WRITING AN AIRSHIP-SIZED book like this one requires the contribution of many individuals. I would like to thank, in particular, Dr. John D. Anderson for his technical advice on aerodynamics, John Provan for an illuminating discussion of airship history, and Patrick Russell, who rendered invaluable assistance in correcting several points in my discussion of the last minutes of the Hindenburg. I must also include in that list Mark A. Heald, for sending me information regarding his father’s witnessing of the disaster, as well as Alvaro Bellon, trustee of the Lighter-Than-Air Society of Akron, Ohio, and Professor Guillaume de Syon of Albright College, who provided copies of several hard-to-find articles. Any errors are mine, I should add.
Pamela Elbe, of the National Museum of American Jewish Military History, helped with some details about the Jewish War Veterans of the United States (JWV) organization, while Albrecht Graf von Brandenstein-Zeppelin clarified the count’s religious views.
Of key importance were Karen Caruana and Karen Laakko, who heroically (and accurately and quickly) translated many of the longer or more complex German texts, as well as David Pfeiffer, who at the National Archives undertook for me the task of digitizing thousands of pages of testimony from the 1937 Board of Inquiry into the loss of the Hindenburg. And I should not forget Debbie Saracini and the staff of the San Diego Air & Space Museum for their assistance in procuring files from the Henry Cord Meyer Collection, and Patrizia Nava, curator of Aviation Archives at the Eugene McDermott Library, University of Texas at Dallas, who provided copies of important documents from the Charles Rosendahl, Hans von Schiller, and Douglas Robinson papers.
Molly Turpin of Random House shouldered the tremendous burden, in terms of both effort and time, of editing, weeding, and taming an overlong and digressive manuscript, for which hard labor and dedication she must be awarded highest honors, while Martin Schneider performed sterling service in copyediting the text, improving prose, and asking good questions. Because the making of a book is a team effort, recognition, too, is due to production editor Evan Camfield, production manager Jennifer Backe, designer Simon Sullivan, cover designer Pete Garceau, and art director Anna Bauer.
A thousand thanks should be extended to ace agent Eric Lupfer of Fletcher & Co., who instantly said yes to my offhand question (“Hey, what about a book about the Hindenburg?”) and diligently piloted it from proposal to final draft. He remains a rock of sound advice, excellent judgment, and admirable dedication.
Family often comes last in the acknowledgments, though really they ought to be first. My late parents, Paul and Susan Rose, would have loved to see this book, and I dearly wish they could have. I’d like to thank my brother, Ari, and my sister, Zoë (and my brother-in-law, Craig), for their support over an occasionally trying couple of years, as well as my extended family (Liz and Chad, Ben and Jaime, Erna, David and Carolyn, and Freya). Special mentions, too, for Yvonne Taylor and William Liberman for all that they have done.
Pride of place, of course, goes to my beloved wife, Rebecca, the best partner one could imagine—she is my north star. My fine son, Edmund, though he’s mostly a car guy, has also learned to appreciate the grandeur of the airship, and I’m beyond proud of him, and all that he shall accomplish.