Background
The USS Akron and Macon were lighter than air (LTA) aircraft carriers built for the US Navy in the 1930’s. Filled with Helium, ach rigid airship was designed to carry five single-seat Curtiss F9C Sparrowhawks for scouting or two-seat Fleet N2Y-1 biplanes for training. A gondola was also designed to be lowered through the cloud layer for aerial surveillance. Both rigid airships crashed within two years after becoming operational. There’s a good article on these craft at: https://www.airships.net/us-navy-rigid-airships/uss-akron-macon/ .