DIRIGIBLE HINDENBURG EXPLODES
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. There were 62 survivors many who waited until the airship neared the ground before leaping to the ground.
Herb Morrison** of WLS RADIO was recording a description of the Hindenburg coming into the naval station when the tragedy occurred.
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."
At the end of the recording as Morrison is losing his voice, he says...
"This is the worst thing I've ever witnessed."
*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. LZ129 was propelled by 4 Daimier-Benz DB602 diesel engines with 1200 HP each with a maximum speed of 85 mph.
**Herbert Oglevee Morrison (1905-1989) was born in Connellsville, PA & educated at Fairmont State University. HOM was assigned along with engineer Charlie Nehlsen to cover the arrival of the Hindenburg at Lakehurst. The radio men were equipped only with recording equipment, they had no means to broadcast live. HOM served in the Army Air Forces in WWII and was 1st news director at WTAE-TV in Pittsburgh.
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. There were 62 survivors many who waited until the airship neared the ground before leaping to the ground.
Herb Morrison** of WLS RADIO was recording a description of the Hindenburg coming into the naval station when the tragedy occurred.
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."
At the end of the recording as Morrison is losing his voice, he says...
"This is the worst thing I've ever witnessed."
*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. LZ129 was propelled by 4 Daimier-Benz DB602 diesel engines with 1200 HP each with a maximum speed of 85 mph.
**Herbert Oglevee Morrison (1905-1989) was born in Connellsville, PA & educated at Fairmont State University. HOM was assigned along with engineer Charlie Nehlsen to cover the arrival of the Hindenburg at Lakehurst. The radio men were equipped only with recording equipment, they had no means to broadcast live. HOM served in the Army Air Forces in WWII and was 1st news director at WTAE-TV in Pittsburgh.
The Hindenburg in Flames
May 6, 1937
Photo by Gus Pasquerella
