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Regarding the civilian personnel which helped make up the ground crew, Lieutenant Tyler revealed that a majority of these individuals had made up the ground crew that operated at Lakehurst during the summer of 1936 and which ground crew had grounded the Airship Hindenburg during that period of time. However, none of the civilians were placed in key positions, these positions being maintained by Navy personnele. the aftaoennan = néan = the afterncon of May 6, 1937, Lieutenant Tyler etate that he recalls t that the wind was light and variable and that it was blowing from two to four kmots an hour. After the ground crew took up their position, it was necessary for them to shift to 60 degrees to conform with the winds At this time, the sky was threatening and light winds had set in. Due to the fact that the Hindenburg had not yet hove into sight and rain had started to fall, the ground crew was recalled to shelter. When the rain slackened, the ground orew was reeassembled and again assumed their positionse After a twenty minute period, heavier showers set in and while the Hindenburg had already passed over the field, she was then out of sight, and it was deemed advisable to again recall the crew to shelters This last shower lasted ape proximated forty-five minutes. At the end of the forty-five minutes, the aS evict’ TCR EL Meg ee et] ae rain practically ceased and the sky indicated a third clearings The ground x crew was then again ordered to take up position on & heading of 70 degrees. - Shortly thereafter, the Hindenburg approached on a northerly head, maintaining a height of from five hundred to six hundred feet. At this time, the wind again shifted to a southerly direction and the ground crew was re-formed, 3 accordingly. The Hindenburg swung to the left, making off toward the south, * then turned to the west of the field and swung left to a position over the officers' quarters, and she then made her approach towards the mooring mast in a southerly direction. Jn the meantime, the Neon indicator which indicates the ; wind direction, showed another shift of wind and the ground crew was moved ac- cordingly. It was noted by Tyler that during the ship's approach to the mooring mast, the after motors gave the appearance of being operated at full speed in reverse in an effort to check the forward momentum of the ship. The ship was brought to a standstill approximtely four hundred yards outside of the outer Hindenburg circle that surrounds the mooring mast. Tyler also is of the opinion that the forward engines were used in reverse for a short period of time, dut that he does not recall that they were used just prior to the time that the forward momentum of the ship was checkeds During the approach of the ship, Tyler testified that he notioed that she apparently was heavy in the stern, and that water bailast was dropped aft. He stated that the starboard trail rope was _) meat