Hindenburg Memorial Service at Lakehurst

I was at Lakehurst, New Jersey last weekend for the memorial service in honor of the 75th anniversary of the Hindenburg disaster and to reconnect with good friends from the LTA world.

The Memorial Service

The memorial service was a moving tribute to both the victims of the disaster and the U.S. Navy personnel who heroically saved so many lives.

Sailor with Memorial Wreath

Sailor with Memorial Wreath

Memorial Wreaths at Hindenburg Crash Site

Memorial Wreaths at Hindenburg Crash Site

The service was attended by a relatively large crowd of approximately 200 people including officers, sailors, soldiers, and airmen from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.

Guests at Hindenburg Memorial Service

Guests at Hindenburg Memorial Service

Special guests included Alexander Pruss, whose grandfather, Captain Max Pruss, was in command of Hindenburg’s last voyage; Dr. Horst Schirmer, whose father, Dr. Max Schirmer, was an engineer and aerodynamicist who designed important features of the ship, and who flew aboard Hindenburg as a child; Robert Buchanan, who was a teenage member of the civilian ground crew when the ship crashed; and Mary Alice Noone, whose grandfather Burtis Dolan died in the crash.

Speakers at the service included Carl Jablonski and airship historian Rick Zitarosa of the Navy Lakehurst Historical Society.

Cheryl Ganz, Alexander Pruss and his Wife Astrid, and Dan Grossman of Airships.net

Cheryl Ganz, Alexander Pruss and his wife Astrid, and Dan Grossman of Airships.net

Burtis Dolan's Granddaughter, Mary Alice Noone, with her husband Michael

Burtis Dolan’s granddaughter, Mary Alice Noone, with her husband Michael

Robert Buchanan and Rick Zitarosa with Memorial Wreath

Robert Buchanan and Rick Zitarosa with Hindenburg Memorial Wreath

The ceremony was filmed by Rick Malkames, using the same camera that Hearst newsreel cameraman James J. Seeley used on May 6, 1937 to record the disaster.

Original Hearst Newsreel Camera that Recorded the Hindenburg Crash

Original Hearst Newsreel Camera that Recorded the Crash

The Hindenburg Crash Marker

The Hindenburg Crash Marker

The Memorial Dinner Sponsored by Navy Lakehurst Historical Society

A special memorial dinner was held the night before the service; speakers included Alexander Pruss, Horst Schirmer, Robert Buchanan, Rick Zitarosa, and Carl Jablonski, among others.

Alexander Pruss Speaking at Hindenburg Memorial Dinner

Alexander Pruss Speaking at Hindenburg Memorial Dinner

Horst Schirmer and Alexander Pruss

Horst Schirmer and Alexander Pruss

Personal Fun and Friendship at Lakehurst

The weekend was also an opportunity for me to spend time with some of my old friends in LTA community, including Rick Zitarosa of NLHS, Patrick Russell of “Faces of the Hindenburg,” and Cheryl Ganz of the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum.  I also spent many enjoyable hours discussing technical aspects of the Hindenburg’s design with the erudite and gentlemanly Horst Schirmer.

Dan Grossman and Horst Schirmer in Hangar One at Lakehurst

Dan Grossman and Horst Schirmer in Hangar One at Lakehurst

While at Lakehurst, Rick, Patrick and I crawled over Hangar One and the crash site and poked around in the woods where the old high mast was located.

One of the many snatch blocks that secured U.S.S. Los Angeles and other ships to the high mast at Lakehurst

One of the many snatch blocks that secured U.S.S. Los Angeles and other ships to the high mast at Lakehurst

Gas lines and other connections under the now-dismantled high mast

Gas lines and other connections under the now-dismantled high mast

U.S.S. Shenandoah at the high mast at Lakehurst

U.S.S. Shenandoah at the high mast at Lakehurst

Hangar One also contains the replica of the control car used in the movie “The Hindenburg” (1975).

Control Car from 1975 Movie "The Hindenburg"

Control Car from 1975 Movie “The Hindenburg”

Control Car of LZ-129

Hindenburg Control Car

Patrick Russell, of Faces of the Hindenburg, in LZ-129 Control Car Replica

Patrick Russell of Faces of the Hindenburg

Elevator Wheel on LZ-129 Hindenburg

Hindenburg Elevator Wheel

Elevator Wheel on LZ-129 Hindenburg Replica

Dan Grossman of Airships.net

Dan Grossman of Airships.net

Observation Room/Lounge at Aft of Replica Control Car

My weekend in Lakehurst was a wonderful experience, both to honor and commemorate those who died in the tragedy, and to spend time with valued friends and colleagues.

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David Helms
David Helms

Does anyone know where I might acquire a photo of Max Schirmer? I met his son Dr Horst Schirmer

Lorna Long
Lorna Long

Most interesting. My father .. Arthur C. Christiansen, CWO3 USN, Ret. Decd. .. was a 1935 graduate of the Lakehurst LTA school and was one of the sailors holding the tail section landing lines of the Hindenburg on that fateful 1937 day. (He could actually pick himself out of the… Read more »

George Wilson
George Wilson

I can’t wait to see the new info about the cause of the crash! Thanks again for such a great site! George Wilson

Frank
Frank

do you know what happened to Seeley’s footage? Was it actually the one Universal used (since Universal’s cameraman left early)? That’s what I believe. I have never seen a release of a “Hearst newsreel” before. I know there is a shaky footage which could have been obtained by one of… Read more »

J. James

Did you catch a glimpse of the LEMV, or was that in a different hangar?

Kevin Olson
Kevin Olson

Looks like a great way to spend a weekend. Thanks for sharing the experience!

M L Hopp

Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful trip with us all. I hope to get to Lakehurst amongst other places someday myself. Your photographs of the ceremony and dinner are invaluable to someone that couldn’t attend in person. I look forward to what new information you and colleagues have… Read more »