DIRIGIBLE HINDENBURG CRASHES & BURNS AT LAKEHURST
Lakehurst, New Jersey (JFK+50) On May 6, 1937, the German dirigible Hindenburg*, the largest aircraft ever to fly, exploded, crashed and burned at the airfield of the Naval Station here in Lakehurst.
35 of 97 passengers and crew on board died in the tragedy along with one on the ground. The victims included 13 passengers and 22 crew. Miraculously, there were 62 survivors many who waited until the airship neared the ground before leaping out.
Herb Morrison of WLS RADIO was recording a description of the Hindenburg coming into Lakehurst Naval Station when the tragedy occurred. The recording did not air until the following day.
As he witnessed the tragedy, Morrison spoke these words into his microphone...
"It's burst into flames. It's burning and bursting into flames...this is one of the worst catastrophes in the world...the frame is crashing to the ground, not quite to the mooring mast. Oh, the humanity."
*The Hindenburg (LZ129) was a rigid airship designed and built by the ZEPPELIN COMPANY. It was named in honor of Paul von Hindenburg, President of Germany (1925-1934).
The lift for the airship was provided by highly flammable hydrogen gas as the more preferable safer helium was rare and more expensive. The ship was propelled by 4 Daimier-Benz DB602 diesel engines with 1200 HP each with a maximum speed of 85 mph.
Lakehurst, New Jersey (JFK+50) On May 6, 1937, the German dirigible Hindenburg*, the largest aircraft ever to fly, exploded, crashed and burned at the airfield of the Naval Station here in Lakehurst.
35 of 97 passengers and crew on board died in the tragedy along with one on the ground. The victims included 13 passengers and 22 crew. Miraculously, there were 62 survivors many who waited until the airship neared the ground before leaping out.
Herb Morrison of WLS RADIO was recording a description of the Hindenburg coming into Lakehurst Naval Station when the tragedy occurred. The recording did not air until the following day.
As he witnessed the tragedy, Morrison spoke these words into his microphone...
"It's burst into flames. It's burning and bursting into flames...this is one of the worst catastrophes in the world...the frame is crashing to the ground, not quite to the mooring mast. Oh, the humanity."
*The Hindenburg (LZ129) was a rigid airship designed and built by the ZEPPELIN COMPANY. It was named in honor of Paul von Hindenburg, President of Germany (1925-1934).
The lift for the airship was provided by highly flammable hydrogen gas as the more preferable safer helium was rare and more expensive. The ship was propelled by 4 Daimier-Benz DB602 diesel engines with 1200 HP each with a maximum speed of 85 mph.
The Hindenburg in Flames
May 6, 1937
Photo by Gus Pasquerella
