Ernst Lehman

[allan h, rouse]

Dear Sirs:

I am curious how Ernst Lehman met his fate on the Hindenburg? I don't wish to get morbid, but in the movie Hindenburg (1975). He is portrayed walking away but passes out with a burned back. In the"readers digest" article from 1937 they claim he jumped and broke his back.


Thank you: Allan

[Gil Russell]

Ernst Lehman died from his injuries the following day at Paul Kimball Hospital in New Jersey...,

-Gil Russell

[Danthekiwi]

The movie would seem correct. I read an account where he walked away seemingly unhurt:

to quote from a book of mine:

"both (george) Watson and (charles) Rosendahl moved towards the control car to lend what assistance they could to their fellow officers. The flames still burned fiercely and black billowing smoke filled the air. A man staggered foward, his clothes burnt off, his skin burned black. Before they could reach him, he fell and died. Then Ernst Lehmann emerged from the wall of fire, his white captains cap singed, but seeming otherwise not seriously harmed. Reflexively Watson saluted, but Lehmann looked right through him."i don't understand" he muttered as he walked by. Watson turned and saw Lehmann's naked back was a black mass of horrible burns. Rosendahl rushed to his friend and led him away"

Lehmann died of his wounds the next day. However the book goes on to say that he was coherent enough for Rosendahl to have an intelligent conversation with him. The book quotes that right up till the end Lehmann was making plans for the next airships to use helium.

[allan h, rouse]

Dear Sirs:

Thank you for your response on the death of Capt. Lehman. The article I refered to previously was in a November 1937 issue of Readers Digest by Leonhard Adelt.
The four (4) day trip was described as smoothe and uneventful. Capt Pruss even flew over some iceburgs so the passengers could take pictures. The landing was attempted when the ship caught fire.
Ernst Lehman was observed in a makeshift hospital with a broken back from jumping out of the control car. I am trying to piece together what happened to Ernst and believe I now know enough.
Ernst wrote a book along with Howard Mingos titled " The Zeppelin". Accuracy has been questioned but it is still a great read.

Thank you: Allan

[Danthekiwi]

I don't think there was anything about the Hindenburg in "the zeppelins".

Most of the escapees from the control car waited until the car had touched or was very near to the ground before leaving.

[allan h, rouse]

I don't think there was anything about the Hindenburg in "the zeppelins".

Most of the escapees from the control car waited until the car had touched or was very near to the ground before leaving.

Dear Sir:

"The Zeppelin" was wriitten in 1927. The author Ernst Lehman died on the Hindenburg ten years later.
I believe Ernst also was author to other books. I know that Ernst was a strong supporter of lighter than air. (Pioneer?) I don't believe Ernst broke his back but, this was written in the Nov 1937 R.D. article " The Last Flight of the Hindenburg". I believe your version to be accurate.

Best regards: Allan

[Danthekiwi]

Yeah the 1927 bit was what made me think there was nothing about the Hindenburg in it.

I do not think Lehmann was a pioneer so to speak. But he was certainly very passionate and a driving force behind Germany's LTA programe following the first world war.

Speaking of "The Zeppelins" I beleive it to be one of the best books I have ever read. As it offers another insight into a war where there were no real "bad guys" and the men on the ground did not really know what they were fighting and dieing for. I just enjoyed reading something that wasn't anti-Germany for a change.

[allan h, rouse]

Yeah the 1927 bit was what made me think there was nothing about the Hindenburg in it.

I do not think Lehmann was a pioneer so to speak. But he was certainly very passionate and a driving force behind Germany's LTA programe following the first world war.

Speaking of "The Zeppelins" I beleive it to be one of the best books I have ever read. As it offers another insight into a war where there were no real "bad guys" and the men on the ground did not really know what they were fighting and dieing for. I just enjoyed reading something that wasn't anti-Germany for a change.

I also believe this book to be one of the best I've read.
I have one more question and I may be getting off topic, but here it goes. Was Lehman in (Eckners?) doghouse so Pruss took over on the last flight? I know (Eckner?) was furious when Lerhman took Hindenburg on a propaganda flight smashing the lower fin.
If you listen to the Herb Morris (sp) broadcast. He knew both Lehman and Pruss. Lehman was in charge previously and this was the first time Pruss was in command of Hindenburg.

Best regards:Allan

[Danthekiwi]

It is an interesting theory. I would believe that as Lehmann had become operations manager, he had handed on the captain ship to Pruss. As his job was essentially that of a commodore he was not overstepping the mark and micromanaging Pruss' job. I think i read somewhere that Eckner and Lehmann had words about Lehmann's involvement with the NAZI party.