◆ SpookStack

Bei est de A AMR 2 Rat fj . 1 va in this position, he noticed a burst of flame just forward of the port fin ~ and just above the longitudinal axis of the ship and further that this burst of flame was followed by a report or detonation. The fire spread rapidly forward according to Tyler, and soon the entire ship was enveloped in flames. He stated that he is positive that the main oabie which is dropped from the very nose of the ship was unattached at the time of the ex- plosion, and further that as the ship fell to earth, he remembers giving orders to those under his immediate command to the effect that all hands were to stand cleare As soon as the control car had touched the ground, and while the ship was blazing fiercely and even though it seemed likely that there were to be — further explosions, according to Lt. Tyler, various members of the ground crew rushed to the area about the passenger compartment and attempted to effect rescue work. He states that upon the fire being placed under control, the rescue parties were organized for a sectional search of the wreckage for bodies, and that he recalls the last body was recovered early on the morning of May 7+ Lt. Tyler, upon being queried as to static electricity, informed that in his opinion the dry 1 trail ropes which were the only parts of the ship touching the ground couldgcischarge static electricity, es they were manila lines and non-conductive. He stated further that the approach of the ship for lending was in his opinion, was satisfactory in technique. He stated also that the only means of commmication thet the ship personnel had with the ground crew was through the medium of a megaphone which would be controlled by the Captain of the Hindenburg. He stated that the megaphone was not used and he felt that if any procedure being carried out by the ground personnel on landing did not meet with the approval of the airship personnel, the ground crew would have received notice of this fact from the Captain of the ship by the use of the megaphone. At this time, a diagram of the Hindenburg was introduced as well as a map showing the landing fiela at Lakehurst and the immediate vicinity, and Lt. Tyler marked thereon the anchoring ring and the landing circie of the Hindenburg, as well as the location of the Hindehburg at the time that she met disaster. Under further interrogation, Tyler stated that he first noticed the burst of flame and that this was followed almost similtaneously with a detonatione