Is it 'the' Hindenburg?

[Solid Lifters]

I just made a new thread since I didn't want to clutter up the "Pics of yourself" thread seen here... https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?t=13344&page=266

Here are the four 'ferry' pics my Opa made of a Nazi Zeppelin he saw on his ferry boat ride back to Holland some time in 1936 or 37, which is beginning to look a lot like the Hindenburg. Is it, though? Your keen eye is needed.

The history shows The Hindenburg made transatlantic flights from Germany to the US from March of 1936, until its crash in May 6 of 1937. There were two other Nazi Zeppelins that made such flights. One, The Graf, which retired from such flights in 1936, when The Hindenburg took flight. The second was The Graf II, which was made in honor of The Hindenburg and was considered her 'sister ship.' However, The Graf II didn't make many transatlantic flights like Hindenburg, and it didn't take to the air until 1938 which is a bit after the time it's believed my Opa went back to Holland.

So, is it the Hindenburg? Here are the ferry pics.

Here are shots of The Hindenburg.

 

[VT]

I'm leaning towards yes. I say this because if you look at where the airship is named, the block of text looks to be the exact same length.

 

[Solid Lifters]

I'm leaning towards yes. I say this because if you look at where the airship is named, the block of text looks to be the exact same length.

Yeah, that's what's selling me. Everything else seems to be in place, too.

 

[Philly]

I wouldn't be quite so quick to jump to conclusions. Germany make a lot of those things and I wouldn't be surprised if some of them looked a lot alike.

EDIT: Never mind. Stupid not reading the first post.

 

[VT]

Yeah, that's what's selling me. Everything else seems to be in place, too.

Unless Graf or Graf II is 10 characters long in german, I'd say we have a winnar!

 

[High-Test]

I want to say yes, as it's got the four Mayback engines in their nacelles in roughly the same spots. I recall the Graf to be more slender than the Hindenburg.

Solid, those are very cool pictures, and they bring an honest to goodness historical feel to the board that we don't get to see much of. Thank you for sharing them.

 

[Solid Lifters]

I wouldn't be quite so quick to jump to conclusions. Germany make a lot of those things and I wouldn't be surprised if some of them looked a lot alike.

EDIT: Never mind. Stupid not reading the first post.

No worries. I thought the same exact thing until Top asked the question, and so I did some research. Turns out, it was only three, and it looks like only two could be it.

I want to say yes, as it's got the four Mayback engines in their nacelles in roughly the same spots. I recall the Graf to be more slender than the Hindenburg.

Solid, those are very cool pictures, and they bring an honest to goodness historical feel to the board that we don't get to see much of. Thank you for sharing them.

Your welcome. When I first saw these, I went, "Whoa! Thats a Nazi Zeppelin in that pic!" Now, it's even more thrilling to find out it's the actual Hindenburg. Way cool, indeed. 👍

 

[High-Test]

It got me thinking about a picture I have of my Grandfather back home, somewhere. It's a picture of him and his bomber crew in front the B-24 Liberator My Grandfather was the pilot of during World War Two. It shows them right in front of the inner left engine, (#2?) with the cockpit windscreen in view. It didn't show any nose art, the only Markings on the plane is the number 984. I need to bring that with me when I come back after thanksgiving.

 

[Solid Lifters]

Cool. Can't wait to see those. I love pics of old WWII aircraft.

I made an easy to see side by side shot of the two Zeppelins in question. Looks like a match to me.

 

[Smallhorses]

You'd have to try and use a Maximum Entropy Reconstruction programme to resolve and eliminate noise from the original photograph, which would allow you to see the name and serial number of the airship much more clearly, and should allow for a positive ID.
I've no idea if SW is available for download without a huge licence fee though.
Try googling Maximum Entropy Photography, and see what you can find.

 

[Gashlycrumb]

Awesome photos!

I think that looking at the text where the name is it is most likely to be the Hindenburg as judging by the photo below the Graf II would have had a much longer text than is visible in your photos and there is no break in the text for the space.

 

[Casio]

They've fooled you all too. It's quite obviously extra-terrestrials searching for a suitable landing zone, using a spacecraft cleverly disguised as the Hindenburg.

 

[kikie]

I think it's the Hindenburg.

