Harry Vissering

Zeppelin: The Story of a Great Achievement Harry Vissering

Written in 1922 by Harry Vissering, the director of the Goodyear-Zeppelin Corporation, Zeppelin recounts the life and work of Count Zeppelin (1838-1917). One of the first Americans to show interest in the building and operation of Zeppelin aircraft, Harry Vissering never met their namesake. Yet his remarkable book is a fitting tribute to the Count, who built 127 dirigibles during his lifetime. In addition to descriptive text, the book includes nearly 100 rare photographs and line drawings detailing the history, construction and operation of these remarkable craft. Born July 8, 1838, in Konstanz, Prussia, Ferdinand von Zeppelin was educated as a military officer and entered the Prussian army in 1858. He traveled to the United States during the Civil War, and was introduced to balloons and balloon technology by the American inventor Thaddeus S. C. Lowe. After a stint as an observer for the Union Army, he explored the Mississippi River. He later served in the Franco-Prussian War and retired in 1891 with the rank of brigadier general. Zeppelin spent nearly a decade developing the dirigible, completing his first in 1900. By 1910, a zeppelin provided the first commercial air service for passengers. By his death in 1917, he had built a fleet of airships including military craft which bombed London during WWI. In the 1920s and 30s, zeppelins captured the attention of the world. The Graf Zeppelin flew over a million miles, including a flight around the world and another over the arctic. Yet the Hindenburg disaster of 1937 spelled the end of Zeppelin's dream.