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In October of this year Mike Kneafsey in the Northampton Forwarding office
was awarded the task of shipping a WWII fighter bomber aircraft from Southampton to Galveston Texas.
Initially, the aircraft was flown from its base at Duxford to Southampton airport from where it was craned over the perimeter fence and towed to Southampton docks. The towing was undertaken in the middle of the night with a police
escort.
Once at Southampton docks the aircraft was towed onto a roro vessel belonging to the fleet of Wallenius Wilhelmson and shipped out to Galveston.
The aircraft was insured with Lloyds for one million US Dollars.
Documentation proved a stumbling block initially as there was a difference in opinion amongst HM Customs and Excise Officers as to the type of Export Licence required. Eventually two Licences were submitted, one from the DTI and the other from The Dept of Media Culture and Sports.
So, on the 22nd of October the vessel set sail to take the aircraft 'home'. Final destination - The Cavanaugh Flight Museum Addison, Texas.
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The aircraft should be available to view on their website in the new
year:
www.cavanaughflightmuseum.com
Aircraft Specification:-
Goodyear FG-1D - Manufactured in the USA
World War II Corsair Single Seat Fighter Bomber built in 1945 - Carrier Based
Length: 34 ft
Span: 41 ft
Weight: 4025 Kgs
Max Speed: 395 mph
Range: 1000 miles
Service Ceiling: 37000 ft
Initial climb: 2890 ft per minute
Guns: 6 x 0.5" Browning MG53-2 machine guns in outer wings: 390 rounds per gun
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FELIXSTOWE