The flagship of the German Zeppelin fleet, the Graf Zeppelin (D-LZ127), flying over HMAS ...

The flagship of the German Zeppelin fleet, the Graf Zeppelin (D-LZ127), flying over HMAS Australia in the Mediterranean sea. The Graf Zeppelin was launched for the first time on September 18, 1928. Designed for carrying 20 passengers and a crew of 40, this airship set a host of records, including the longest non-stop flight from Germany to Lakehurst, New Jersey, in 111 hours and 44 minutes. In August 1929, she became famous for circumnavigating the world in a total of 12 days in the air. The Graf Zeppelin was in regular passenger service flying from Europe across the Atlantic to North and South America until the Hindenburg disaster on 6 May 1937, which spelt the end of the hydrogen airship. The German Nazi Government frequently used the Graf Zeppelin for propaganda puposes until the airship was withdrawn from service in 1937 and finally scrapped in 1940. The Graf Zeppelin flew 590 voyages over 1.2 million kilometres and carried 75,000 passengers.