Addison Bain

Addison Bain, 89

Addison Leroy Bain, 89, passed away in Melbourne, Florida, on January 22, 2025.

It was determined that another scientist was needed in the universe to study the galaxy and stars. You can determine that, if you see his room with various rockets and pictures from the Hubble telescope.

He was born in Kalispell, Montana, on September 23, 1935, the first child of Arthur and Dorothy Bain. He is survived by daughter Debra Lindsay, grandson Justin, and granddaughter Tiffany of Prineville, Oregon. Brothers Stanley Bain of Melbourne, Florida, and Daryl Bain of Kalispell, Montana, along with numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

After graduating from Flathead High School, he went on to Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana, to earn his degree in Engineering. Addison's first significant job was to work with an engineering firm to build the Noxon Rapids Dam in Noxon, Mt. He then was drafted into the Army and was stationed at Ft. Ord, California. After basic training, he was assigned to Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville, Alabama. That began his venture in the aerospace community. He was assigned to Dr. Wernher von Braun's engineering team with the mission of developing and testing rocket systems. Later, NASA offered him a job to continue the same work in developing mainly propellants and life support systems. He worked on space programs, including the Atlas V, Delta II, Taurus, Saturn, and Falcon, as well as orbiting programs Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo, as well as the first space shuttles. He became friends with many of the Astronauts and was awarded the snoopy pin, a symbol of the Astronaut corps. During his career, he designed a safe way to transport hydrogen and other fuels. His responsibility became Chief of Propellant and life support systems. During that time, he squeezed in time to go to night school to earn his MS and PhD. Degrees.

Addison became involved with hydrogen capabilities, which led him to the Hindenburg airship disaster. The more he studied the Hindenburg and pictures of the flames from the fire, the more he knew something was not right. Addison speculated that hydrogen could not be the reason for the explosion and fire. He made several trips to Germany, met with several survivors, and collected many artifacts from the event, along with several large pieces of the outer layer. On one of his trips to Germany, he found a library that had original drawings and designs of the Hindenburg. Through his tests, studies, and investigation, he discovered that the outer fabric of the Hindenburg was coated with a doping process that was highly flammable. The Hindenburg landed at Lakehurst Naval Air Station in Manchester, New Jersey, on May 6, 1937. From eye witness reports and research of the day, it appeared the airship acquired static electricity due to storms, when the airship touched the mooring mast the resulting static electricity ignited the fire which burned through the outer layer and eventually into the fuel cell, containing the hydrogen. The hydrogen-fueled the fire.

Addison wrote the book 'Hindenburg' about his research. A model of the Hindenburg is displayed at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. His findings replaced the original plaque on the wall. Addison was invited to that unveiling.

His interest in hydrogen continued, and he converted his car, a Lincoln, to run on hydrogen. However, he needed a way to acquire the fuel, so he built his fueling station in his garage. Of course, that got the neighbors excited. He demonstrated to the neighbors, fire department, and Mayor, along with the media, how the hydrogen was extracted from water and then pumped into storage containers. He drove the car for several years, donating the car and hydrogen system to the local university.

During his career, he received several awards and recognitions for his work. He traveled to many places, but his favorite was having a red beer at Moose's Saloon in Kalispell, MT, and fishing at his favorite spot, Twin Creek's on the South Fork of the Flathead River, and spending time at the Diamond R Ranch at Spotted Bear.

Addison's request was to be cremated and buried near family at Glacier Memorial Gardens in Kalispell, Montana. Graveside services will be scheduled for later this summer.