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Retrieving
the planes,
however
was a much
more difficult
process.
Like a performing
air stunt,
the pilots
had to equal
their speed
to that
of the ship
and "catch"
the trapeze
with a hook
at the top
of the plane.
The harness
would then
be attached
to the fuselage,
and the
aircraft
would be
raised.
Despite
the difficulty
of the maneuver,
the pilots,
known as
the "Men
on the Flying
Trapeze"
had a flawless
record on
both the
Akron and
Macon.
The ship
also came
equipped
with another
scouting
oddity known
as the "spy"
car. A cable
would lower
the amusing-looking
compartment
from the
airship
to a point
below cloud
cover up
to 1,000
feet. A
crewman
inside the
spy car
would then
telephone
back to
the main
control
room relaying
navigational
information.
The car
acted as
a sort of
reverse
periscope.
The Macon
and the
Akron were
built to
be the chief
scouts of
the Pacific
Fleet, providing
long-range
reconnaissance.
In addition
to providing
protection
for the
"aircraft
of the sky,"
the Sparrowhawks
and the
"spy"
car were
the ships'
main eyes.
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