William J. Steele was born in 1895, husband of Lema C. Anderson Steele. He served as a Chief Machinist's Mate in the US Navy aboard R38/ZR-2 during World War I.
CMM Steel 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.
CMM Steel is now buried in the Forest Hill Cemetery, Greencastle, Putnam County, Indiana, USA.
Source of information: www.findagrave.com
Photo source: www.britishairshippeople.org.uk