L-8 Control Car

Procured from Goodyear to support the expansion of Naval Aviation’s airship fleet, the L-8 delivered vital parts to USS Hornet (CV 8) after the carrier departed California carrying the Doolittle Raiders and their aircraft for their famous raid on Tokyo.  The L-8’s most famous flight inspired the nickname Ghost Ship, the blimp with the control car on display crashing in Daly City, California, on August 16, 1942, after launching on a patrol earlier in the day.  Its two-man crew was not on board and remains missing.  After its wartime service, the L-8 returned to civilian service as one of the famous Goodyear blimps that flew over landmark sporting events.