Hindenburg Disaster

The Hindenburg disaster occurred on May 6, 1937, in Manchester Township, New Jersey, United States. The German passenger airship LZ 129 Hindenburg caught fire and was destroyed during its attempt to dock with its mooring mast at Naval Air Station Lakehurst. On board were 97 people; there were 36 fatalities.

 

This photo is an image of the famous Hindenburg crash. The famed balloon went up for it maiden voyage to show passengers and spectators alike the potential for balloon travel when a spark ignited the hydrogen that filled the airship while it attempted to dock. In all there were 36 fatalities and injuries as well.

 

The disaster was the subject of newsreel coverage, photographs, and Herbert Morrison's recorded radio eyewitness reports from the landing field, which were broadcast the next day. A variety of hypotheses have been put forward for both the cause of ignition and the initial fuel for the ensuing fire. The event shattered public confidence in the giant, passenger-carrying rigid airship and marked the abrupt end of the airship era