Herb Morrison's Voice

May 6, 1937 - At 7:25 PM reporter Herb Morrison was watching the Hindenburg attempt to dock at the Lakehurst Naval Air Station in New Jersey when the giant airship suddenly burst into flames. 35 of the 97 people on board died. One crewman on the ground was also killed.

Morrison’s eyewitness account of the disaster was recorded onto large lacquer discs. The legendary recording gave the world a vivid glimpse inside the terrifying spectacle, but it wasn’t entirely accurate.

The version broadcast around the world was played back at the wrong speed, making Morrison’s voice sound much higher and more frantic than it actually was. In 1999 a corrected version of the recording was broadcast nationally for the first time. If you listen closely, you can even hear the very beginning of the explosion. Some audio historians believe the shockwave briefly affected the recording stylus.

The exact cause of the disaster remains debated, though many investigators believe leaking hydrogen may have been ignited by static electricity.