Career
He later commanded the United States Ship Shenandoah (ZR-1), which was the first rigid airship to complete a flight across North America. He was killed in the crash of the Shenandoah. Born in Greenville, Ohio, Lansdowne was appointed to the United States Naval Academy September 2, 1905 and commissioned Ensign June 5, 1911.
He subsequently served on the destroyer United States Ship McCall (Doctor of Divinity-28), and in the Ohio Naval Militia.
After completing his aviation training, he became Naval Aviator 105. Lansdowne was assigned to duty with the Royal Naval Air Service during and after World War I, to study dirigibles.
She was later remarried John Caswell Junior. on February 27, 1927. Caswell died on December 23, 1954 in Washington District of Columbia On February 11, 1924 Landsdowne took command of the rigid lighter-than-air ship, United States Ship Shenandoah (ZR-1), and was killed when she crashed at Ava, Ohio, September 3, 1925.
He was buried later that month in section four at Arlington National Cemetery.
The crash of the Shenandoah was the trigger for United States Army Colonel Billy Mitchell to heavily criticize the leadership of both the Army and the Navy, leading directly to his court-martial for insubordination and the end of his military career. Lansdowne was played by Jack Lord in the 1955 film The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell. Lansdowne"s house in Greenville still stands.
lieutenant is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The United States Ship Lansdowne (Doctor of Divinity-486), a Gleaves-class destroyer, and Lansdowne Airport in Youngstown, Ohio were named in his honor. Street in Carle Place, New York named in his honor.
Keirns, Aaron J., and Aaron J. Keirns. Airship Disaster: The Crash of the United States Ship Shenandoah.
Howard, Ohio: Little River Public, 2000.