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The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company created its Aeronautics Department in 1910, initially manufacturing rubber-infused fabrics and coatings for airplanes and lighter-than-air craft. In 1912, they constructed a balloon and began flying internationally.

Goodyear’s LTA airship business took off just as the United States joined the allied forces during the World War I. In 1917, Goodyear entered into a contract with the U.S. Navy and began a relationship that would continue into the early 1960s. During World War I the Navy turned to Goodyear to produce nine B-Type airships. In 1918, the Navy ordered an additional 15 C-Type airships, for deployment to their facility at Rockaway, Long Island, New York. When the first protype was constructed, Goodyear had not completed the construction of their production hanger near Akron, Ohio, so they constructed the airship at an amusement park in Chicago. Following the completion of the hanger, between 1917-1921 the Akron site became the Naval Airship Training station. According to Goodyear, approximately 600 U.S. Army and U.S. Navy officers and enlisted men were trained to fly B-Type and C-Type airships, along with tethered balloons, and free balloons.

Following WWI, the newly expanded Aeronautical Dept. was renamed the Goodyear Zeppelin Corporation (Zeppelin referred to LTA aircraft production, not an association with German LTA aircraft manufacturer, Luftschiffbau Zeppelin). Between 1929 to 1933, Goodyear constructed two rigid airships, featuring a full internal framework covered by an outer skin, USS Akron and USS Macon.