Eugen Bentele signed 2001 Zeppelin LZ1 First Flight

Eugen Bentele signed 2001 Zeppelin LZ1 first flight cover.

Eugen Bentele was an engine mechanic aboard several famous Zeppelins. He flew on numerous flights aboard the LZ-127 Graf Zeppelin from 1931 1935, both over Germany and transatlantic flights to South America. In 1936, he served on the first test flight of the Hindenburg and was onboard for the majority of the 63 flights she made in 1936 & 1937. When the Hindenburg crashed in New Jersey on 6^th May 1937, Bentele was on duty in engine gondola number 4. He held on to the girders across the roof of the gondola, waiting for the Zeppelin to drop closer to the ground and his chance to jump. Remarkably other than minor burns to his hands and neck, he was almost completely unhurt. Bentele made one last flight, on the third flight of the LZ-130 Graf Zeppelin in September 1938.