ZEPPELIN MAIL

This page was last updated
24-Feb-2024 06:12

THE HINDENBURG
(LZ129)

BACKGROUND: The Hindenburg, Registration Number LZ129 took her first flight on 4th Mar 1936 and performed 62 successful flights until crashing in flames in Lakehurst, New Jersey on her 63rd flight on the fateful afternoon of 6th May 1937.

The Hindenburg made her first passenger and mail flight from Friedrichshafen to Lowenthal alongside The Graf Zeppelin, LZ127, on 23rd Mar 1936. She made her first public debut on a series of flights around Germany from 26th to 29th Mar (Die Deutschlandfahrt). She was also used extensively by the propaganda ministry during the re-occupation of the Rhineland and during the 1936 Olympic Games, before embarking on regular North and South American passenger and mail flights.

TEST FLIGHTS

1) 4.3.1936: FRIEDRICHSHAFEN - FRIEDRICHSHAFEN
2) 5.3.1936: FRIEDRICHSHAFEN - FRIEDRICHSHAFEN
3) 6.3.1936:FRIEDRICHSHAFEN - FRIEDRICHSHAFEN
4) 16/17.3.1936: FRIEDRICHSHAFEN - FRIEDRICHSHAFEN
5) 18.3.1936: FRIEDRICHSHAFEN - FRIEDRICHSHAFEN

COMMERCIAL FLIGHTS

6) 23.3.1936: FRIEDRICHSHAFEN - FRIEDRICHSHAFEN (1st Postal Flight)
7) 26.3.1936: FRIEDRICHSHAFEN - FRIEDRICHSHAFEN
8) 26-29.3.1936: DEUTSCHLANDFAHRT
9) 31.3-10.4.1936: FRIEDRICHSHAFEN - RIO DE JANEIRO - 1st SÜDAMERIKAFAHRT
10) 6-10.4.1936: RIO DE JANEIRO - FRIEDRICHSHAFEN
11) 4.5.1936: FRIEDRICHSHAFEN - FRIEDRICHSHAFEN
12) 6-9.5.1936: FRIEDRICHSHAFEN - LAKEHURST - 1st NORDAMERIKAFAHRT
13) 12-14.5.1936: LAKEHURST - FRANKFURT MAIN
14) 17-20.5.1936: FRANKFURT MAIN - LAKEHURST - 2nd NORDAMERIKAFAHRT
15) 21-23.5.1936: LAKEHURST - FRANKFURT MAIN
16) 25-29.5.1936: FRANKFURT MAIN - RIO DE JANEIRO - 5th SÜDAMERIKAFAHRT
17) 30.5-3.6.1936: RIO DE JANEIRO - FRANKFURT MAIN
18) 5.6.1936: FRANKFURT MAIN - FRIEDRICHSHAFEN - FERRY FLIGHT
19) 16.6.1936: FRIEDRICHSHAFEN - FRIEDRICHSHAFEN - KRUPP Charter Flight
20) 18.6.1936: FRIEDRICHSHAFEN - FRANKFURT MAIN - FERRY FLIGHT
21) 18.6.1936: FRANKFURT MAIN - FRANKFURT MAIN - RHINELAND FLIGHT
22) 18-22.6.1936: FRANKFURT MAIN - LAKEHURST - 3rd NORDAMERIKAFAHRT
23) 24-26.6.1936: LAKEHURST - FRANKFURT MAIN
24) 30.6-2.7.1936: FRANKFURT MAIN - LAKEHURST - 4th NORDAMERIKAFAHRT
25) 30.6-2.7.1936: LAKEHURST - FRANKFURT MAIN
26) 8.7.1936: -UR FLIGHT - INAUGURATION of RHEIN-FRANKFURT Airport
27) 8.7.1936: -UR FLIGHT - INAUGURATION of RHEIN-FRANKFURT Airport
28) 10-13.7.1936: FRANKFURT MAIN - LAKEHURST - 5th NORDAMERIKAFAHRT
29) 15-17.7.1936: LAKEHURST - FRANKFURT MAIN




ABOVE: Postcard on LZ129 from my collection cancelled in FRANKFURT (MAIN) on 19th Jul 1936

