1947 Press Photo Crew members of the ill fated Bessie rescued by the Coast Guard

Rescued dripping from the Pacific and returned safely are crew members of Bessie, the wayward blimp known officially in Uncle Sam's Navy as K99. In one final spree July 14 Bessie bombed down into the Ocean spilling her crew with their life rafts and Nae Wests; then with the breeze she floated aloft again unmanned and on her own. In spite of the worried Navy plane tagging along behind, Big Fat Bessie continued blissfully 40 miles to her doom on the side of Fickle Hill, near Eureka, California, where she broke in two. Saved by the Coast Guard, crew members are shown (front, left to right) Lieut. John Butler; Lieut. Duane DeVaney; Lieut. Britten Goetze; (back left to right) W. E. Ripley and Paul Bennet, both of California Division of Fish and Game; Schuyler Borum, Aviation Radioman 2/C; William Alley, Aviation Machinists Mate 2/C; Victerie Lesite, seaman 2/C; Tommy Theetekates, pharmacists mate 2/C; Wallace Knutsen, Aviaton Radioman 2/C D.M. Fry, California Division of Fish and Game.

Photo is dated 1947.

Photo measures 9 x 7 inches.