Larry Verstraete - Surviving the Hindenburg

For Stephen and Kristynear to my heart though far away.

LARRY

To my dear wife, Pat, who keeps me in the manner to which I have become accustomed.

DAVID

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I am indebted to Werner Franz for the gift that is his story; to my wife, Jo, who encouraged me to write it; to my editor, Amy Lennex, and the rest of the Sleeping Bear team for seeing promise in the idea; and to Hindenburg authority Patrick Russell for ensuring that the story was told correctly. Thank you each and every one.

LARRY

I wish to thank my friends Daniel Martin, who helped me bring Werner to life, and Aaron Novodvorsky, my ever-dependable research assistant.

Special thanks are due to Patrick Russellhis knowledge of the Hindenburg and her passengers was invaluable to me during the researching and painting for this book.

DAVID

Text Copyright 2012 Larry Verstraete
Illustration Copyright 2012 David Geister

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any
manner without the express written consent of the publisher, except in
the case of brief excerpts in critical reviews and articles. All inquiries
should be addressed to:

Sleeping Bear Press

315 E. Eisenhower Parkway, Suite 200
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
www.sleepingbearpress.com

Sleeping Bear Press is an imprint of Gale.

Printed and bound China.

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Verstraete, Larry.
Surviving the Hindenburg / by Larry Verstraete ;
illustrated by David Geister.
p. cm.
Summary: Based on a true story, fourteen-year-old Werner Franz
works as a cabin boy aboard the German zeppelin, the Hindenburg,
and resourcefully survives its fatal crash--Provided by publisher.

ISBN 978-1-58536-787-0

1. Hindenburg (Airship)Juvenile literature. 2. Aircraft accidentsNew
JerseyHistory20th centuryJuvenile literature. 3. AirshipsGermany
History20th centuryJuvenile literature. 4. Franz, Werner, 1922
Juvenile literature. 5. Cabin boysGermanyBiographyJuvenile
literature. 6. Aircraft accident victimsNew JerseyBiographyJuvenile
literature. 7. SurvivalNew JerseyHistory20th centuryJuvenile
literature. I. Geister, David, ill. II. Title.
TL659.H5V47 2012
363.124dc23

2011027879

Surviving the

HINDENBURG

Written by Larry Verstraete and Illustrated by David Geister

L ong ago when air travel across the ocean was just beginning, mighty zeppelins ruled the skies. Zeppelins were giant airships. They had metal frames that were covered with fabric. Inside, between the framework, inflatable bags held lighter-than-air gases that gave the zeppelins lift. Engines attached to the outside of the hull pushed the airships forward. Zeppelins defied gravity, skimming beneath the clouds, floating on air much as a ship floats on water.

Of all the great zeppelins, the largest was the Hindenburg. Built in Friedrichshafen, Germany, and launched in 1936, the Hindenburg was 804 feet long, just slightly shorter than the Titanic. As tall as a 13-story building, the Hindenburg had two main living areas tucked within its cavernous interioran upper deck for passengers and a lo wer deck that contained the crews quarters and other passenger rooms. When its massive gas cells were filled with hydrogen, a highly flammable gas, the Hindenburg could transport an immense load using very little power.

The Hindenburg was the worlds first flying hotel, a luxury aircraft built for long-distance travel across the ocean. With the Hindenburg, the future of air travel looked bright.

All that changed in a single day. On May 6, 1937, after crossing from Germany to the United States, the Hindenburg was destroyed by fire as it attempted a landing at the Lakehurst Naval Base in New Jersey.

Incredibly, of the 36 passengers and 61 crew members aboard that day, 62 people survived. This is the story of the youngest crew member, Werner Franz.

A s the Hindenburgs cabin boy, 14-year-old Werner had many chores to do for the officers and crewsetting tables, washing dishes, making beds, cleaning boots and uniforms. Much of the time, Werner worked and lived on the lower deck. He helped the cooks in the small kitchen, ate his meals in the crew mess, or dining room, and slept in a snug bed inside a tiny compartment with canvas walls that he shared with one of the stewards.

To reach other places inside the airship, Werner walked the keel gangway, a narrow wooden path that ran through the belly of the Hindenburg from the stern at the back to the bow at the front. Using the gangway, he sometimes visited the mechanics stationed in the outer side pods who manned the four roaring engines and the riggers who worked overhead, keeping a watchful eye on the gas cells and hydrogen. In the control car, the captain and officers piloted the Hindenburg, steering it into helpful air currents and past dangerous storms. Sometimes Werner visited them, too, and brought along coffee.

But of all the places on the Hindenburg, Werners favorite was a small area in the bow. From a window, Werner looked down at the blue and choppy Atlantic Ocean and at sailboats rising and falling with the waves. Icebergs gleamed white in the sun. Sometimes, in stormy weather, Werner even saw lightning flash from cloud to cloud.

Werner went to this quiet place by himself. I couldnt pull myself away from the window, Werner would say later. I was sorry when I had to do some work.

On the morning of May 6, 1937, the third day of the Hindenburgs flight, the scenery began to change. Instead of ocean, Werner saw the seashore of Nova Scotia, Canada. Then the eastern part of United States appeared.

Excitement swept the Hindenburg. Passengers huddled around the windows of the upper deck. The Hindenburgs journey was coming to an end.

By mid-afternoon, the Hindenburg was over New York City. It circled above the busy streets of Manhattan, skimming over skyscrapers. Below, trolley cars clanged their bells. Taxi drivers honked a greeting. From the observation deck of the Empire State Building, curious tourists waved.

We saw nothing but an ocean of buildings far and wide, Werner wrote in his journal afterward. The sidewalks were swarming with people.

The Hindenburg was due to land at Lakehurst, New Jersey. But strong headwinds over the Atlantic had slowed the airship. By the time the Hindenburg neared the airfield at four oclock, it was already almost 12 hours late.

Time was a precious thing, especially for Werner, especially that day.

The Hindenburg was scheduled to return to Frankfurt, Germany, later that evening. Because it was Werners first visit to the United States, he had dreamed of visiting New York City in the few hours between arrival and departure. But now