Michael Burgan - The Hindenburg in Flames: How a Photograph Marked the End of the Airship

Aviation historian Dan Grossman has been researching the technology and history ofrigid airships and zeppelins for more than 20 years. His educational website, www.airships.netoffers a wealth of information. Grossman lives in Atlanta, Georgia.

Michael Burgan has written many books for children and young adults during his 20years as a freelance writer. Most of his books have focused on history. Burgan haswon several awards for his writing. He lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

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Winds Delay Hindenburg; German Airship Expected Here This Evening, 12 Hours Late. The New York Times . 6 May 1937, p. 8.

Chapter One

For the people of New York City, May 6, 1937, was just another Thursday, anotherworkday in the city of 7 million people. The weather forecast for the day was mostlycloudy and cool, with showers in the morning. Readers of The New York Times who scannedthe headlines saw news from overseas. They also saw a story about efforts in Congressto give less money to people who were out of work. The United States and most ofthe world were still suffering from the Great Depression. The economic downturn,which had begun in 1929, had cost millions of people their jobs.

Turning to page eight of The Times , readers might have noticed a small article aboutthe delayed arrival of the airship Hindenburg . The giant aircraft was supposed tohave docked that morning at the Naval Air Station in Lakehurst, New Jersey, about50 miles (80 kilometers) south of New York City. But on May 5, as the Hindenburg neared the Atlantic coast of Canada, it ran into stiff winds that slowed its readers that speedy re-fueling will enable the airship to startits return trip at midnight.

The Hindenburg lazily floated over New York City on its way to the Naval Air Station in New Jersey.

The Hindenburg had begun regularly carrying passengers back and forth across theocean the year before. It followed the Graf Zeppelin , which had earlier traveledto Lakehurst two times before beginning regular service between Germany and SouthAmerica. At the time, the German airships were the only aircraft carrying passengersnonstop across the Atlantic Ocean. Passenger planes had just begun flying acrossthe Pacific the year before, but they had to make stops along the way. And theseearly commercial planes could not match the size and luxury of the Hindenburg .

The Hindenburg was just over 800 feet (244 meters) long, and its had a diameterof 135 feet (41 m). Its four engines could propel the airship at a top speed of 84miles (135 km) per hourmore than twice as fast as any surface ship of the era. Onthe inside, the Hindenburg and the dirigibles before it were modeled after the greatsteamships of the day. Since the invention of steam engines, the ocean liners hadbecome the fastest way to cross the Atlantic Ocean. And for people who could affordto travel first class, the ships offered fine dining and beautiful public rooms.