Advertising account executive, who was traveling as a passenger on board the zeppling Hindenburg. He had remained in Europe since 1920, after being discharged as a Petty Officer in the U.S. Navy. The handsome man was an executive with H.K. McCann and Company (international subsidiary of McCann-Erickson), the advertising agency for General Motors. Douglas was in the process of being transferred from Frankfurt to London. The Gestapo considered Douglas to be a spy. They believed that he sent marketing information directly to the U.S. Navy's Department of Intelligence. Further, he had refused to fire his Jewish secretary after being asked to do so by Goebbels' ministry. Thus, Colonel Fritz Erdmann was ordered to keep a careful eye on Douglas. During the voyage, it is believed Edward received an ominous telegram from a colleague: The Gestapo had searched his office-apartment in Frankfurt. Consequently, Douglas decided he would never return to Germany. He was killed when the Hindenburg burst into flames while landing in Lakehurst New Jersey.
Advertising account executive, who was traveling as a passenger on board the zeppling Hindenburg. He had remained in Europe since 1920, after being discharged as a Petty Officer in the U.S. Navy. The handsome man was an executive with H.K. McCann and Company (international subsidiary of McCann-Erickson), the advertising agency for General Motors. Douglas was in the process of being transferred from Frankfurt to London. The Gestapo considered Douglas to be a spy. They believed that he sent marketing information directly to the U.S. Navy's Department of Intelligence. Further, he had refused to fire his Jewish secretary after being asked to do so by Goebbels' ministry. Thus, Colonel Fritz Erdmann was ordered to keep a careful eye on Douglas. During the voyage, it is believed Edward received an ominous telegram from a colleague: The Gestapo had searched his office-apartment in Frankfurt. Consequently, Douglas decided he would never return to Germany. He was killed when the Hindenburg burst into flames while landing in Lakehurst New Jersey.
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