El Pasoans wait all day for Graf Zeppelin to fly over on 1929 around-the-world trip

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This week, the Goodyear Blimp was spotted over El Paso, with many sharing images of the blimp on social media Wednesday, Aug. 13.
The blimp was also spotted in May, according to social media posts.
With no social media in 1929, El Pasoans climbed to the tops of buildings and jammed Scenic Drive Aug. 27, for a look at an airship, the Graf Zeppelin, which was three times as long as the County Courthouse block.
The Graf Zeppelin was a German passenger-carrying airship that operated from 1928 to 1937. In 1929, it made a round-the-world voyage covering 21,2500 miles, passing over El Paso.
Although the Graf did not stop here, El Paso prepared an aerial reception 'fitting for such a great visitor.'
Whistles Will Blow As Graf Zep ComesEl Pasoans will be advised of the approach of the Graf Zeppelin to El Paso Tuesday by the blowing of the whistles of the Cement plant, the smelter, Electric company, Peyton Packing company and the railroad shops. The Chamber of Commerce made arrangements Monday with the various industrial plants for the whistle blowing. A wire was sent to Deming asking that chamber of commerce officials there, advise the El Paso Chamber of Commerce when the Zeppelin passes over the New Mexico city. Contact also will be arranged with Fort Bliss, where constant radio communication with the huge airliner will be maintained. El Paso aviation companies and private plane owners have been requested to meet the ship and escort it to the city.
Dirigible Passes Over El Paso At 5:16 P.M. After Delayed Flight
El Pasoans Give Airliner Big Ovation After Awaiting Arrival Throughout DayIt's five motors droning their monotonous song of harnessed power, the Graf Zepplin sailed majestically across the plains of western Texas last night bound for Fort Worth in its non-stop flight from Los Angeles to Lakehurst, the last leg of its round-the-world flight.
At midnight, approximately six hours after the huge airliner had sailed over El Paso, Big Springs, Texas, reported that the Graf had just passed over and was apparently continuing straight to Fort Worth.
Earlier in the evening Clint, Sierra Blanca, Van Horn, Pecos, Odessa and Midland all reported seeing the Zepplin. Their reports indicate that Dr. Hugo Eckener, commander of the dirigible, was following the Southern Pacific and Texas & Pacific railroad tracks into Fort Worth.
Wait All Day
In Dr. Eckener's log book of the flight, yesterday's trip was just another entry stating that the Graf fought hard winds across New Mexico and arrived in El Paso at 5:17 p.m., several hours behind schedule.
But to the thousands of El Pasoans who waited throughout the day to see the ship, its arrival was the event of a lifetime. It brought to an end hours of constant vigil that started shortly after 8 a.m. the hour the Graf was originally scheduled to arrive.
The day was a disheartening one for the spectators. Early in the morning came reports that the ship was delayed by head winds and that its arrival would be at approximately 11 a.m. Later came other advices from Southern Arizona and New Mexico saying the ship was still further delayed and that it could not be expected in El Paso until mid-afternoon.
And finally, after hours of long waiting, the big silver bag poked its nose around the corner of the Franklin mountains and sailed majestically over the city.
More: White Way lighting project brought spectators, parade to Texas Street: Trish Long
Arrival Spectacular
First a black blotch against a blue and white-cloud background and then a silvery gleam, it came out of the west. For more than half an hour El Pasoans, hundreds of whom had found vantage sight-seeing points atop office buildings, watched its coming. Dipping, bobbing the speck became a bullet-nosed fish, languidly swimming transparent sky.
Fifteen minutes away, a din of whistles, shrill and raucous, proclaimed its coming.
Larger and larger it became until its black hulk, five motors whirling, passed directly over the courthouse, flying in an easterly direction.
Incidentally, the Zeppelin is three times longer than the courthouse block.
El Pasoans who had been awaiting its arrival since 8 a.m. anxiously alert all day and disappointed time after time as new reports announced that adverse winds were slowing its time, flocked to the roofs of buildings, other hundreds, many of whom had waited since early morning, rested in cars that blackened Scenic Drive.
Seek Vantage Point
Many of those atop buildings were equipped with binoculars and field glasses. The Two Republics, the Southern Pacific Mills, First National bank buildings and the Paso del Norte and Hussman hotels were popular observing points. Several enthusiastic spectators even climbed electric sign frames atop the hotel buildings.
The day was one of excitement and expectancy. A hundred imaginative and false alarms were heard. Craning pedestrians, rushing-to-window clerks and stenographers, could be seen at nearly any hour of the day.
Speed of the German dirigible as it passed over the city was unofficially estimated at 50 miles an hour.
The Zep was escorted by a group of planes from the municipal and Army airports from the time it arrived at Columbus, N.M., until after it had passed over Ysleta.
Trish Long may be reached at [e-mail].
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Pasoans climb buildings, crowd Scenic Drive for view of Graf Zepplin
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