. On the other hand, some enthusiasts will not resent this, because it allows access to more stills than could otherwise have been accommodated.

This production is the first major video to adequately deal with the U.S. Navy airship contribution to the Second World War. It is about time that people who were behind this heroic effort to be recognized by such a production. The Blimp Goes to War... Again covers a very important aspect LTA history. Any airship video library is incomplete without copy of it.