In the Dutch magazine called De Prins dated 7 October 1911 page 176 was an photo published of the wreck.
The magazine Popular Science, May 1935 mentioned that in England in 1911 the first attempt was done to built a airship costs 400.000 dollars. The people who doubted if she was ever able to fly nicknamed her Won’t-fly. Her fate was disastrous, she even came loose from the ground breaking in two parts due to her weight. The same magazine published in March 1912 a drawing of the ship while collapsing.
According to sir Frederick Hugh Sykes’ Aviation in Peace of War (1922), p. 31 was her building 21 July 1908 approved by admiral Bacon.
The Dutch newspaper Het nieuws van den dag voor Nederlandsch Indië daily edition dated 26 October 1911 supplied more details. The Mayfly which costs were more as 70.000 pound was wrecked within some minutes when her first flight was to be undertaken. Hardly left she the sheds at Barrow-in-Furness and brought to the Cavendish Dock or the large outer balloon broke in two parts. Within the outer balloon were the smaller balloons filled with gas. Within an instant was the giant Mayfly of which such was expected a wreck floating on the water. She was designed to fly and to float on water. Probably this disaster was caused by the exploding of one of the 17 balloons, followed by others which were more suited in the middle of the ship. Her crew of five men in the gondola sprung overboard in the water and swum away. All spectators fled panic in haste afraid for an explosion. The wrecked was transport back to the shed still hoping that she could be repaired. An expert of the newspaper Daily News remarked that in circle aviations all ready was predicted that she would have a shore life. Two years ago started the building at the yard of Vickers of this ship built of the Zeppelin-design. Experts had gone to Germany for more information. She was not earlier as may 1911 completed but all ready it was clear that she didn’t satisfy the demands ordered for the building. Due to her sized and weight her lifting capacity wasn’t sufficient and constantly were during the building new problems discovered.
For much more information see the next link: http://www.century-of-flight.net/Aviation%20history/coming%20of%20age/HMA%201%20Mayfly.htm
On this weblog is alsi an article published dealing with the needed hydrogen, follow the link http://warshipsresearch.blogspot.com/2011/09/dutch-hydrogen-for-british-navy-airship.html
