The FLYING ENTERPRISE Saga

A PERMANENT TEESSHIPS FEATURE

Last revised 10 December 2005
TEESSHIPS
A FAVOURITE SHIP

The FLYING ENTERPRISE Saga
Page 3

Page 1 - 50 Years Ago! (revised 10.12.05)
Page 2 - Map and Photos (revised 02.06.04)
Page 4 - Today! (new 10.07.04)
Page 5 - TURMOIL (new 06.08.05)
Page 6 - From Kenneth Dancy (SCOOP!? new 10.12.05)

This page features a number of comments I have received from various people - raising some questions which have not been fully resolved!

10.12.05:
Back in April this year I received this message:
Dear Ron, I was at a wedding this past Friday and found myself in conversation with a lady next to me. She had an English accent and we realized both of us were war children born in 1943, she in England and I in Germany. During this conversation I mentioned my voyage on the General A.W. Greely and our rescue of the seamen from the Flying Enterprise. I wonder how many people realized that the Greely was carrying immigrants en route to Ellis Island in the US.

To my delight she remembered what a great event this was and sent me your link. I have told my tale to friends and family but it took a TV program “Great Disasters” (Discovery Channel) that I believe the event hit home.If you are interested I can recount my memories through the eyes of an 8 ½ year old girl.

Isolde Doll (New Jersey, USA)

and, following delays on both sides (and a further delay in actually posting to this page!), this account duly arrived:
My family left Bremenhaffen late in December with a couple of hundred other immigrants for our big trip across the Atlantic and our new home the United States. It started out calm enough; we were allowed to spend sometime topside. My mother took a picture of my younger brother and me in front of the White Cliffs of Dover. I recall so many birds flying all around those cliffs and our ship. On the ship the men had separate living quarters from the women and children for they were expected to work scraping the paint from the ship. The men were lodged in the center of the ship and the women in the bow, not good for seasickness.

A few days out and the sea became very rough, everyone was getting sick. We were not allowed top side. The stench and lack of fresh air was too much so my mother and I found an unguarded open door so we could see the horizon and breathe some fresh air. It was during that time I saw huge waves cover the ship as it rolled from side to side.

I believe it was Christmas Eve into Christmas Day that the storm was really bad. To calm us children we were sent to a room were there was a man playing a guitar and we were singing Christmas songs. I remember during that time we began rolling from one side to the other trying to hold on to the tables which were anchored to the floor. It was during this time that my mother heard our ship transmit SOS; she found out later that we had a crack in the ship and were taking in water.

After the storm we were the closest ship to the capsized FE and were sent to rescue the sailors. It was during this time I decided to explore and sneak around the ship. It was fun to see how many people I could get past without being detected; after all it was boring to be confined in this ship with nothing to do. It was during one of those trips I found myself in the large Head (bathroom) right up front of the bow. I waded through water to get to a very large crack in the side of the ship. What I saw then was what all of you have seen in the photographs of the capsized FE with two other ships around besides us. There was a line with a basket between us and another ship. I did not linger long for it was cold and I was aware even at that age how dangerous it was holding on to the open part of the ship but I will never forget that sight. It was many years later that I even told my parents.

When we arrived at New York Harbor my mother happened to notice a seaman crying and struck up a conversation. It was then we found out all the things that happened during this voyage; his tears were of joy to see NY again. A few days out we had a huge fire in the hull of the ship. We all remember the black smoke coming out of the stacks. An old woman passenger died and the seamen wanted to bury her at sea but the family would not let them. This was definitely bad luck as far as they were concerned. And then of course the storm; the crack in the ship; two extra days spent rescuing; arrived into NY harbor New Years Eve Day. We could not depart the ship until January 2 our date of entry to the US.

Isolde

Fascinating, Isolde. Many thanks.

**********

10.07.04:
I found your "TEESSHIPS" wbsite while searching for information about any museums having memorabilia from the Flying Enterprise and the legendary events surrounding her sinking the North Atlantic in the eatly 1950's. A few years later, I was a 13 year old passenger on the Flying Enterprise, II with the same captain (Henrik Curt Carlsen). "Captain Curt" befriended our group, I think adopting me as the son he longed for; and he was the father I had not known in my youth.
Before he left the ship in favor of another captain, he gave me several items I still treasure; but perhaps they belong in a place where many can enjoy them. If not immediately, they certainly do eventually. These items include a beautifully crafted model of the listing Flying Enterprise made especially for him and a Carlsen Beer bottle, whose contents he ceremoniouly emptied in the usual manner before allowing me to have it. There are also numerous photos of us together on the ship and in several foreign ports (prints, and I think 35 mm. slides in a collection my mother recently gave to me).
I am particularly interested in seeing these items help to preserve the memory of this most remarkable man, and seek your assistance in locating the best permanent repository for them. You have a great website, which I will spend a lot of time studying, when I have the time this summer!

