Werner-Franz-Obituary

Werner Franz

1922 - 2014 (Age 92)

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AGE
92

Obituary

BERLIN (AP) — Werner Franz, believed to be the last surviving crew member of the German airship Hindenburg that crashed 77 years ago, has died. He was 92.

Franz was a 14-year-old cabin boy when the hydrogen-filled Zeppelin caught fire and crashed in Lakehurst, New Jersey, on May 6, 1937. The disaster was captured by waiting photographers, film crews and a radio broadcaster on the ground, making it one of history's most iconic air accidents.

Luck and quick thinking meant Franz was able to jump out of the Hindenburg as it fell burning to the ground, said historian John Provan, a long-time friend.

"Werner survived the crash without a scratch on him," Provan said.

Franz returned to Germany and served as an aircraft technician during World War II, and was a roller- and ice skating coach in later life. He spoke freely about his experience, said Carl Jablonski, president of the Navy Lakehurst Historical Society, who last met Franz at an event commemorating the 70th anniversary of the disaster that killed 35 of the 97 people on board and a Navy crewman on the ground.

Provan confirmed a report by German news agency dpa, quoting his widow Annerose, that Franz died of heart failure Aug. 13 in his hometown of Frankfurt.

Franz came to be on the Hindenburg by chance, Provan told The Associated Press.

"His older brother worked at a fancy hotel in Frankfurt where the passengers and the captain stayed overnight before the airship took off early in the morning," he said. "One of the captains said they were looking for a cabin boy and (his brother) heard about it."

Franz completed three journeys to South America and one to North America before the disaster.

The huge airship — as long as three football fields and 15 stories tall — was considered the most luxurious means to cross the Atlantic at the time. Its loss — widely attributed to static electricity that ignited leaking hydrogen — was a heavy blow to the image of a resurgent Germany that the Nazis wanted to project to the world.

"Werner was most fortunate because he was in the officers' mess cleaning up," said Provan. "Above him was a large tank of water that burst open and drenched him, which protected him a bit from the flames and the heat."

Franz was able to jump out of a cloth supply hatch onto the ground below and made the wise decision to run into the wind.

"He didn't make the mistake of going in the other direction or the flames would have caught him," Provan said.

Jablonski said three other survivors of the disaster are believed to be still alive today. Werner Doehner and Horst Schirmer, who were both passengers aboard the Hindenburg, and Robert Buchanan, a member of the ground crew that was waiting to moor the ship.

___

FRANK JORDANS, Associated Press




Copyright © 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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LOOK TO GOD FOR COMFORT,FOR HE HAS SAID THAT I-I MYSELF AM THE ONE THAT IS COMFORTING YOU PEOPLE..ISA.51:12

May God bless the Franz Family at this difficult time and bring you comfort as you recall the many happy memories that you shared with Mr. werner. I look forward to a better life for all of us at a better time! (Matthew 6:10)

Mr. Frank was truly blessed to have survived the Hindenburg and to have lived a long, fulfilled life. May the memories of such a life and the promised hope of endless life in God's future Paradise prove to be both appealing and comforting to the Franz family during your hours of sadness. Our heartfelt condolences to you!

May the Beautiful Memories of your loved one provide Solace and Strength to you and your family during this difficult time. May you also find comfort in God's promise of life without end in Paradise. Matthew 5:5 , Acts 25:15

Offering my deepest condolences
When I read of someone who lived a full life such as your love one, It reminds me of God's friend Abraham (Genesis 25:8) “Then Abraham expired and died in a good old age, old and satisfied, and was gathered to his people.”

To The Family of Werner Franz, your loved one was especially strong and mighty. (Psalms 90: 10). God promises a time when we will live long, be strong and live in a world without disasters.

Death befalls us all but there is hope for the future found in John 5:28,28.

I am truly sorry for your loss. Please find comfort in the message the Bible gives.