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The Defender was built by the Goodyear Aircraft Company of Akron, Ohio and was the largest non-rigid airship (blimp) in the company’s fleet of airships that were used for advertising and as passenger airships. In 1935, the US Navy, instead of developing a new design airship, purchased the Defender for use as a trainer and utility airship assigning to it the designator G-1. Additional G-class airships were bought during World War II to support training needs.

After the purchase the G-1 on September 23, 1935 it was in constant use until it was lost in a mid-air collision on June 8, 1942 with another blimp, the L-1. The two blimps were conducting experimental visual and photographic observations during night flight. Although twelve people were killed in the crash, the G-1 had demonstrated her capabilities as a trainer and utility blimp. As the Navy needed additional training airships during the World War II war time build up, a contract was awarded on December 24, 1942 for seven more G-class airships. These were assigned the designation Goodyear ZNN-G. (Z = lighter-than-air; N = non-rigid; N = trainer; G = type/class). The envelope size of these new G-class blimps was increased over that of the G-1 by 13,700 cubic feet.

Airships G-2 through G-5 were delivered by late 1943 and G-6 through G-8 followed in early 1944. They were used for training mainly from the two major lighter-than-air bases, NAS Lakehurst and NAS Moffett Field on the southern edge of the San Francisco Bay.

• Crew: Two
• Volume: 183,000 ft³ (5,180 m³)
• Length: 187 ft (57 m)
• Width: -
• Height: -
• Empty: -
• Loaded: -
• Powerplant: Two, Wright R-760 Whirlwinds, pusher mounted, 225 hp (168 kW)

• Maximum speed: 70 mph (112 km/h, 65 kt)
• Range: -

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