The Hindenburg Disaster
"Neither the hydrogen in the hull nor a bomb was to blame, but a special fabric from the outer skin that, when ignited, burns like dry leaves."
Table of Contents:
Plan of Investigation
..........................................................................................................
Summary of Evidence
.......................................................................................................
Evaluation of Sources
.......................................................................................................
Analysis
...........................................................................................................................
Conclusion
.......................................................................................................................
Sources
...........................................................................................................................
What was the real cause of the Hindenburg disaster?
Is hydrogen to blame, as was thought for so long or can new evidence over through that theory. Why has the story changed with the passing of time? How does our understanding of history change over time as more and more evidence is presented? This investigation will look at the newspaper from the day of the Hindenburg Disaster, and compare what was reported with newly revived sources from online. It will examine how the story has changed or evolved with the passage of time. It will explain the theories presd from both time frames, perspectives, and sides. Closely examining the data recovered from both the original investigation as well as the follow up more recently implemented, in an attempt to uncover the truth.
A. How it was reported.
At first there was talk of sabotages, many theories and different conspiracy ideas arose. This would be expected, involving a incident as much magnitude such as this. Hitler believed it to be a act of God, but all that was easily dismissed, the original real theory involving the cause of the crash is that the number two hydrogen tank exploded. They believed that there must have been a leak, and static electricity caused a spark and may have ignited the hydrogen thus causing a explosion.
A joint United States, Germany investigation took place shortly afterwards in order to confirm it, although there findings were unsure and the newspapers reported hydrogen to be the cause. There was never any real evidence to support this theory. The reason for this is that both Germany and the US wanted to forget the whole incident, tension between the US and Germany was at an all-time high. Hydrogen was in a since “framed,” and took the blame, it was a easy way out. As a result, this common misconception still exists today.
B. What we now know.
As we all know the wide spread belief/myth is that hydrogen is to blame for the 37 dead, but there is new evidence to discredit that theory. A NASA scientist at Cape Caneveral has discovered the real cause. "Neither the hydrogen in the hull nor a bomb was to blame, but a special fabric for the outer skin that, when ignited, burns like dry leaves."
Bain’s suspicions of the Zeppelin’s fabric covering were raised when he learned that a cellulose nitrate (gun powder) dope with powdered aluminum (fuel used) might have been used on the Hindenburg. He was able to obtain a 60 year old piece of the fabric used to test his hypothesis. Furthermore, a hydrogen flame is almost invisible in day light; it burns a light blue. We know from many eye witness accounts as well as actual photographs, that the flames were red and orange. This supports his theory that hydrogen was not the source of the flames.
He was able to prove his theory into fact, and the plaque in the Kennedy Space Center has been changed reading a more accurate portrayal of the history of the Hindenburg. Scientists now agree that the outer covering was ignited by static electricity. It would appear that the Germans agree with them in their claim. German electrical engineer, Otto Beyersdorff, on 28 June 1937 wrote “The actual cause of the fire was the extreme easy flammability of the covering material brought about by discharges of an electrostatic nature.” Furthermore in California in 1935, a helium (non combustible gas) filled airship went up in flames as well.
Two main sources that were used were: newspaper articles (microfilm) both The Register Guard and The Times-Picayune in order to find out how it was really reported. Where there were many great articles including "American Fliers Jitter Around Hydrogen Tanks." Which was a especially helpful article. It described the controversy around the hydrogen tanks and concluded that hydrogen was generally thought to be the cause. Not that it was a fact just that it was assumed, they made the general assumption that hydrogen was the only logical conclusion.
After having learned what was the general coconscious, thus began the research and a chemistry teacher was asked to explain his views and he pointed to a great article in popular science. This, like so many other sources found online, was about a NASA hydrogen research scientist, Brian, who believes he had solved the puzzle. It was very well founded work and seemed to make since. Not all were convinced there are of course still skeptics.
