American History
Related: About this forumOn this day, May 6, 1937, the Hindenburg floated high over Manhattan on its way to NAS Lakehurst.
All is serene --
Well, that doesn't work anymore. Try this. I don't know when this was taken.
72,040 views Apr 5, 2010
John Meyer
3.1K subscribers
This is amateur silent 16mm film taken in New York City sometime in the mid-1930s. At approximately the 1:30 mark, you will see the German dirigible "Hindenburg" flying very low over the city. You will also see very well-dressed children (by today's standards) playing football.
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Final flight: May 36, 1937
Main article: Hindenburg disaster
After making the first South American flight of the 1937 season in late March, Hindenburg left Frankfurt for Lakehurst on the evening of May 3, on its first scheduled round trip between Europe and North America that season. Although strong headwinds slowed the crossing, the flight had otherwise proceeded routinely as it approached for a landing three days later.
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Flight
After opening its 1937 season by completing a single round-trip passage to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in late March, the Hindenburg departed from Frankfurt, Germany, on the evening of May 3, on the first of 10 round trips between Europe and the United States that were scheduled for its second year of commercial service. American Airlines had contracted with the operators of the Hindenburg to shuttle the passengers from Lakehurst to Newark for connections to airplane flights.
Except for strong headwinds that slowed its progress, the Atlantic crossing of the Hindenburg was otherwise unremarkable until the airship attempted an early-evening landing at Lakehurst three days later on May 6. Although carrying only half its full capacity of passengers (36 of 70) and crewmen (61, including 21 crewman trainees) for the accident flight, the Hindenburg was fully booked for its return flight. Many of the passengers with tickets to Germany were planning to attend the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in London the following week.
The Hindenburg over Manhattan, New York on May 6, 1937
The airship was hours behind schedule when it passed over Boston on the morning of May 6, and its landing at Lakehurst was expected to be further delayed because of afternoon thunderstorms. Advised of the poor weather conditions at Lakehurst, Captain Max Pruss charted a course over Manhattan Island, causing a public spectacle as people rushed out into the street to catch sight of the airship. After passing over the field at 4:00 p.m., Captain Pruss took passengers on a tour over the seasides of New Jersey while waiting for the weather to clear. After finally being notified at 6:22 p.m. that the storms had passed, Pruss directed the airship back to Lakehurst to make its landing almost half a day late. However, as this would leave much less time than anticipated to service and prepare the airship for its scheduled departure back to Europe, the public was informed that they would not be permitted at the mooring location or be able to visit aboard the Hindenburg during its stay in port.
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Thu Apr 4, 2024: On this day, April 4, 1936, the Hindenburg arrived in Rio de Janeiro.
Sat May 6, 2023: On this day, May 6, 1937, the Hindenburg floated high over Manhattan on its way to NAS Lakehurst.
Link to tweet
Tue Apr 4, 2023: On this day, April 4, 1936, the Hindenburg arrived in Rio de Janeiro.
Fri May 6, 2022: On this day, May 6, 1937, the Hindenburg floated high over Manhattan on its way to NAS Lakehurst.
Mon Apr 4, 2022: On this day, April 4, 1936, the Hindenburg arrived in Rio de Janeiro.
Thu May 6, 2021: On this day, May 6, 1937, the Hindenburg floated high over Manhattan on its way to NAS Lakehurst.
Sun Apr 4, 2021: On this day, April 4, 1936, the Hindenburg arrived in Rio de Janeiro, on the completion of
Wed May 6, 2020: On this day, May 6, 1937, the Hindenburg floated high over Manhattan on its way to NAS Lakehurst.
From Dennis Donovan: Mon May 6, 2019: 82 Years Ago Today; "Oh, the humanity!"
Wikipedia: Lakehurst Maxfield Field
Thu May 3, 2018: On May 3, 1937, the Hindenburg left Frankfurt for its first trip of the year to the US.
mahatmakanejeeves
(60,933 posts)Link to tweet
Fri May 12, 2023: Caskets of people killed on airship Hindenburg, waiting on New York pier for shipment to Germany
Not Heidi
(1,459 posts)One casket is draped with an American flag. I wonder if that, too, was sent to Nazi Germany.
mahatmakanejeeves
(60,933 posts)Don't know. American spouse of German-born passenger? US-born employee of firm based in Germany, whose whole family was living in Germany?
The answer is out there, I'm sure. I might try to dig that up.
Thanks, and good afternoon.
Not Heidi
(1,459 posts)Good afternoon to you.
3Hotdogs
(13,394 posts)8th Ave 'El. (elevated railroad).
Kids playing touch football in Washington Square Park -- wearing school clothes. In the 50's, we wore sneakers and (blue)jeans.
Double decker bus that wasn't for tourists. A tourist double decker is also shown on the video.
3Hotdogs
(13,394 posts)8th Ave 'El. (elevated railroad).
Kids playing touch football in Washington Square Park -- wearing school clothes. In the 50's, we wore sneakers and (blue)jeans.
Double decker bus that wasn't for tourists. A tourist double decker is also shown on the video.
My father's first Navy post, WW II, was at Lakehurst. Four years later, he was at Iwo Jima.
marybourg
(13,181 posts)Dont know exactly where he was living then- Bronx or Manhattan. During my childhood in the 1940s there were large blimps flying and as they nosed over the edge of an apartment building, low and slow, they were terrifying.
mahatmakanejeeves
(60,933 posts)Critical Past website. Warning: do not visit if you have things to do.
Caskets carrying victims of Hindenburg disaster being loaded aboard a German ship Hamburg for shipment to Germany in New York.
CriticalPast
319K subscribers
631 views Jun 18, 2014
CriticalPast is an archive of historic footage. The vintage footage in this video has been uploaded for research purposes, and is presented in unedited form. Some viewers may find some scenes or audio in this archival material to be unsettling or distressing. CriticalPast makes this media available for researchers and documentarians, and does not endorse or condone any behavior or message, implied or explicit, that is seen or heard in this video.
Link to order this clip:
https://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675051407_caskets_Nazi-flags_German-ship-Hamburg_United-States-officers
Historic Stock Footage Archival and Vintage Video Clips in HD.
Caskets carrying victims of Hindenburg disaster being loaded aboard a German ship Hamburg for shipment to Germany in New York.
Dead bodies of victims of Hindenburg disaster in New York, United States. People lined up on the pier to attend the funeral ceremonies of victims who lost their lives in the explosion of German airship Hindenburg in New York, United States. Nazi flags fly at half mast after the Hindenburg disaster. A Nazi General salutes as caskets wrapped in Nazi flags lined up on the pier. United States military officers at the ceremony. A casket wrapped in Nazi flag being hoisted aboard the German ship Hamburg for shipment to Germany. Location: New York United States. Date: May 12, 1937.
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ProfessorGAC
(69,861 posts)Interesting slice of history. Usually the who Hindenberg event ends with flaming hunk of twisted metal.
Still amazing more didn't get killed.