Hello:

My name is Nancy E. Sheppard and I am a historian of Hampton Roads, VA. For the past two years, I have been researching for a book that I intend to write about the Airship Roma disaster, which occurred in Norfolk, VA on 21 February 1922.

It is my objective that, with my book, this forgotten disaster will be brought back to the forefront of minds and those who were aboard the Roma receive the recognition and honor that they deserve. Any information (pictures, letters, stories from family members, etc.) that you could provide me with would be incredibly helpful. A vast majority of both the victims and survivors served in World War I.

I've included a manifest of the men on board as well as my contact information below. Thank you so incredibly much!

Best,
Nancy E. Sheppard

AirshipRoma@gmail.com
NancySheppard0608@gmail.com

DEAD
MJR John G. Thornell
MJR Walter Bautemeier
CAPT Dale L. Mabry
CAPT Frederick H. Durrschmidt
CAPT George D. Watts
CAPT Allan P. McFarland
LT John P. Hall
LT Wallace C. Cummings
LT William E. Riley
LT Clifford E. Smythe
LT Ambrose Victor Clinton
LT Harold K. Hine
SGT Roger C. McNally
SGT James Murray
SGT Homer Gorby
SGT Lee M. Harris
SGT Louis Hilliard
SGT Marion Jethro Beall
SGT Edward M. Schumaker
SGT James M. Holmes
SGT William J. Ryan
SGT Virgil Hoffman
SGT Thomas A. Yarborough
CPL Gus Kingston
PVT Marion Hill
PVT Theron M. Blakely
PVT John E. Thompson
Walter W. Stryker (Civilian, McCook Air Field)
Robert J. Hanson (Civilian, McCook Air Field)
William O'Loughlin (Civilian, McCook Air Field)
Cressie R. Merriman (Civilian, McCook Air Field)
Charles Schullenberger (Civilian, McCook Air Field)

SURVIVORS

CAPT Walter Jay Reed
MJR John D. Reardon
LT Clarence A. Welch
LT Byron T. Burt
SGT Harry Chapman
SGT Joseph M. Biedenbach
SGT Alberto Flores
SGT Vernon Peek
Walter McNair (Civilian, Bureau of Standards)
Charles W. Dworack (Civilian, McCook Air Field)
Roy Hurley (Civilian, McCook Air Field)