thumb|upright|Franked USS Akron penalty cover with 1933 Memorial Day cachet autographed by its only 3 survivors, and postmarked at Lakehurst on 24 June 1933, the day Macon first arrived thereAkrons loss spelled the beginning of the end for the rigid airship in the U.S. Navy, especially since one of her leading proponents, Rear Admiral William A. Moffett, was among the dead. President Roosevelt said, "The loss of the Akron with her crew of gallant officers and men is a national disaster. I grieve with the Nation and especially with the wives and families of the men who were lost. Ships can be replaced, but the Nation can ill afford to lose such men as Rear Admiral William A. Moffett and his shipmates who died with him upholding to the end the finest traditions of the United States Navy." The loss of the Akron was the largest loss of life in any airship crash.
thumb|upright|Franked USS Akron penalty cover with 1933 Memorial Day cachet autographed by its only 3 survivors and postmarked at Lakehurst on 24 June 1933 the day Macon first arrived thereAkrons loss spelled the beginning of the end for the rigid airship in the US Navy especially since one of her leading proponents Rear Admiral William A Moffett was among the dead President Roosevelt said "The loss of the Akron with her crew of gallant officers and men is a national disaster I grieve with the Nation and especially with the wives and families of the men who were lost Ships can be replaced but the Nation can ill afford to lose such men as Rear Admiral William A Moffett and his shipmates who died with him upholding to the end the finest traditions of the United States Navy" The loss of the Akron was the largest loss of life in any airship crash