30) 20-24.7.1936: FRANKFURT MAIN - RIO DE JANEIRO - 9th SÜDAMERIKAFAHRT
31) 25-29.7.1936: RIO DE JANEIRO - FRANKFURT MAIN
32) 1.8.1936: BERLIN - OLYMPIAFAHRT
33) 5-11.8.1936: FRANKFURT MAIN - LAKEHURST - 6th NORDAMERIKAFAHRT
34) 10-11.8.1936: LAKEHURST - FRANKFURT MAIN
35) 16-19.8.1936: FRANKFURT MAIN - LAKEHURST - 7th NORDAMERIKAFAHRT
36) 20-22.8.1936: LAKEHURST - FRANKFURT MAIN
37) 27-30.8.1936: FRANKFURT MAIN - RIO DE JANEIRO - 12th SÜDAMERIKAFAHRT
38) 4-9.8.1936: RIO DE JANEIRO - FRIEDRICHSHAFEN
39) 14.9.1936: FRIEDRICHSHAFEN-NÜRNBURG-FRIEDRICHSHAFEN - NAZI RALLY
40) 16.9.1936: FRIEDRICHSHAFEN - FRANKFURT MAIN - FERRY FLIGHT
41) 17-20.9.1936: FRANKFURT MAIN - LAKEHURST - 8th NORDAMERIKAFAHRT
42) 22-24.9.1936: LAKEHURST - FRANKFURT MAIN
43) 26-29.9.1936: FRANKFURT MAIN - LAKEHURST - 10th NORDAMERIKAFAHRT
44) 1-3.10.1936: LAKEHURST - FRANKFURT MAIN
45) 5-7.10.1936: FRANKFURT MAIN - LAKEHURST - 11th NORDAMERIKAFAHRT
46) 9.10.1936: LAKEHURST - LAKEHURST - -UR FLIGHT
47) 10-12.10.1936: LAKEHURST - FRANKFURT MAIN
48) 21-25.10.1936: FRANKFURT MAIN - RIO DE JANEIRO - 16th SÜDAMERIKAFAHRT
49) 29-30.10.1936: RIO DE JANEIRO - RECIFE (PERNAMBUCO)
50) 30.10-2.11.1936: RECIFE (PERNAMBUCO) - FRANKFURT MAIN




ABOVE: Unused multiview postcard from my collection showing LZ129 in and around her hanger in FRANKFURT (MAIN)

51) 5-9.11.1936: FRANKFURT MAIN - RIO DE JANEIRO - 18th SÜDAMERIKAFAHRT
52) 12-16.11.1936: RIO DE JANEIRO - FRANKFURT MAIN
53) 25-29.11.1936: FRANKFURT MAIN - RIO DE JANEIRO - 20th SÜDAMERIKAFAHRT
54) 30.11-1.12.1936: RIO DE JANEIRO - SAO PAULO - RIO DE JANEIRO
55) 3-4.12.1936: RIO DE JANEIRO - RECIFE (PERNAMBUCO)
56) 4-7.11.1936: RECIFE (PERNAMBUCO) - FRANKFURT MAIN
57) 11.3.1937: FRANKFURT MAIN - WORMS - FRANKFURT MAIN
58) 11.3.1937: FRANKFURT MAIN - HOFHEIM - FRANKFURT MAIN - TEST FLIGHT
59) 16-20.3.1937: FRANKFURT MAIN - RIO DE JANEIRO - 1st SÜDAMERIKAFAHRT
60) 23-27.3.1937: RIO DE JANEIRO - FRANKFURT MAIN
61) 27.4.1937: FRANKFURT MAIN - HEIDELBERG - WORMS - FRANKFURT MAIN
62) 27.4.1937: FRANKFURT MAIN - FRANKFURT MAIN - -UR FLIGHT
63) 1.5.1937: DEUTSCHLANDFAHRT - CANCELLED DUE - BAD WEATHER
63) 3-7.5.1937: FRANKFURT MAIN - LAKEHURST - 1st NORDAMERIKAFAHRT


REFERENCES:

1. MICHEL Zeppelin- und Flugpost-Spezial 2017/2018 3. Auflage. ISBN 978-3-95402-161-1
2. Wikipedia