MANCHESTER – Ask Whiting resident Bill Schmidt anything about the horrific Hindenburg disaster of May 6, 1937 and chances are, he’ll provide you a fast answer and then elaborate further.
Schmidt has numerous interests and one of them is a passion to preserve the history of the most famous airship of all time. The Hindenburg disaster at Navy Lakehurst will mark its 88th anniversary on May 6.
Marking this anniversary, Schmidt will again be at the township branch of the Ocean County Library from 6 to 8 p.m. He has been presenting his programs at Ocean County Library branches and beyond for years now.
Manchester resident Bill Schmidt shows off some history during a prior Hindenburg talk. (Photo by Bob Vosseller)
He was an active member of the Lakehurst Historical Society and Navy Lakehurst Historical Society but these days, he’s very busy bringing his programs to various clubs, schools and other venues.
The fateful flight of the Hindenburg involved the airship’s trip from Frankfurt, Germany to Lakehurst. “I enjoy people learning and experiencing in their mind a trip through Hindenburg’s history,” Schmidt said.
His program notes that at 803.8 feet in length and 135.1 feet in diameter, the German passenger airship Hindenburg (LZ-129) was the largest aircraft ever to fly. The commercial flights of Hindenburg, along with Graf Zeppelin, pioneered the first transatlantic air service.
“She carried hundreds of passengers and traveled thousands of miles before it burned in a tragic fire on May 6, 1937, at NAS Lakehurst (Manchester). Join us through your imagination on a trip through Hindenburg’s history,” Schmidt added.
For many years, members of the Navy Lakehurst Historical Society held a public ceremony partnering with Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst personnel on the grounds near the famous Hangar One where the Hindenburg was housed at one time.
Dr. Horst Schirmer was a regular guest speaker at this event and spoke about his father’s involvement in the design and development of the Hindenburg. The Hindenburg started to be built in 1931 and was completed in 1935. Dr. Schirmer once told The Manchester Times, “To put it in perspective, Germany was churning out two airships a month at its peak.”
“A man who owned 51 percent of the stock in Hindenburg put the swastika on the side as propaganda. A lot of people didn’t like it, suffice it to say,” Schirmer added.
This year, Navy Lakehurst Historical Society is holding a private ceremony among their members, as they did last year, with a presentation of wreaths at the site where the zeppelin crashed.
The Hindenburg was the most famous airship. (File Photo)
Schmidt’s presentation has become the area’s only public program to be held on May 6 that will also serve as a tribute to those lost during the tragedy. He’s brought his program to woman’s clubs, men’s clubs, senior residence clubs, veterans’ organizations, historical societies, Girl and Boy Scouts groups, local schools and libraries and other venues upon request.
“Any teachers throughout the county that may want their students to learn more about the Hindenburg disaster please reach out,” Schmidt suggested. He has even provided his talks through Zoom format.
The talk runs around 45 minutes to an hour. For more information, call Schmidt at 732-575-6904 or email him at BillSchmidt1000@aol.com.
You can register for this free program through the OCL website at theoceancountylibrary.libnet.info/ocean-county-library/event/12842786. For more information, stop by the Manchester Library at 21 Colonial Drive, Manchester Township or call 732-657-7600.
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