SUMMIT COUNTY, Ohio — The Goodyear Blimp is celebrating 100 years this year and now has been recognized by the county hosting its home base.
The Summit County Council honored the blimp at its committee meeting on Monday night, noting the history and cultural moments the blimp has had over the years.
“We congratulate Goodyear on the 100th anniversary of the beloved Goodyear Blimp,” said Council Vice President Erin Dickinson in a news release. “No matter where the Blimp makes an appearance on the globe, it always shines a light on Akron and Summit County with its very presence.”
Dickinson presented the commendation to Joni Fitch, Goodyear’s Director of Community Affairs & Engagement at the committee meeting.
Since the launch of the Pilgrim, Goodyear's first blimp, on June 3, 1925 more than 300 blimps have been built. A majority of these were used in the U.S. Navy and Army. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Goodyear's five public relation blimps and their crews were drafted into the navy.
The airships were also used to escort naval fleets during World War II as they could spot the enemy to prevent surprise attacks and engage with depth charges that drove submarines away. The airships flew over 37,000 missions and safely guided almost 90,000 vessels along the Atlantic.
The Goodyear Blimp made history again on Jan. 1, 1955, when it provided the first live aerial video for a national TV broadcast at the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game. The Goodyear Blimp has flown at more that 2,000 events, including championships for nearly every major sport and the Olympic Games. In 2019, it was the first non-player or coach inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.
There are four Goodyear Blimps stationed around the country and world, in California, Florida, Ohio and Germany.
