The Roma, a semi-rigid airship, took to the skies from Langley Field, Va., on Feb. 21, 1922. The Roma took-off to test the new power plants. The nose had started to buckle not long after leaving the field and observers at the air station watched in horror as the elevator in the stern slipped out of place. With its controls jammed, the Roma crashed at the Army’s Quartermaster Depot outside Norfolk, struck high-voltage wires and blew apart. (U.S. Air Force photo)