R101 lengthening the ship by to add another gasbag, the R101 crashed in France during its maiden overseas voyage on 5 October 1930, killing 48 of the 54 people on board. Among the passengers killed were Lord Thomson, the Air Minister who had initiated the programme, senior government officials, and almost all the dirigible's designers from the Royal Airship Works. The crash of R101 effectively ended British airship development, and was one of the worst airship accidents of the 1930s. The loss of life was more than the 36 killed in the highly public "Hindenburg" disaster of 1937, though fewer than
R101 (South Africa) North West Province for about 7 Km before entering Limpopo. From Hammanskraal, it is parallel to the N1, passing through Pienaarsrivier. 20 Km north of Pienaarsrivier, the R101 stops being parallel to the N1 and makes a direct line for Bela Bela (Warmbaths) (17 Km), where it meets the R516. The R101 continues by way of a right-turn at Potgieter Road in Bela Bela and the route makes a 27 Km journey to Modimolle (Nylstroom). As a straight road passing through Modimolle central, it intersects with the R33. After passing the Phagameng suburb of Modimolle, the R101 turns east towards