CURLY:- About that time, Two new ships, Which had been ordered for the war Five years too late. Were finally ready for their trials; Though now of course they didn't have The cash to fly either of them... One was built by Vickers, A smallish ship they called R.80. I got to fly her but just for a month or so. The government took one look And made us fly her to the scrap yard. They had good reason: She showed up the other ship, And this one was Their very own masterpiece. Built by the Royal Airship Factory And designed by A War Office committee...
CHAIRMAN:- His Majesty's Government Have asked us for an airship That is better than Anything the Germans have. Now what, Gentlemen, Should our requirements be,
JUNIOR COMMITTEEMAN:- Well, I suppose it would be best If it were faster.
SENIOR COMMITTEEMAN:- Yes jolly good, and why not tell them That we want it to fly higher as well?...
CHAIRMAN:- A capital idea! And while they're at it they can also Make it fly further And make it carry more Guns and bombs and so forth...
The Admiralty Naval Architects Can build it. Well, they design our submarines, Don't they; Mean to say, Must be much the same idea. They're both dangerous And expensive And shaped like a sausage...
CURLY:- The Corps of Naval Constructors Did what they were told; Of course they did. But to do it they had to build The biggest airship in the world. To try and save weight, They made the whole framework Insanely light and flimsy, Then festooned this freakish nightmare With more and more engines Until it was dangerously overpowered...
The Air Ministry Were strapped for cash and arranged To sell the new ship To the American Navy. We didn't know what a horror they'd built; We were sore that the Yankees Were going to get our new toy.