89 Years On, Hindenburg Crash Photos Still Astound

On May 6, 1937, the Hindenburg disaster took place in Lakehurst, New Jersey, resulting in the deaths of 35 individuals and signaling the conclusion of the airship era. This incident was notable for being the first aviation catastrophe documented by both still and motion picture cameras, with four newsreel teams present: Pathé News, Hearst, Movietone, and Paramount. The iconic photograph, captured by Sam Shere (1905–1982) of International News Photos using a Speed Graphic camera, earned him the Editor and Publisher Award for best news picture. The explosion's cause is still a topic of discussion; a PBS Nova episode from 2021 proposed that a hydrogen gas leak, static electricity, and design flaws contributed to it. Additionally, journalist Herbert Morrison experimented with field audio recording during the event.