Cheers, Will Heierman

[Any suggestions, anyone?]

**********

22.03.04: More memories:
First, I believe the "NSOE' you ask about are the radio call of an American Naval ship, either the Greeley, which was MSTS or the destroyer Keith. In 1952 I was a young Cadet in the Marine Hospital Staten Island NY. The saga of the Flying Enterprise was a major topic of conversation among the sailor patients there. I was then a Cadet/student at the New York State Maritime College, (Fort Schuyler) Bronx NY, intending to have a career as a ship's officer.
I graduated on June 2, 1953 (Coronation Day) and the following week reported aboard Flying Enterprise II as a Third Mate. We were in drydock and then went down the East Coast with a relief Captain, as the regular Captain was on vacation. We were getting under way for the eastbound round-the-world service, pilot on the bridge whan a shadow passed under the bellbook I was holding. I looked down and it was Henrik Kurt Carlsen. I had no idea he was that short. I made three trips with him and then got off to raise my license. He was a good deepwater sailor and gave great leeway to his Officers, many of whom were veterans of the first FE. Chief Mate was Carlssen a Norwegian and the Radio Operator was Dave Greene, another Bronx boy. Second Mate was Epifanio Guiterrez. The Chief Engineer was George Brown.
Captain Carlsen was also an amateur radio operator, callsign W2ZXM. it was his own radio equipment which allowed him to communicate with the other vessels.
More, if you are interested... Roberet L Brannigan

******
22.03.04: And from Curtis Carlson:
Ron: My father's first cousin is Capt. Carlsen. I had heard the story in the family for years but could not get any real information on it. I saw a program on the Discovery Channel called Hurricain Hero serveral years ago and that was that until I found your website. I am impressed! As I am the only one left alive to retell the story to my family, your site has given me a link to my past. Thanks

******

22.03.04: Rumour and counter rumour - now, I suspect, part of FE folklore and history?

Probably best to leave this enquirer as anonymous.
Hello Ron - I am working on research for a documentary that the National Geographic Channel purchased on the FE. It is produced by a Danish journalist, Lasse Spang Olsen, and it implies very strongly that the FE waas carrying zirconium. Olsen, who is on-camera throughout the program, also says that the US Government is possibly trying to hide something. He visits the National Archives and uses historical documents to create a story that I am not sure is there. (I've been to the Archives as well, and have spoken to the CIA and have come up with different answers than he did.) He clearly indicts the CIA and FBI as hiding something about the FE.
What are your thoughts on this issue? I really appreciate your time.
////////
Interesting! If you've checked the content of my pages on TEESSHIPS you might have spotted page 3 contains the following rumour - I put it no higher than that!
"They said the reason Capt. Carlson did not leave was the gold he had onboard. Last year I saw the story on the History Channel and he did have gold onboard." This was written early 2002 so presumably the progamme showed in 2001, possibly just in the U.S.A. If you don't already know about this programme may be worth your while tracking it down to see what slant they took?
A Google search for zirconium flying enterprise throws up three foreign language entries, one of which is roughly translated as:
1951 -28-12 Flying Enterprise (the USA): the captain Kurt Carlsen who, one learned since, transported zirconium for the manufacture of the atomic submarine, Nautilus, remained only on board in the storm to 350 km of the English coasts in the Atlantic, is joined the 5-1-1952 by Kenneth Dancy, officer of the Turmoil tug boat; the 11-1, they leave to the stroke towards Turmoil and Flying runs.
The original of this page, in French, is at: http://www.quid.fr/2000/Q044430.htm
To be honest, I really don't know enough to have any view on whether the rumour is plausible or not! From basically the same information, you form one view, Olsen formed his.
Sorry, not much help I suspect. Ron
*****

31.12.03: Alan Hall is lucky enough to have access to the 3 original Lands End log books which cover the period from 24th. Dec 1951 - 10th. Jan 1952. He doesn't know if they are complete or not because pages were removed (he was told possibly to do with an enquiry) and then replaced.

