Captain Mark L. Bristol, the second Director of Naval Aviation, supported the development of the dirigible in the anti-submarine role.

[8] The gondola control car, built by George Lawley & Son of Dorchester, Massachusetts, was a large rectangular box with two four-bladed propellers on outriggers.

There were originally two engines, built by the B. F. Sturtevant Company of Hyde Park, MA, mounted in the open gondola, and the propellers could be swiveled to provide thrust in either the horizontal or vertical planes.

Crew member Petty Officer James F. Shade, up to his chin in the water, invited spectators to come aboard for "the first submerged flight of the DN-1.

DN-1 lacked lift, barely met the speed requirement of 35 miles per hour (56 km/h) and the transmission overheated, melting the bearings.

The DN-1 was piloted for its first flight by LCDR Frank M. McCrary USN, LT Stanley V. Parker assisted by PO Jimmy Shade.

It did, however, actually fly and since the firm had built the ship in good faith and at a cost greatly in excess of the contract price[$45,636], it was formally accepted.

"[17] The DN-1 was an inept failure, being barely capable of flight, delivered long after the planned time, and way over budget.