5 Fast Facts About The Hindenburg Disaster Of 1937
LAKEHURST, N,J. (CBSNewYork) -- On May 6, 1937, a German zeppelin called the Hindenburg met its fate in Lakehurst, New Jersey -- when the tail end of the gigantic aircraft caught fire and crashed in a ball of flames, leaving 36 people dead.
On the anniversary of that fateful day, we look back with some fast facts on the Hindenburg Disaster:
1.Before the crash, travel on the Hindenburg was quite luxurious -- and costly. One way trips from Germany cost around $400, with round-trip tickets costing $720 -- a pretty penny for 1937!
2. The Hindenburg launched its round-trip services in 1936 and had completed 10 successful trips before the fateful crash.
3. The Hindenburg flew over Manhattan before the crash as it made its way to Lakehurst from Boston. The passage of the zeppelin caused a spectacle for New York City residents.
4. The Hindenburg was huge -- the zeppelin measured 803.8 feet in length, and 135.1 feet in diameter.
5. The iconic image of the Hindenburg Disaster (above) was used as the album cover for Led Zeppelin's first self-titled album, released in 1969.
The Hindenburg Disaster became widely known for the intensive coverage it received from video newsreels at time. Click on the video above to see some of the iconic footage.