The sources are based on science and fact not wiled theories, one would like to think that both our newspapers and science magazines are good sources. There was also a lot of online information, I saw a online video of a interview with Brian were he actually demonstrated his ideas. He even brought in a sixty year old sample of the fabric and set it a blaze for all to see with their own eyes. This was taken from, The National Hydrogen Association and was indented to raise awareness about hydrogen, it’s safety.
Analysis of the evidence presented, clearly shows the Hindenburg to have exploded due to a static discharge build up, causing the outer hull to become ignited in flames. The story was in a since covered up and put to a quick end. We know this from evidence found and proved. We can only assume that hydrogen was easy to blame, in an effort to put the issue to an easy end. We do know, however, that tension was high, and while the reason is unclear, we know that hydrogen took the blame. Furthermore, one of the German electrical engineers who helped design the Hindenburg knew, we know this because he wrote so. While we do not know foreshore whether or not his note is authentic, however we do know that a change was made when engineers found out about the disaster. Production was halted and a change was made in the way they produce what had happened, and immediate modifications were made in a subsequent airship plan, which was the addition of a fire retardant. Even so production was brought to an end as well as Dr. Eckeners dream of a regularly scheduled Zeppelin airship service across the North Atlantic to America.
We should know from our study of history that, with time everything will change, just as the story changed, with time so will the end of airships change. A new breed of hi-tech giant airships planned by a German company could be the heavy lift aircraft of the future. We can speculate by saying that with the truth of the Hindenburg known, many things will change. Not that they wouldn’t have before, but much more rapidly. With the peoples faith restored in hydrogen new projects will begin. Hydrogen cars are on their way, these new hi-tech air airships, many new and exciting inventions, and practical uses are being achieved with hydrogen as the power source.
However whether these newly advancing technologies, are a result of the Hindenburg. We can say with the utmost certainly that the Hindenburg disaster of May 6, 1937 was caused by the very fabric of the great vessel itself.
In conclusion, we know now that the Hindenburg exploded due to a static discharge build up, causing the outer hull to become ignited in flames. We know that hydrogen was originally thought to be the cause, and that new evidence uncovered by Brian, has proven the originally theory involving the cause to be false. We can also say that new and exciting things will soon fallow, that they are building a new Zeppelin NT as well as new hi-tech cargo flying ships.
The great Zeppelin and Dr. Eckeners dream of regularly scheduled passenger travel across the Atlantic is not entirely dead, it merely lays dormant for the time being, until as with everything time will bring about change once more.
Associated Press. "American Fliers Jitter Around Hydrogen Tanks." The Register Guard 7 May. 1937: P12, cols. 3-4.
Associated Press, . "Hindenburg Explodes, Falls in Flames." The Times-Picayune 7 May 1937: P1 continued on P17, cols. 4, and 1-3.
Barnes, Matthew. LZ-129, Hindenburg. The Great Zeppelins. 23 April 2001
http://www.unmuseum.org/hindenburg.htm
BBC News. “New Airship Carries Commercial Hopes.?Sci/Tec. 28 April 2001
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_769000/769642.stm
Brown, David. Hydrogen Didn't Cause Hindenburg Fire, UCLA Engineer, Former NASA
Researcher Find. UCLA News. 22 April 2001
http://www.engineer.ucla.edu/releases/blimp.htm
DiChristina, Mariette. "What Really Downed the Hindenburg?" Popular Science
November. 1997: 71-76 .
http://www.ciderpresspottery.com/ZLA/greatzeps/german/Hindenburg.html
Krystek, Lee. The Mystery of the Hindenburg Disaster. The UnMuseum - The Hindenburg Disaster. 24 April 2001
Technology Transition Corporation. “Hydrogen . . . The Freedom Fuel.?The
National Hydrogen Association. 26 April 2001
http://www.hydrogenus.com
History Paper | By Jeremiah Mondello | May 20, 2002