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N0KFQ > TODAY 06.05.12 22:36l 51 Lines 2288 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 22007_KB0WSA
Read: GUEST
Subj: Today in History - May 6
Path: IZ3LSV<IW0QNL<IK6ZDE<F1OYP<VE2PKT<ZL2BAU<N0KFQ<KB0WSA
Sent: 120506/2108Z 22007@KB0WSA.MO.USA.NA BPQ1.4.49
May 6, 1937:
Hindenburg explodes in New Jersey
On this day in 1937, the German airship Hindenburg, the largest
dirigible ever built, explodes as it arrives in Lakehurst, New
Jersey. Thirty-six people died in the fiery accident that has
since become iconic, in part because of the live radio broadcast
of the disaster.
The dirigible was built to be the fastest, largest and most
luxurious flying vessel of its time. It was more than 800 feet
long, had a range of 8,000 miles, could carry 97 passengers and
had a state-of-the-art Mercedes-Benz engine. It was filled with 7
million cubic feet of hydrogen, even though helium was known to
be far safer, because it made the flying ship more maneuverable.
The Hindenburg had made 10 successful ocean crossings the year
before and was held up by Germany's Nazi government as a symbol
of national pride. Flying at a speed of 85 miles per hour, the
Hindenburg was scheduled to arrive in New Jersey at 5 a.m. on May
6. However, weather conditions pushed the arrival back to the
late afternoon and then rain further delayed the docking at
Lakehurst. When the dirigible was finally cleared to dock,
Captain Max Pruss brought the ship in too fast and had to order a
reverse engine thrust. At 7:20 p.m., a gas leak was noticed.
Within minutes, the tail blew up, sending flames hundreds of feet
in the air and as far down as the ground below.
A chain reaction caused the entire vessel to burn instantly. The
nearly 1,000 spectators awaiting the Hindenburg's arrival felt
the heat from a mile away. Some on the blimp attempted to jump
for the landing cables at the docking station but most died when
they missed. Others waited to jump until the blimp was closer to
the ground as it fell. Those who were not critically injured from
burns often suffered broken bones from the jump. Fifty-six people
managed to survive.
On WLS radio, announcer Herbert Morrison gave an unforgettably
harrowing live account of the disaster, "Oh, oh, oh. It's burst
into flames. Get out of the way, please . . . this is terrible .
. . it's burning, bursting into flames, and is falling . . . Oh!
This is one of the worst . . . it's a terrific sight . . .oh, the
humanity."
73, K.O. n0kfq
N0KFQ @ KB0WSA.MO.USA.NA
E-mail: n0kfq@winlink.org
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