THE HINDENBERG DISASTER- FIVE MINUTES THAT ENDED THE AGE OF THE AIRSHIP
THE HINDENBURG DISASTER: 5 MINUTES THAT ENDED THE AGE OF THE AIRSHIP
AUDIO ARCHIVES | 1001 HISTORY'S BEST STORYTELLERS
On the evening of May 6, 1937, one of the wonders of the modern world floated toward the mooring mast at Lakehurst Naval Air Station in New Jersey.
The German passenger airship Hindenburg represented an extraordinary age of lighter-than-air travel. But as the great ship approached the end of its transatlantic voyage, fire suddenly broke out and the Hindenburg crashed to the ground. Thirty-five of the 97 people aboard died, along with one member of the ground crew. Remarkably, 62 aboard survived. [archives.gov]
Waiting at Lakehurst that evening was Morrison, a reporter for Chicago radio station WLS, accompanied by sound engineer Charles Nehlsen. They had gone there to record what was supposed to be the impressive arrival of the great airship and the opening of the 1937 transatlantic passenger season. [archives.gov]
Instead, Morrison became the eyewitness to catastrophe.
His calm description of the approaching airship suddenly gives way to one of the most emotional recordings in broadcasting history. Importantly, it was not originally broadcast live. Morrison's words were being captured on a transcription disc, and portions of the recording were broadcast the following day. [loc.gov], [archives.gov]
The recording became famous around the world and today survives as an extraordinary example of history captured at the instant it was happening.
THE ARCHIVAL RECORDING
Featured in this episode is Crash of the Hindenburg (Herbert Morrison, reporting), recorded May 6, 1937, featuring Morrison's eyewitness report from Lakehurst, New Jersey. The recording was later selected for the National Recording Registry in 2002, and the Library of Congress preserves Morrison's radio report of the disaster. [loc.gov], [loc.gov]
This remarkable recording is exactly what our new AUDIO ARCHIVES feature is about: not simply telling you what happened, but whenever possible, allowing you to hear history as it happened.
NEXT WEEK: EARHART: THE TRUTH AT LAST
And 1937 had another aviation mystery waiting.
Only 57 days after the Hindenburg disaster, on July 2, 1937, Amelia Earhart and navigator Noonan disappeared while attempting their historic flight around the world. They were flying from Lae, New Guinea toward tiny Howland Island when contact was lost. [history.com], [britannica.com]
No confirmed trace of Earhart or Noonan was found, and the disappearance became one of the enduring mysteries of modern history. [history.com]
Next week on AUDIO ARCHIVES, we'll bring you a special two-part presentation:
EARHART: THE TRUTH AT LAST
You'll hear the voice of Amelia Earhart herself, along with my rare, extended interview with Mike Campbell, author and longtime researcher of the theory that Earhart and Noonan survived their flight and fell into Japanese hands.
Two extraordinary aviation stories. Two events separated by just 57 days. And two moments from 1937 that the world has never forgotten.
Next week on 1001 History's Best Storytellers: AUDIO ARCHIVES.
