Hindenburg Artifact story correction

| July 30, 2008 July 30, 2008 |

A number of viewers have contacted us with corrections to the Hindenburg Artifact story. Over twenty caught the error in our showing a B-29 bombing Germany. Merlin Bird writes:

In the Hindenburg Artifact episode, B-29's were briefly depicted as being used over Europe. Normally, I'd think nothing of it, but in a history program? B-29's were not used over Europe.

The aircraft shown should have been a B-17 or B-24. The producers regret the error.

Carl Witzstein wrote with another frequently voiced comment:

In the Hindenburg story you said several times that the cause of the crash had not been determined. I remember a PBS story (either on NOVA or SECRETS OF THE DEAD) that claimed to have discovered the cause. I think it was a spark that ignited the explosive coating on the blimp.

I really enjoy your program!!

We contacted the story's producer who was aware of the earlier programs produced on the Hindenburg disaster. Here is his reply:

Hypotheses regarding the Hindenburg disaster are myriad. One commonly-accepted theory blames flammable paint - not hydrogen – for igniting the fire and enabling its rapid spread. Experiments assessing the validity of this theory have yielded mixed results. A 2005 study found that the burn rate of the painted fabric was far too slow to have consumed the airship in 34 seconds, and that a natural spark ignition was physically implausible. The study also postulates that burning gas cells and fabric accounted for the yellow flames. Furthermore, eyewitness accounts of the Hindenburg flames closely match those of zeppelins shot down in combat during WWI. Until the day that multiple, full-scale reproductions constructed of authentic Hindenburg materials are built to test the various possible causes, there will be no consensus in the scientific community over the exact cause of the LZ129 crash. A PDF copy of the report is available at this site.

Thank you, viewers, for careful attention to the Hindenburg Artifact story and taking the time to provide feedback.

Gold plated Airstream

| July 28, 2008 July 28, 2008 |

Mike Logan
I am just curious as to what happened to the gold plated airstream that Wally Byam took on the historic "Cape Town to Cairo Caravan" of 1959?

To answer Mike's question we contacted Wally Byam's nephew, John Dale Schwamborn

Wally Byam's wife's name was Stella. Family members called her Stel. On the 1956 Wally Caravan to Europe, he and Stel went over the ideal floor model. The ideas were Stella's. (I have Wally's notebook with a sketched floor plan. He called it something like Stella's dream trailer.) The trailer was manufactured in 1957 in the Jackson Center Plant. Wally took the trailer to Africa in 1959. In 1969 I purchased the trailer and kept it for 7 years. A few years ago Airstream repurchased the trailer. They are now refurbishing it. It is at the factory in Ohio.

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How do I authenticate a document?

Elyse Luray | July 24, 2008 July 24, 2008 |

Patti's question:
I have a homestead certificate from Territory of Oklahoma
and was interested if u could tell me how to tell if it is an original?
it has two raised seals on it and Theodore Roosevelt's signature on it,
whom was the president of the U.S. at that time, 1906.

How can i tell if it is a copy or an original?

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Finding an Appraiser

| July 23, 2008 July 23, 2008 |

I am hoping that you could offer a suggestion to a situation that has plagued my 85 year old mother for many years. I don't know the entire story or all of the details, and she remembers them now only sporadically.

She was given a beautiful Kimono and Obi either during or just after WWII. The story she was told is that it came from a temple or a palace that was raided by US solders, and was said to be very valuable. (It is totally hand stitched and looks to be made of gold threads and silk.) She has kept it preserved in acid free paper all these years.

Can you recommend anyone that can look at this beautiful item and perhaps tell her what she has? (We are located in Scottsdale, AZ.) She has thought that she'd possibly would like to have it returned to the country of origin, if it was something they would like to have.

Kind regards,
Sandra Crawford

Dear Sandra,
Thank you for writing. We receive many requests for appraisals of various objects. The History Detectives does not provide appraisal services or recommend specific appraisers. For a list of qualified appraisers visit the Antiques Roadshow web page.

Before consulting an appraiser document the provenance of the object and have a photograph available. Local art museums and historical societies can often recommend qualified appraisers. We wish you the best on your search.

Japanese Balloon Story

| July 21, 2008 July 21, 2008 |

Fred Granata of Portland, OR writes in with a personal story that contradicts the contention that the presence of Japanese Balloon Bombs was "Top Secret."

This concerns the Japanese balloon bomb segment of the History
Detectives program last Monday, July 14, which I understand is produced
by OPB. I was pre-teen aged living here in Portland during that time
and remember the episode well.

The statement that this was "Top Secret" and kept from the
American public is simply incorrect. This is what happened: when it
became apparent that these deadly Japanese weapons were reaching North
America and particularly the Pacific Northwest, the civil defense
authorities, concerned with the safety of the civilian population, knew
that we had to be warned. They devised a scheme whereby speakers came
to every Portland school. (I was attending Kellogg, then an elementary
school) We were called into assembly and told of the balloons and the
danger they posed. We were instructed to spread the word, to warn
everyone we knew about them with this caveat which the speaker said
repeatedly, "do not write it down". Immature children that
we were, we felt thrilled that we had been let in on a military secret.

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An honorary detective?

| July 9, 2008 July 9, 2008 |

Sharp eyed viewer Randy Finfrock writes:
On the "Do it Yourself" Overview, 3rd paragraph, 3rd line: the word census is mis-spelled. I love your show and don't mean to be picky, but it requires perfection in order to do each story justice. So, I thought even a little thing on the website can stand out.

I've always found simple typo errors like this. Once I was at a nationally known bank and was getting a cashiers check. The heavy metal plate embossed in beautiful multicolors the name of the bank on the face of my check. I took one look and asked for the manager. She came up to the counter and I asked her quietly: "Do you know that (the name of your bank) is mispelled?" She nearly fainted, and said we had a new one made and we've been using it 3-days. Does this make me an honorary 'detective'?? Ha! Keep up your super sleuthing.

Medal of Honor

| July 8, 2008 July 8, 2008 |

Michael Buhr writes:

I love this show. One negative comment, please stop calling the "Medal of Honor" the "Congressional Medal of Honor". The Medal of Honor is presented in the name of the congress only.

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My favorite TV show

| July 8, 2008 July 8, 2008 |

Dear Detectives,

After watching History Detectives for the first time last summer on KETC here in St. Louis, I have grown to like the show more and more. A TV show that's both entertaining and informative (not to mention flat out cool) is pretty rare, and that's why History Detectives is not only my favorite PBS show, but my favorite TV show period. Kudos not only to the detectives, but everyone else who does the nitty-gritty research that makes the show so amazing. Bravo!
If at all possible, I would encourage you to pursue airing your season during the more conventional TV season of fall/winter/spring. No need to hide one of PBS's best shows away in a short summer schedule!

In short, thanks for putting together such a great show, and keep up the good work!

Sincerely,

Brandon Sharp
Highland, IL

Finding Careers in Historical Research

| July 7, 2008 July 7, 2008 |

Gwen Wright's response to Nicole on how to become a historian was insightful. Here is a different twist on the question. As a degreed Art Historian, a B.A. received in 2006, with an aptitude for performing provenance research, what advice can be given for those pursuing careers in art historical, provenance, or historical research? What type of opportunities are available outside academic institutions for those whose aptitudes do not run into the field of classroom teaching? Sharing the knowledge learned is always fun, but I am more comfortable in a library or archive than standing in front of a room full of people.
Asked by David Passman

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