Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-08-14
Eckener
CONTINUED FROM First Page.)

ECkGnGI
CONTINUED From First Page.)
ever, DIR. Eckener returned to
America in 1947, still keen in
his belief that the time would
come when dirigibleS would carry
heavy freight loads throughout
the world.
He spent seven months in the
United States as consultant for
the Goodyear corporation in
lighter than-air research.
He discounted Germany's
place. however, as well as his
own, in the future of the dirigible.
He was too old, he said. He was
then 78. AS for Germany, he
said, that ceuntry's future was
wrecked ''by that fool with GRIM
inal inStincts"-Hitler.
Was Passively Anti-Nazi.
Passively anti-Nazi, DIR. Ec-
kener was fined 100000 marks
($10,000) by a French zone de-
Notification court in January,
1948. But an American zone de-
Modification court later the same
year said his activities as an
industrialist were mot incrimin-
ating" and acquitted him.
The French gave him a license
TO publish q newspaper. His
first job as a young man had
been as newspaper reporter.
1t was DR.. Eckener's good ma
ture and skill as navigator and
scientist which established him
as a PIONEER in the promotion of
transatlantic travel by lighter
than-air craft.
He made history in flying the
old Graf Zeppelin around the
world, starting at Lakehurst on
August 8, 1929, and completing
the voyage in three weeks, or
actual flying time of 288 hours
and IA minutes: Stops were
made in Friedrichshafen, Japan
and Los Angeles.
The Graf Zeppelin was estab-
lished on q regularly scheduled
service to South America and
in 1886 the new Hindenburg
made 10 passenger trips across
the Atlantic.
Sh0Wered With HOnOFs.
AS a result of these feats,
honors we're showered on the
wizard of the air." He was
awarded the gold medal of the
National Geographic Society of
Washington and elected to the
Craftsmanship of the Aero-Arctic
Society and membership in a
variety Of German. French and
Spanish aeronautical organiza-
tons. The International Aero
nautical Federation Of Paris
conferred on him the title of
world master pilot in 1884.
The Hindenburg, filled with
infiammable hydrogen gas, was
on its maiden voyage of the 1887
season when it exploded from
no apparent cause.
In Vienna at the time, DR..
Eckener exclaimed. "helium,
nothing but helium."
The Graf Zeppelin's schedule
to South America was cancelled.
and DR.. Eckener announced the
new Lz-130 would not fly unless
it had helium.
He appeared before the House
Military Committee in Wash
ington in an unprecedented ap-
peal for relaxation Of the law
against exporting helium.
Count Zeppelin. for whom
German dirigibles were named,
used them to bomb London in
World War /. There was wide
spread fear that zeppelins would
be used in another war.
Offered Personal Guarantee.
DR.. Eckener argued to the
House committee, however, that
the modern airplane had made
the Zeppelin obsolete for mill
tary purposes in Europe. He
offered to give his personal
guarantee that helium supplies
would be used only for peace
full purposes.
The State Department author
lied the export of l7.9 million
cubic feet of helium to the Ger
man Zeppelin company on De-
cember 6, 1887, but Secretary OF
Interior Harold Ickes refused to
approve the contract of sale.
MIR. Ickes said he had admira-
ton for the fine character" OF
DR.. Eckener, but no adequate as
surances that the Nazi govern
ment would not use the gas fol-
military purposes. President
Roosevelt refused to interfere
since the law gave Mr.. Ickes
final responsibility in the matter
Thereafter the only flights OF
the LZ-13O were brief test runs
with hydrogen.
/ In World War II DR.. Eckener
remained quietly at his home,
/ In World War / he was an in
structor of dirigible commanders.
DR.. Eckener took little part
in German politics after World
/ War II. But late in 1852 he
headed group of SO prominent
Germans who opposed ratifica-
ton Of West Germany's peace
and defense contracts with the
4 Western allies. They demanded
| further attempts at four-powel
| agreement on unification Of
II q