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WGA GLO aA dd a a at BE a aA ce A ee a ne eee This adjustment of investigative activity was accomplished by con- ferences between the Navy Department and the Department of Commerce on Seturday, May 8, 1937. On Mondey, Mey 10, 1937, the first witness called before the Investigating Committee of the Deparment of Commerce was Commander C. E. Rosendahl. He first outlined his prior experience, showing him to be probably the best informed lighter-than-air man in the military and navel forces of the United States. He has been in sommand of the Los Angeles, the Akron, the training school for lighter-than-air men at Lakehurst, New Jersey and he has made trial trips and a trip around the world in the Graf Zeppelin. He is now the Commanding Officer of the Naval Air Station at Lakehurst, New Jerseys The substance of the testimony of Commander Rosendahl was to the effect that an arrangement had been made whereby the Rindenburg would make approximately 18 trips during the period of 1937 from Germany to the United States, this being a revocable per- mit to the American Zeppelin Transport Company, who are the American Agents of the German Company operating the Hindenburg. This was more or less the commercial arrangement as between the Navy, Commerce and State Departments and the representatives of the Hin- denburg whereby they were to take advantage of certain facilities at the Navel Air Station not in use at the present time; also similar service was to be arranged at the Naval Reserve Station at Miami, Florida. It was indicated that the operation was at the entire risk of the permitee and further absolved the United Svates from any damage, They were to pay the necessary fees for the ser~ vices rendered. Commander Hosendahl indicated that the Hindenburg departed from Frankfort, Germany on May 3, on schedule, that commmice- tion was had with same by radio through Mackay and that frequent re- ports were received by the station from the Hindenburg during the trip.. During the latter part of the trip static was bad, although this did not seriously interfere with thair communications. A few hours before the arrivel, communication was received by the Naval Station at Lakehurst that they would arrive at 6a. m. Kastern Standard Iime, Thursday, May 6, 1947 unless they arrived sufficiently ahead of their scheduled time to provide for a landing before micnight of the previous night. The scheduled departure was to be 10 ps me, May 6, 1937 for Germany. A ground crew was arranged which consisted of 92 Navy personnel and 149 civilians arranged for by the American Zeppelin ‘rensport Company, with the approval cf the Naval Air Station. All of the aboveseindicated personnel were men who qo