Evening star., 1936-05-14
H|NDENBURG ENDS
TRIP WITH RECORD
Flies to Home Port in 49
Hours and 3 Minutes.
ECkener Snubbed.

Copyright. 1886 by the Associated Press0
FRANKFORT ON THE MAIN,
Germany, May 14.-Surpassing all
records for both eastward and west
ward commercial crossings of the At
lantic, the giant German Zeppelin
Hindenburg touched ground at 5:45
am. Ql:45 pm. Wednesday. E. s. T)
to end its first fight from America.
The official flying time for the voy-
age from Lakehurst, N. j., was given
as 40 hours minutes, during which
the great air cruiser covered 6,67O
kilometers (4,l6875 niles.
With its landing mechanism func-
tioning perfectly, the Hindenburg
rested in its new hangar by 6:10 am
Q2:l0 am. E. S. IT,, signalizing COM
pletion of Its maiden round-trip be-
tween Germany and the United
States with passengers. mail and
freight.
Crowd Greets Airship.
Despite the early hour of its ar
rival, a great crowd gathered at the
airdrome and Nazi band played
lusty airs.
(The Hindenburg's return flight In
of1cial flying time of 49 hours min
utes bettered the previous record for
q lighter-than-air craft voyage from
America to Germany, set by the Graf
Zeppelin in August, 1929, with S4-
hour trip. The previous westward
record was 81 hours II minutes, sci
by the Los Angeles. The French line,
Normandie holds the ship record o1
4 days II hours AZ minutes.
Municipal officials arranged a City
Hall reception in honor of DR.. Hugo
Eckener, president Of the Zeppelin
Co., and Capt. Ernest Lehman, com.
mander Of the Hindenburg.
The Hindenburg, which lifted into
the air from Lakehurst at 10:27H
pm. E. S. T. Monday, followed ap-
proximately the same course it took
over the northern steamship route or
its Westward flight which ended last
Saturday at Lakehurst.
After two days over the Atlantic
the airship crossed England 80 miles
north of London last night, swung
over the Netherlands and passed down
the west border of Germany to Frank.
fort.
Landing crews, Headed by Baron
Won Butler, chief of the airdrome
stood by throughout the night. The
Hindenburg arrived over its base al
Ass am. Q0:55 pm, Wednesday
E. s. IT,, and circled about before
landing efficiently so minutes later.
DR.. Eckener and Capt. Lehman
were given cups from State Gov
Jacob Sprenger in the official recep.
tion, but Eckener was moved agair
into the background.
The Nazi governor, in the pres.
ence of other state functionaries
turned to Lehman and welcomed
him as commander of the Hindenburg
The captain, speaking in the name
of the Hindenburg's crew, replied te
the greetings during the reception.
Despite previous reports from Yep.
pelin headquarters that all would bt
well when the veteran admiral o.
the air" returned, Eckener's name wa.
omitted again from the report of tht
official German news agency and
newspapers which printed an inter-
view with Lehman.
Eckener Ignored.
The absence of DR.. Eckener's name
from the press was interpreted BY
informed sources as a clear indication
the German air pioneer was still out
Of favor after his recent differences
with the propaganda ministry.
The official news agency published
a lengthy report Of the addresses by
Gov. Sprenger and Capt. Lehman
but said only that silver cups were
given to gentlemen of the Zeppelin
management" in commemoration oi
Inauguration of air and passenger
service to the United States.
The Hindenburg's hangar was be.
sieged by thousands of persons seek.
ing to view the great Zeppelin.
The ship was the main attraction
for visitors who had come here for an
agricultural exposition.
The city fathers planned another
reception for leaders Of the crew OF
the Hindenburg.