Charles Gray “Petit” Little was born on July 9, 1895 in Newburyport, Massachusetts. He was the son of Henry B. Little and Fanny Gray Little. He served as a Lieutenant in the US Navy aboard R38/ZR-2 during World War I.

LT Little was killed when the experimental dirigible R-38 broke up and exploded in England on it 4th and final test flight prior to being purchased by the U.S. Navy from the British who built the airship. The intentions were for America to utilize this ship during WWI and become the main means of transportation in the future. A total of 44 men lost there lives 17 were Americans. Witnesses said it appeared to break in the middle and the front half exploded, the tail end fell in the Humber River, Hull, England, there were 4 survivors pulled from it. One being the pilot.

Cause of Explosion: Zepplins fly on hydrogen and as a result of their highly flammable lifting gas, it exploded over the river with thousands of spectators on the shore watching this amazing aircraft take off. No one on the shore-side were injured.

LT Little is now buried in the Oak Hill Cemetery, Newburyport, Essex County, Massachusetts, USA.

Navy Cross Citation:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Charles G. Little, United States Navy (Reserve Force), for distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of a dirigible engaged in patrol and convoy flights, in the War Zone, in which operations he did exceptional work, pushing his flights to the limits of physical and material endurance.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com