Goodyear started flying its first airships in 1911. Over the years, Goodyear has dominated the American Blimp business. In preparation for World War II, Goodyear built more than 300 anti-submarine blimps of various sizes. Those airships operated from than 50 bases, flew 55,900 missions and never lost one of the 89,00 merchant and troop ships they escorted. Today, Goodyear operates blimps throughout the entire US, but it is Akron, Ohio that remains Goodyear's true home since 1917. Goodyear's blimps are generally thought of as one of the world's greatest advertising specimens.