Flying Aircraft Carrier

Having served on an aircraft carrier in the Pacific Theater in World War II, I found Captain Beach’s article on naval air power (October/November 1986) of much interest. In his discussion of the Navy’s dirigible experience, I’m sure it was space limitations that prevented him from including the fact that the Macon was actually a flying aircraft carrier. It had the capability of launching, recovering, and hangaring observation planes while in the air and was engaged in this work shortly before its loss in 1935.