Germany, Weimar Republic. An Airship Designer Ludwig Dürr & South American Zeppelin Trip Medal 1930

In bronze gilt, obverse illustrating the bust of airship designer Ludwig Dürr, inscribed "Dr. LUDW. DÜRR" to the right and maker marked "M.u.W. ST." and engraver marked "H.Z.", reverse inscribed in the centre "SÜDAMERIKAFAHRT MAI-JUNI 1930 (South America Trip May-June 1930) / FRIEDRICHSHAFEN / SEVILLA / PERNAMBUCO / RIO DE JANIERO /LAKEHURST / SEVILLA / FRIEDRICHSHAFEN", surrounded by the inscription "ERINNERUNG AN DEN ERBAUER DES GRAF ZEPPELIN" (In Memory of the Builder of the Graf Zeppelin), measuring 49.5 mm in diameter, edge nicks, very light contact, near extremely fine.

 

Footnote: Ludwig Dürr (June 4, 1878 in Stuttgart - January 1, 1956 in Friedrichshafen) was an airship designer. After completing training as a mechanic, Dürr continued his training at the Königliche Baugewerkschule (Royal School of Engineering). In 1898, he entered the German Navy, but was discharged at the end of the year. Beginning in 1899, Dürr worked for Ferdinand von Zeppelin. After assisting in the construction of the first zeppelin airship, the LZ 1, he himself began to construct airships and lightweight construction parts. All of the following zeppelin designs were Dürr's. He often flew on board his designs, at the elevator control wheel, including the maiden flight of Zeppelin LZ 5 to Bitterfeld and back. On May 31, 1909, Dürr was still, exhausted, at the elevator controls after the 37 hour flight, when the nose of the ship crashed into a pear tree near Göppingen. He was employed by the Zeppelin company until its dissolution in 1945, from 1915 on as technical director.