◆ SpookStack

70-15 plained that hydrogen is a gas that, when mixed with air, is highly inflammable, and, mixed with a sufficient quantity of air, is high- ly explosive. in further explanation, he stated that 99% hydrogen mixed with 1% of air will constitute an inflammable mixture. How- ever, if the ratio of hydrogen is increased to 80%, and 20% air, there is stil] « highly explosive mixture.- If the content cf the gas cells is reduced to 20% hydrogen ang/B0.. air, it still consti- tutes a highly explosive mixture. — Therefore, Commander Rosendahl stated, as soon as hydro- pen is valved off into the gas shaft, there is a mixture of hydro- gen and air in the internal part of the superstructure of the Hin- denburg and there is a certain area in which these two elements are permitted to mix before they are carried off into the air through the gas vent. Commander Rosendahl stated that it is true that this mixture of air and gas in the gas shaft or vent could have been ig- nited by static electricity that might have been generated by the clothing of a person on board, rubbing of two objects in -the super- structure, by friction, or any type of vibration in the immediate vicinity of the ges shaft. Comrender Rosendahl stated, however, that he was of the opinion--due to various happenings that had becn called to his at- tention--that there wes a strong possibility that the fire which wes ignited in this gas shaft at 62 ring, was caused by an individual who attempted to perform an act of sabotage. In connection there- with, Commander Rosendahl stated that Dr. Eckener had personally in- terviewed every member of the German crew, since his arrival in the United ctates. He stated that the members of the crew naturally talked more freely to Eckener in private than they had to the Eoard of Inquiry at the public hearings. According to information that Farener had raceizved from members of the cree, the rule that = nas- AV Wwe MAM 2 Fk OK A i i a eh Le a2 MAY Wada ” tee senger was not to be allowed out of the passenger quarters unless accompanied by a member of the crew, was not strictly enforced in the case of a passenger by the name of Joseph Spach. According to Commander Rosendahl, various members of the crew informed Eckener that the passenger, Joseph Spach, had two dogs that were maintained in the freight room, necessitating Spach's entrance into prohibited territory in order to tend to these dogs at frequent intervals, and frequently Spach was not accompanied by an officer of the crew on his visits to care for the dogs. Eckener also related to Commander Rosendahl that one of the students who has since returned to Germany, mentioned the fact aa