AKRON, Ohio-Karl L. Fickes, a Goodyear blimp specialist who flew on the trial flights of the ill-fated Hindenberg, died June 15 in Akron. He was 94. Mr. Fickes, an Akron native, began his 44-year career with the company in 1922. He helped build early Army and Navy blimps and was one of the few Americans to hold free balloon, rigid and nonrigid airship and airplane pilot licenses-all signed by Orville Wright.
He managed Goodyear's Wingfoot Lake blimp base near Akron during World War II and became manager of the Goodyear aircraft plant in Litchfield Park, Ariz., in 1950.