The first entry Re, Flying Enterprise/KWFZ is at 1247Hrs. on 28th. Dec. It says:- "Following received from American ship Flying Enterprise/KWFZ = encountering severe hurricane position 49.20N 17.20W = situation grave thirty degree port list and just drifting ships in vicinity please indicate=master KWFZ. (this message was picked up by 'NSOE' and then by Lands End) [and, NSOE = ?, please anyone!]

At the same time this was happening a schooner called the 'Nellie Bayswater' had capsized. All onboard were rescued and taken to Plymouth by the British ship 'British Birch'

At 1532 hrs. KWFZ radioed "changed to SOS"

This seems to be the definitive version of transmissions from the FE?

16.12.03: I have recently obtained a copy of a booklet CARLSEN OF THE FLYING ENTERPRISE by Gordon Holman, undated but seemingly published shortly after the event. Herein is the following extract:
"The weather into which the freighter headed in those last days of 1951 was as bad as anything experienced on the North Atlantic for a quarter of a century or more.
Captain Harry Grattidge, bringing the 81,000 ton QUEEN MARY into Southampton seventy-two hours late on December 29th, described the seas as 'terrific' and said he had had the worst double crossing for more than thirty years.
A wind speed of 97 miles an hour - the highest recorded in December for over twenty years - was registered in the Scilly Isles. On the North Devon coast spray reached a Coastguards' station on cliffs 315 ft. high.
It was when the winds were at hurricane force that the FLYING ENTERPRISE received a double blow. The first came on Christmas night when structural damage was suffered by the hull.
One of the crew, describing what happened, said, 'There was a tremendous noise, and I was told the hull had cracked.'
Captain Carlsen decided to heave-to and so ride out the gale. For two days the struggle between the ship and the elements went on, and then a giant wave hit the freighter with such force that she was thrown right over on her port side."
..... Christmas night? To me, 25th December, but giving credence to the still somewhat unresolved comments by Weston Pimlott below?
**********

Other personal memories received over recent months:

13.8.03:
Dear Ron,
Came across your website about the Flying Enterprise which was of great interest to me.
I was at sea on a Swedish merchant ship, about 5 days out of New York bound for Capetown, South Africa while this whole saga was going on. I listened to it all on VOA radio in our day room while we were also being hammered in wild weather and huge seas.
I now live in Gulfport, Florida after emigrating from South Africa about 20 years ago and have seen a documentary on the Discovery Channel about the Flying Enterprise sinking.
You have a great and interesting site.
Best wishes, Ray Dykes.

**********
31.8.03:
Ron,

Funny, I have just read the various items on the Flying Enterprise on your page......I was ten at the time and was also captivated at the time and as a result ... "went to sea". Earlier on this year in a Christchurch ( New Zealand ) bookshop I was astounded in finding the booklet in excellent condition mentioned by one of your correspondents. I was not aware until then it existed although I do have the other book mentioned by Ewart Brookes. ( purchased by me when it was new ). The hull cracked on Xmas night and Carlsen hove to to ride the storm out. They struggled for two days until she was thrown over on her port side and the cargo shifted..... and the SOS was picked up soon after midday on Friday the 28th for the start of the drama. The end came on January 10th. David Barnes Westport harbour master/Port manager

www.westportharbour.co.nz

David sent me:

Oh, and yes, this is the same booklet to which I refer above!

.... and two photos from it:

