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What happened to the Hindenburg?

The Hindenburg was a blimp, or airship, named after German war hero and politician Paul von Hindenburg (1847–1934). This sausage-shaped craft was 803 feet (245 meters) long and measured 135 feet (41 meters) in diameter. Daimler-Benz diesel engines propelled the Hindenburg through the air at speeds up to 85 miles (137 kilometers) per hour. Passenger accommodations situated in a gondola hanging beneath the "balloon" included private cabins, a dining room, and showers.

At 7:25 P.M. on May 6, 1937, the Hindenburg was preparing to land in Lakehurst, New Jersey, after a transatlantic flight. Suddenly the blimp burst into flames—the hydrogen that kept the ship afloat had caught fire. Of the ninety-seven people abroad, sixty-two survived the crash. No one knows for certain why the Hindenburg caught fire, but normally helium—not the highly flammable...

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