HMA 23X Class R.27 airship at Howden airship station.
This brief account is drawn from the superb research Brian Turpin has carried out in respect of British airships and I do not intend "tredding on toes" or copying his research, or that shown on the superb "www.airshipsonline.com" website. I would direct anyone with more than a passing interest to this website and also to Brian's published research.
The giant airship Number-One Rigid Shed at Howden were able to house a number of airships and prior to this incident the American Navy sent a contingent to Howden to learn the erection and operation of airships prior to their transfer back home. On 16th August 1918 a team of American riggers were attempting to effectively make a new airship from spare Submarine Scout Zero parts that had become American property. They were attaching the car of (possibly) SSZ.24 airship to the disused envelope of SSZ.23 airship to make a composite airship and to offer it as a gift to the British. During the process of rigging the airship some petrol was split. Later in the day a wireless operator came to test some wireless equipment in the car and was totally unaware of the spilt fuel that had soaked into the car. He turned on the wireless equipent and an electrical spark was generated. This unfortunately ignited petrol fumes and set fire to the composite airship. A huge fire combined with fuel and gas explosions resulted. Airships R.27, SSZ.38 and SSZ.54 were moored in the shed are were also severely damaged. The envelopes of SSZ.62 and SSZ.63 were also set on fire but their cars escaped damage. The hanger roof was also badly damaged but as it was metal largely stayed intact but was distorted. One man was on the shed roof undertaking look-out duties, he did not manage to climb down before the fire blocked his escape route and he was sadly killed. Others were almost certainly injured although their names are not known.