**********
2.10.03: Hi Ron, your article on FE was very interesting, I can't help with the actual date but have a little story about the event.
I was home on leave at the time of the accident and well remember watching the plot unfold on TV (yes we did have the dreaded box in Scotland at that time).
Anyway, some three years later I was sailing as 2nd Mate with F.C.Strick and one day while lying alongside at Khorramshar and having a pre-dinner beer with the Mate and 3rd Mate we had visitors from another ship.
This was a fairly common occurance, particularly with men from "charter ships" who soon realised that Strick ships were all well-found, particularly in the home comforts like air-conditioning and a goodly supply of the demon alcohol and that a visit would sometimes enable the visitor to score a coldie or two.
I suppose we must have offered a wee bit of hospitality to the visitors because they introduced themselves and we sat nattering for a few minutes.
One of them said that he was Ken Dancy and this name rang a bell with me to the extent that I asked was he the Ken Dancy of Turmoil/Flying Enterprise fame. To which he said, Yes, he was.
We gave him another beer and I said "Tell me, what on earth went through your mind when you jumped onto the poop of the FE?"
His answer was that the decision was actually made for him by the circumstances.
His story was that the conditions were so bad when Turmoil arrived and the various attempts to connect a towline had all failed and a worsening weather forecast did not offer much encouragement that Captain Parker decided that best and safest course was for Carlsen to leave the vessel.
Carlsen was advised of this by loud hailer and instructed to make his way aft and to be ready for a pick-up.
Turmoil was then maneouvred stern first towards the stern of FE and Dancy was instructed to go on to the Turmoil's afterdeck to supervise the Carlsen's pick-up , either directly to the deck or from the sea if necessary.
The distance between the two ships gradually reduced until the stern of the tug was almost under the counter of the FE and Carlsen was ready to jump when an extra-large sea lifted the stern of the Turmoil up dangerously close under the FE's counter.
At this moment several things happened at once, Ken Dancy put his hands up to protect his head, they actually touched the deck rails of the FE and the Master of the tug gave her a big handful of power ahead in an attempt to avoid damage to the tug or crew on the exposed deck.
This sudden movement unbalanced Dancy who claimed that he held on to the rail as the Turmoil moved away from under him and in his own words "There I was with nowhere else to go but up".
The rest is history, between them they did manage to get a towline across, FE was taken under tow, the weather deteriorated, the line carried away and both Dancy and Carlsen were forced to safely abandon the wreck.
Ken Dancy was, I think, awarded either an OBE or Lloyds Medal for his actions.
Just to put a final word on the event, in the mid-1960s I was no longer with Stricks and had been appointed a Pilot in Singapore and one of the vessels which I piloted in that port was Flying Enterprise 2, not, however with Captain Carlsen in command. Having had a very small connection with the event I tried to bring up the subject with the Master but it was clear that this was not something which was discussed publicly in Isbrandtsen Lines.
I can only believe that "my" Ken Dancy was who he said he was and his story seemed both genuine and sincere and I have not tried to negate or scoff at the actions of Dancy or Carlsen or anyone else involved in the Flying Enterprise Saga, merely tried to add just one small facet ot the event.
Good luck with your web site, its great. Morven Fleming
**********
26.11.03: Hi Ron Accidentally got side tracked into you F>E> site yesterday. Remember it as my first live action hero and never forgot Capt. Carlsson. I was only coming up to 11 years old but every night from school it was the radio on, before dad got home, just to hear the news of how they were doing with the Flying Enterprise. This must have been my first start into the history of shipping and it has remained with me since then. I am glad that it is not forgotten. Ewart Brookes book 'TURMOIL' can be got on inter-library loan and I have read it quite a few times. Thanks for the memories John T. Oliver
**********
8.1.02: Dave Martin recalls:
Man, that takes me back. I remember the adults were all talking about it for days, and I was only three! at the time. They said the reason Capt. Carlson did not leave was the gold he had onboard. Last year I saw the story on the History Channel and he did have gold onboard.
Here's some pictures I found, taken from the troop ship GENERAL A.W. GREELY which stood by for a couple of days. Dave (U.S.A.)

9.1.02: From Graham Thursby:

I remember the FLYING ENTERPRISE episode though since I was under 3 at the time I can't imagine how. Mind you, my memory has always been rather "selective"! Was there a book written about it I may have seen? You may be interested to know that there are more pictures of the whole saga at
http://members.tripodnet.nl/towing/ Well worth a look
(I agree! But, warning, link may not work with Netscape!)

.... and who doesn't have 'selective' memory!!!! - you get to the stage of wishing you could remember what you did yesterday!!!

27.4.02:
Like you I was enthralled at the heroism of Kurt Carlsen and later, Ken Dancy, but unlike you it taught me as a ten year old to stay away from water!
I have to agree with you that Carlsen, Dancy and the Flying Enterprise were not forgotten by everyone. Perhaps
they are more likely to be remembered by our generation for it was not often that tales of individual heroism
unfolded around our ears from the radio in those days. I just wish that the BBC had kept recordings of those
news broadcasts!
I digress. Just wanted to make sure that you were aware of an excellent book published by Hodder & Stoughton
entitled " Carlsen of the Flying Enterprise " written by Gordon Holman who also wrote " The Little Ships " and " The King's Cruisers ". I found a copy in the library at Falmouth several years ago and also newspaper cuttings from those epic days.
So near and yet so far but Carlsen's dogged determination and the courageous support provided by Dancy
have remained as important lessons throughout my life.

