‘Mystery of the L-8 Ghost Blimp: A WWII Crew Lost Without a Trace’ Webinar

August 16, 1942. It was a calm morning over San Francisco Bay when a U.S. Navy blimp lifted off on a standard patrol, only to return hours later, eerily empty. Where did the crew go, and how could an airship land perfectly intact without a single member aboard? It's time to unravel one of the most perplexing aviation mysteries of the 20th century.

Join New York Adventure Club as we investigate the strange and unsettling true story of the L-8 blimp — a wartime aircraft that returned to base without its crew, sparking decades of speculation, investigation, and unanswered questions about what really happened in the skies that day.

Led by author John J. Geoghegan, our haunting experience will include:

• An overview of wartime blimp patrols along the U.S. West Coast — why the Navy deployed airships to monitor for enemy submarines during World War II
• A detailed account of the L-8’s mysterious flight — from its takeoff at Treasure Island to its silent, pilotless landing in Daly City
• Insights into the crew’s last known communications — including the report of a suspicious oil slick and their final transmission
• An overview of the Navy’s immediate response — what investigators found aboard, and why the blimp appeared untouched
• A deep dive into the most prominent theories — ranging from mechanical failure and mid-air mishap to more speculative explanations
• Rare photographs and archival film footage — visual documentation that brings this strange World War II mystery to life

Afterward, we'll have a Q&A with John — any and all questions are welcomed and encouraged.

Can't make it live? Don't worry, you'll have access to the full replay for one week.

See you there, virtually!

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***A full replay of the experience will be available to all registered guests for up to a week

****If the event has already passed, but it's been less than a week, you can still register for it on our website's active replay section!

About John

John J. Geoghegan is a journalist, author, and historian with a passion for the stranger side of science, engineering, and military innovation. He is the author of White Elephant Technology: 50 Crazy Inventions That Should Have Never Been Built and Operation Storm: Japan's Top Secret Submarines and Its Plan to Change the Course of World War II, a detailed account of the largest submarines ever built until the nuclear age. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, Smithsonian Air & Space, and Popular Science, among others. With a storyteller’s flair and a historian’s rigor, John brings to life the forgotten projects and puzzling mysteries that continue to fascinate.

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Categories: Virtual, Moments in History