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However, even with improvements, the Macon struggled in performance amid mounting structural concerns. The airship ultimately met its fate when a design flaw in its upper fin led to its collapse in 1935. The Navy faced serious scrutiny, as doubts prevailed regarding the future of airships in a rapidly evolving aviation landscape dominated by faster and more versatile aircraft.
As World War II broke out, the vulnerability of naval shipping became apparent. On December 7, 1941, the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese fleet highlighted the consequences of inadequate surveillance, raising questions about whether Admiral Moffett's vision of a fleet of airships could have averted disaster.