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This file concerns the May 6, 1937 destruction of the German airship Hindenburg at Lakehurst, New Jersey, and the FBI's limited role around the official inquiry. The records shown include May 1937 internal memoranda, telephone call records, a telegram about a 16 millimeter film print, and correspondence connected to obtaining or returning evidence and information. The Bureau sent Newark personnel to observe conditions at Lakehurst but noted that the Commerce Department and Navy were conducting the investigation, and FBI officials repeatedly discussed whether any Bureau investigation was justified. The documents describe early reports of the explosion, casualties, alleged suspicious footprints near the field, a proposed search of the area, and attention to passenger Joseph Spach, who traveled with dogs kept in the freight room. The release also includes FOIA processing sheets and deleted page notices from the 1989 release.

Documents span: 1937 | Released in 4 parts
Names in this file: J. Edgar Hoover, Clyde Tolson, P. E. Foxworth, Commander Rosendahl, Joseph Spach, Hugo Eckener, Ernst Lehmann, Max Pruss, Daniel C. Roper, Royal S. Copeland, Roger Williamson, Colonel Hartney
Subjects: Hindenburg disaster, airship accident, sabotage inquiry, Lakehurst, aviation, FOIA release