 

[MagpieRacer]

Very cool pics Solid:tup: Id say its pretty conclusive in that side by side shot that its definately the hindenburg.

Very cool

 

[Jay]

Awesome! Yep looks like the Hindenburg, thanks for sharing them. 👍

 

[Mark T]

I love photos from the WW2 era. Do you have anymore to share?

 

[TheCracker]

Fantastic photos! 👍


It's the wrong shape for the Graf (I), and can't be the Graf II:

"Completed after the loss of Hindenburg, the Graf Zeppelin II was never used as a passenger ship, but did conduct espionage flights around England and Poland."

So has to be the Hindenburg.

 

[Solid Lifters]

Wow, thanks for the input and info, guys! The Cracker shuts down the door to one of the Nazi Zeppelins. Thanks, dude! That leaves us with just two.

I just noticed The Hindenburg is going in the opposite direction. It's on it's way too America. It got me thinking, "Could Opa snapped a photo of the last voyage of The Hindenburg?" It all depends on what date he left for Holland. I just hope my mom knows for sure what date he left, but I have my doubts.

As it turns out, The Hindenburg only made 10 flights to America. I figured it would be more than that, but that's the official count according to some links I've been reading.

 

[Alfaholic]

That picture of the Graf Zeppelin secures it for me. The gondola under the nose of the Graf is much longer than the gondola on the airship seen in the photos from the ship, so as far as I'm concerned, it's not the Graf. Hence it must be Hindenburg if all other options have been exhausted. Also, all the detail and protrusions, including the long bulge below the row of windows, about two thirds down on the starboard side between the first engine and the gondola, the shape of the fins, the engine locations and the symbol that looks like two balloons, in front of the first nacelle, are all present when compared to the known pic of the Hindenburg from the starboard side.

Final straw, the Hindenburg looks bloated when compared to the Graf, which looks longer and slimmer. The pics from the ship show an airship that to me looks closer in proportion to Hindenburg. So this, the shape of the gondola (I hope that's the right term for the crew / passenger compartment bit...) and the visible markings sell it for me as Hindenburg.

It's been mentioned before, but I must also say thanks for posting those photos. I just love looking at images like that and trying to imagine what it was like to be there, and what the people thought of what they were witnessing.

 

[Duke]

Yeah, that's what's selling me. Everything else seems to be in place, too.

I'm not an authority, but those sure look like the Hindenburg to me. If so, those are really amazing pics. Thanks for sharing them!

 

[Solid Lifters]

Opa, Oma and Pa went back to Holland sometime around October/November 1936. Just before Christmas 1936, according to Ma.

It's The Hindenburg. I'd like to find a travel log for The Hindenburg and see what date it could have been. 👍

 

[High-Test]

I wish you luck in your search. I'm slowly gathering info to help narrow down which plane my grandfather flew.

Wow.. One of ten flights. That's akin to seeing the Titanic leave Southampton. Very cool indeed.

 

[livemusic]

This is getting very interesting.

 

[TheCracker]

Opa, Oma and Pa went back to Holland sometime around October/November 1936. Just before Christmas 1936, according to Ma.

It's The Hindenburg. I'd like to find a travel log for The Hindenburg and see what date it could have been. 👍

From what i've just read, the flying season for the Hindenburg was between early May and early October. The last flight of the 1936 season (Germany-USA) set off from Frankfurt on October 5th and took a couple of days.

I would be tempted to say it was this one they saw fly overhead.

 

[Flerbizky]

Beautiful pics Solid - Thanks for sharing.. 👍

 

[VT]

nvm .. page works now ...

 

[Solid Lifters]

From what i've just read, the flying season for the Hindenburg was between early May and early October. The last flight of the 1936 season (Germany-USA) set off from Frankfurt on October 5th and took a couple of days.

I would be tempted to say it was this one they saw fly overhead.

Awesome info, dude! Thanks so much. This is what I've been searching for. I found some great pics of a guy who builds Hindenburgs, and been delayed looking at his pics. You've been a great help! +rep 👍

 

[SRV2LOW4ME]

Coolest thing I've seen all day! +Rep 👍

 

[Roo]

^^ What he said.

Thank you for posting those, Solid 👍 +Rep.

 

[TopHat]

Cool! If only my grandpa lived near me, I'd love to show him these...