Thanks to newsreels, dozens of photographers, and the chilling live radio coverage, for the first time Americans and people from around the world were witnesses to a great disaster.Β The impact was profound. Β On May 6, 1937 a dream died with a bang, along with 37 souls. Β Up until then, the future of trans-oceanic and other mega-long distant air service looked like it belonged to lighter than aircraft. Β Airplanes, it was thought, were too limited by fuel needs and lift capacity to economically serve this need. Β They were alright for military use, which had been proven, and had a place supplementing good rail service in shorter distance travel, but the great dirigibles held the promise of connecting the world with fast, reliable p...