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nQ FL so “OPIES DESTROYED MEMORANDUM FOR THE REPORT Newark, N. Js May 16, 1937- On May 13, 1937 Bos'sn Officer W. Ae PUCKLEY testified before the Board, and in connection therewith he informed that on May 6, 1937 he was acting as Assistant Mooring Officer and had taken up position away from the mast. Insofar as his background wes with lighter-thaneair craft, Officer Buckley informed that during the period of time from the years 1918 to 1921 he was on active duty in connection with lighter~thaneair craft, and that subsequent thereto he had been on active duty on the Airship Los Angeles, as well as the Shenandoah, and that he had per= formed temporary duty on the U.S.S. Akron and had put in two years aboard the Macon, ‘as well as having previous experience at the Naval Base at Lakehurst, New Jersey. Officer Buckley stated that he can point to 19 years of continuous service with lighter-than-air craft, and that insofar as the Airship Hindenburg is concerned, he informed that he made a short flight aboard her during the fall of 1936 and that this gave him = gttekht+ by sdre = i a slight knowledge of the general construction of this ship. Getting back to the date of May 6, 1937 Buckley informed that as Assistent Mooring Officer it was one of his duties to check all of the moving equipment on the field that was to be utilized in the land- ing of the Hindenburg, and that he distinctly remembers meking a thor- ough check of this equipment and he found it all to be in satisfactory condition, and further, that at the time the Hindenburg approached the landing field everything was in readiness to properly handle her at the time she attempted to land. He stated that the zero hour was set for 5 P.M., Daylight Saving Time, on May 6, 1937, and that all of the men were congregated in the main hanger, and subsequent thereto they assumed their proper positions on the field. At this time there was a slight rain, according to Buckley, and along with the rain the Hindenburg hoved in sight, coming apparently along the New Jersey coast line. When the ship came over the landing field the ground crew was immediately put in- to position, but the zeppelin continued on over the landing field, and inasmuch as a heavier shower set in, it was deemed expedient to give or- ders for the ground crew to take shelter. Inthe meantime the Hinden- burg had disappeared from the horizon. Very shortly the Hindenburg again came into sight and the ground crew again took their pleces on the field. According to Buckley, when the Hindenburg was 350 to 400 yards from the mooring mist he recalls that the motors both forward and aft were idling and appeared to be in reverse gear, and during this procedure she was decreasing her altitude. He recalled seeing the trail ropes being dropped from the forward part of the ship, and he also recalled that the ship tended Oli <1 1964 os bA-YSIALAS Vres presets venta ater UG Cr a er