Akron Ghost Tour

12. Ghost Blimp

Akron, OH

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Though this particular tale itself does not take place inside of Akron, it involves both an Akron resident and a blimp manufactured at this location. Plus, you have to admit that a Ghost Blimp is pretty awesome. During World War II, blimps routinely patrolled the region around San Francisco's Pacific coast on the lookout for Japanese submarines. On August 16th, 1942, one of the Blimp's pilots, Akron resident Ernest Cody, embarked on a simple mission: stop a submarine traveling from Treasure Island, a location just North of the Golden Gate Bridge. Cody left Moffett Airfield at 6:03am. By 7:42am, Cody had located what he thought was the Japanese Submarine, and radioed it in. This was the last time anyone heard from Cody. Several hours went by without any sight of the blimp, when from above the hilltops of Mussel Rock emerged the gray blimp. Observers saw the blimp floating aimlessly towards a rocky crest, where in crashed. Responders at Moffett sent a search and rescue team to investigate the crash, but upon arrival, the blimp mysteriously began to take flight again, but this time it headed towards the mainland. The blimp flew into Dale City, and along the outskirts of San Francisco, where it crashed on the intersection of Bellevue's 400 block, landing on two cars, and destroying several street signs and poles in the process. A volunteer fire fighter, William Morris, was the first to arrive on the scene. A crowd gathered around Mr. Morris as he approached the now deflated gray mask. To his surprise, the cabin door to the blimp was open, and there was no one inside. It appeared as if the blimp had flown itself for the past few hours, after the first crash. Although Ernest Cody's body was never found, his ghost reportedly haunted his widow and young daughter in Akron. Others claim that his apparition still lurks around the Goodyear factory where he once worked. The ghost blimp was restored and used as a Goodyear blimp for a short time. However, its temperamental ghostly activities once again became an issue and the Blimp was mothballed. Maybe Cody was trying to regain control of his ship? The blimp remains in storage, but beware, because the ghost blimp may rise again, in search of that Japanese submarine.