October 23, 1933 – A day with the Graf Zeppelin
A world famous airship arrives in Miami
The Graf Zeppelin made its first appearance over Miami just after sunrise on October 23, 1933. The giant dirigible had become world famous after it completed the first round-the-world flight by any airship, ever, in 1929. It could claim the honor of having made the first nonstop crossing of the Pacific, from Tokyo to Los Angeles, in August that year and for five years in the 1930s it offered the first regular commercial passenger flights across the Atlantic — from Germany to Brazil — years before airplanes could reliably do so.
Special goodwill flight to the Chicago World’s Fair
The arrival of the famous dirigible in Miami was part of a special long-distance goodwill and publicity flight from Germany via Brazil to the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair, whose theme was “A Century of Progress.” Its stop in Miami was a one-off, high profile appearance, made possible by the mooring facilities available at Miami’s Opa Locka dirigible base.
Miami watches the sky
According to newspaper reports of the visit, thousands of residents watched from beaches, rooftops, and roadsides as the silver airship glided into town from the southeast under a brilliant early morning, tropical sky. It followed the shoreline northward, flying low enough for spectators to see the red lettering of its name and the red swastika emblems newly required on her fins by Hitler’s rising pre-war Nazi regime.
Arrival at Opa Locka
Around 10 a.m., the dirigible reached the Opa Locka airport and settled onto the mooring mast, where customs officers cleared the 17 passengers. Among them were German air ministry officials, scientists, broadcasters, a French aviator, and Dr. Max Jordan of NBC. Several had been aboard since leaving Friedrichshafen, Germany, on October 14 and would remain on the ship until Chicago.
Commander Eckener’s Miami welcome
Miami welcomed Commander Dr. Hugo Eckener with full ceremony. Motorcycle escorts rushed him into the city, where thousands crowded the courthouse steps. The American Legion drum and bugle corps played as people shouted greetings in English and German. Boy Scouts flanked his car during a procession down Flagler Street, and local business leaders honored him at a luncheon at the Old Heidelberg restaurant. That evening, he was guest of honor at a banquet at the McAllister Hotel.
“Mix-up” at the mooring field
Back at Opa‑Locka, strict security surrounded the mooring field. Because the Graf Zeppelin was filled with hydrogen, only credentialed personnel were allowed within 640 feet of the mast. Three hundred men, assembled by the municipal employment bureau and directed by Navy officers, handled the landing and later prepared the ship for departure. Cowboy movie star Tom Mix briefly tried to help throw a line to the ground crew (expert with a lasso that he was), before being removed for lacking a pass — a moment that amused onlookers. Mix left quietly, saying he’d seen as much as he needed to see, anyway.
Departure delayed by storm
As sunset faded into twilight, the crew readied the airship for her northbound flight. A sudden electrical storm swept across Miami, delaying departure nearly two hours. But by 9:44 p.m., the skies had cleared. The Graf Zeppelin lifted slowly from the mast, circled the field in a blaze of lights, and headed toward Akron on the next leg of her journey to the Century of Progress exposition in Chicago.
Aftermath of the Hindenburg disaster
The Graf Zeppelin was withdrawn from service on 18 June 1937, just weeks after the Hindenburg disaster ended public confidence in hydrogen airships. Although the Graf Zeppelin itself had an impeccable safety record, the German airship program was abruptly halted. The ship was grounded permanently in 1937 and dismantled in 1940, with its metal reused for military aircraft production during WWII.