Reliance (airship)
The Reliance was a helium- filled airship of the type ZPG-3W , which was built in 1958 in Akron , Ohio , by Goodyear . The US Navy owned four N-Class units of this type . The built-in radar should detect approaching missiles with nuclear warheads. They were all stationed at Lakehurst Naval Air Station , Ocean County , New Jersey . On July 6, 1960 it was on a training flight under Lt. Joseph Saniuk. At 2:30 p.m., the shell was damaged. It fell off Long Islandinto the sea. The cause was probably overpressure. Fishing boats went to the site of the accident, including the Doris May III and the Blue Chip, but 18 of the 21 crew members were killed.