Sailing the Ocean Sky

XLIV

One of the more interesting aspects of commercial airship flight was that passengers were encouraged to ask for guided tours of the hull. Ernst Lehmann, Dr. Eckener's Exec used to startle passengers by jumping off the catwalks directly onto the ship's fabric hull. He'd bounce joyfully like a boy on a trampoline to a very distinctive sound --- Blimp! Blimp! --- from which the nonrigids got their name.

On the Bridge of the Graf Zeppelin preparing to lift off on the Worldflight

Passengers were also given limited access to certain hull areas like the cargo and luggage holds in the keel. They could retrieve personal items from their trunks and bags or feed and walk their dogs. The poor dogs were kept in cages during flight and an inadequately small catwalk area was earmarked for walking or exercising them. Passengers were expected to clean up any messes themselves, but sometimes the results of a lifted leg or a squat might spatter a crewman working on a catwalk far below.

"Scheisse!" Quite literally.

A speaking tube on a dirigible served just the same purpose as it did on a seagoing ship --- to communicate with the engine rooms. Note the engine room telegraph on the left

The crew disliked passenger intrusions into the hull, naturally, and some passengers needed to be rescued from themselves when they got lost or got stuck in nearly inaccessible areas of the ship due to their overactive curiosity. It was all a lot of drama for hardworking men who had a dangerous job to start with.

The forward docking station of the Hindenburg, right at the bow. One of the crewmen in this picture is Erich Spehl, who was later accused by the Nazis of sabotaging the ship. Spehl actually died at his post

Tours of the hull space were provided to any passenger who was interested. Here, Grace, Lady Drummond-Hay, the only female passenger / journalist on the Worldflight, gets a tour

All in all, it was far safer and smarter to stick to the passenger and flight decks.

The gondola of the Graf Zeppelin contained (right to left): (1) the Bridge, (2) the Chartroom or Navigator's Station, (3) the radio room, (4) the kitchen, (5) the Lounge / Dining Room, (6) the passenger cabins, and (7) the lavatories

The Dining Room / Lounge of the Graf Zeppelin wasn't very large but it was cozy and well-appointed in the Edwardian style of simpler days

The crew would courteously explain how the ship flew, what the duties of the Navigator were, even demonstrate the radio, the compass and the gyroscopes. The galley was open to view, and there were the passenger cabins and the comfortable lounge with its good company, its food, and its beers and wines.

Airship crews really did consist of sky sailors. Here, the Navigator on the Graf Zeppelin takes a noon sextant sighting. The ship, of course, had no modern folderol like GPS

Plotting a course in the Chart Room

The radio room on the Graf Zeppelin. All the radio equipment was constantly updated, and the ship's officers made certain they received weather reports at least hourly

Orders to the ground crew were passed by megaphone through the gondola windows. The cabins were not pressurized

Xavier Maier, the chef on the Worldflight prepares lobster

About the only real complaint passengers had aboard the Graf Zeppelin was the lack of shower facilities. One time, in fact, the ship ran out of water for washing, and the passengers had to douse themselves in cologne for the last two days of a flight. DELAG did take note of these shortcomings in designing its next ship.