Experiments on the aerial bombing of water crafts off Virginia Capes in the United States. C-Class airship (blimp) on mooring mast and in flight over the water. Bombing crews gathered in field for briefing. Mass takeoffs of SE-5A scout planes, a 2 seater DeHaviland-4B and Martin Bombers NBS-1. U.S. Navy battleship of the Atlantic Fleet watch the maneuvers. Bombing observation ships, the seaplane tender USS Shawmut and transport USS Henderson at sea. 4 ex-German vessels - The submarine U-117, destroyer G-102, cruiser Frankfort, and battleship of the First Class the Ostfriesland at sea. Brigadier General William Mitchell observes the bombing from a DH-4 while U.S. Navy's Captain Moffet observes from a USN NC-8. June 21, 1921: The bombing begins with starting shots on the U-117. Three 163lb HE bombs dropped on the submarine. The submarine half submerged and its debris on the surface after sinking. July 13, 1921: The destroyer G-102 bombed by an Army aircraft. Smoke from the explosions.
Experiments on the aerial bombing of water crafts off Virginia Capes in the United States. July 13, 1921: Destroyer G-102 under bombing attack. Explosions in water around the ship. Two 300lb bombs, a direct hit on the ship. Smoke from the explosions. The destroyer on fire. Sinking by the bow.
Experiments on the aerial bombing of water crafts off Virginia Capes in the United States. July 18, 1921: The ex-German cruiser Frankfort (Frankfurt) at sea. The ship under bombing attack. Explosions near the ship. Aerial view of the attack. Explosions on the cruiser. A mushroom cloud of black smoke. Fragments of the vessel. 600lb bomb loosens all her bow plates. The cruiser going down. Turbulence and debris cause bubbles on the water surface as she sinks completely.
Bombing of an old German battleship Ostfriesland in Virginia Capes in United States in July, 1921. Admiral RE Coontz along with other officers aboard United States ship Henderson. Battleship Pennsylvania and another ship Olympia underway at sea. German battleship Ostfriesland underway. A plane drops bomb on the battle ship and smoke rises. Aerial views of the smoke rising from the ship. A 2000 pound airplane bomb strikes the battleship and explosion occurs resulting in sinking of the ship. Ship sinks slowly and moves below the water.