An accident or an attack? Many people wonder what happen on that fateful May 6, 1937. The great German airship Hindenburg lifted by bad weather over Lakehurst naval base, where 97 people aboard did not know what awaited them. It has a great influence on the further development of air travel. A disaster of airships luxury airline was about to began.
A dramatic live report
Herbert Morrison was reporter on a local station in New Jersey. Until the moment of disaster it was a beautiful sight, despite the dark storm clouds. Listeners were impressed by the comments of Morrison, until he suddenly shouted anxiously, “Oh, oh, oh, it’s on fire!” Hindenburg exploded and caused a fire that destroyed the airship within 32 seconds. Passengers and crew jumped for their lives. 20 crew members, 15 passengers and a ground crew member were killed.
The cause and the rumors
Was it sabotage? Or just an unfortunate coincidence? The large airship, filled with 198 100 m3 of hydrogen. Therefore he applied strict security which was well respected in other flights over the Atlantic Ocean. Aviation Authorities were stunned by what had happened and could only remember that it had something to do with the storm, which can result with the discharge of static electricity, called “St. Elms-fire”. Some witnesses had a view of the engine sparks which ignited the gas. Other crew members had heard a bang, just before the blaze which sounded like a cannon shot. Hitler German country was proud of his airship, and luxury so it was an interesting target for enemies of the Nazis. The large forces while taking sharp turns was enough to the structure to rupture and a cable snapped, one of the 16 huge hydrogen pockets near the tail ripped open, causing the airship to went down because of the escaping hydrogen. When the Hindenburg finally hung up the mooring mast, they let down the anchor cable guide.
An era of great memories for aviation, was suddenly in a deep hole and immediately marked the end for airships.
Theories
One of them says that the fire started in the shell of the balloon, which included cotton among other was impregnated with aluminum powder. According to this theory, a static discharge between the casing wet anchor ropes and put them on fire. There would be such a hole, leading to hydrogen leak, and could stir up the flame.
It is also possible that one of the anchor rope as a whip, and broke the shell, after which the aforementioned discharge the gas ignited.
Last theory says that it was sabotaged by acrobat Joseph Spah.