Lakehurst, borough (1990 pop. 3,078), Ocean co., E central N.J.; inc. 1921. It is important as the site of Lakehurst Maxfield Field, formerly Lakehurst Naval Air Station (est. 1921). The Shenandoah (1923) was the first airship to use the station, and transatlantic airships made it their U.S. terminal from 1924. The burning of the Hindenburg, which took 36 lives, occurred there (May 6, 1937) as the hydrogen-filled German zeppelin was being moored. The field is now part of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2024, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
See more Encyclopedia articles on: U.S. Political Geography