Yours sincerely, Graham Caira, Hornchurch, Essex.
I'm sure the book is out of print

27.6.02:

Your site is very interesting. My uncle worked for Isbrandtsen and took me aboard most of their ships in the late 40's, including the Flying Enterprise. Capt. Carlson gave me a personal tour. After she sunk, I went aboard the Flying Enterprise II, just prior to her going into service, (See attached photos.) That's Carlson, seated, and me on the right. I later sailed for American Export Isbrandtsen Lines as Purser Marine Physician Assistant for almost 20 years. The company was going to do a publicity story featuring me as a child and then being assigned to the Flying Enterprise as purser, using the attached photo. Unfortunately Carlson was reassigned to another ship. I was lucky and got to sail on all of A.E.I.L. passenger ships and freighters including the N.S. Savannah.

I retired from the merchant marine in 1981 and now work as a volunteer on the S.S. Jeremiah Obrien, a Liberty Ship in San Francisco.

Best regards, Chet Robbins

24.7.02:

Just recently found your web site. I was very interested to read your article about the Enterprise, except there was one glaring mistake - the tow rope did not part. It was so large [28inches] and no eye in it, it had to be wrapped round the windlass; bollards and anything else then lashed with lines to try and secure it to no avail. Hood Haggies who made the rope asked the Turmoil to bring it back to the Tyne to find out why it parted. When it was inspected it was not damaged in any way, the same length as it went out.
I was only six at the time and I remember my father saying that you could have picked it up and swung her like a pendulum that rope was so large. He should know he made it. I would be interested in your comments.
Yours R. Daglish [son of rope maker]

3.9.02:

I have just seen the site on the Flying Enterprise. When I was 6 my family left England to take up a job in then northern Rhodesia, now Zambia. My father had been in the navy during the war. I remember getting a small book about the Flying Enterprise with photos including one taken on the bridge with Carlson and Dancy. This book was what made me decide at the age of 6 that I was going to go to sea, this I later did as a radio officer with the Ben Line.
Just to mention a coincidence, when we left UK for Africa we sailed on a boat called the ms Klipfontein, we got off in Cape Town and 5 days later she sank on the approach to Beira. I have included a link to her site for interest.
http://www.geocities.com/rzwama/klipfont.htm

Regards - Chris Thackray
canawb@haninge.mail.telia.com

1.12.02:

Hello Ron--- I have just read the Flying Enterprise Saga by Jim Layton.--From my recollection--I would like to add the following:---- On the 24th Dec. 1951 I was radio-op on the Fleetwood trawler Wyre Mariner en route to the White (Barents) Sea fishing grounds. On that night we sheltered in Loch Eribol on the north coast of Scotland. Radio reception conditions were extremly favourable on that night -- presumably due to sun spot activity which was producing the most wonderful exhibition of the Northern Lights --- For example I listened to stations in USA -Africa--Australia on the 1600 kc/s emergency telephony waveband. Stations would suddenly 'come in'--stay a short variable period and then fade out to be replaced by another--One was Lands End Radio station which came in strength 5--While listening to them working traffic --I heard a Mayday call--This was repeated several times but LER did not hear it--Because I could hear both quite well and no one else seemed to--I re-transmitted (QSP'd) the mayday call---LER heard me and called for all ships to be silent--the Mayday call then came again and LER answered--The ship was the Flying Enterprise.--Not many minutes after this LER and FE faded out -- reception began to return to normal and the northern lights faded away. We sailed from L.Eribol the next day --after Xmas dinner of course-- I listened to BBC for the next days but they also finally faded out. When back home at the end of January 52 I tried to catch up on the main story but sadly most of the details have slipped away.--My memory is that she was towed stern first to avoid breaking in two but that she finally did so. Was she not a Liberty ship and therefore an All Welded construction---rumour had it that they were prone to break their backs.
Hope you do not mind this long winded meandering. Regards Weston Pimlott
ps What other sources are there for details of the saga?? can you please help!
*****

Ron--- Belay what i said in my last e/m--I have just taken down the pictures etc that were connected to to JL's saga--It looks like my memory is up the creek-- But I still remember I did QSP a mayday --I Think!!!??--
Sorry to bother you -- Pimlott

1.12.02:

Nice to hear from you with your personal reminiscences. Note your belay message, but presumably all that is suspect with your memory is the > actual date you passed on the SOS?
Glad you have found the pictures - I was going to check you had looked at my page 2!
I found about 200+ references through a Google search. Go to: http://www.google.com/ and type in "flying enterprise" 1952 (otherwise you will get millions of references to a fictional Flying Enterprise of space exploration!!) I've not checked those references, a lot of them I think are just passing references to the incident - but you should find some giving you a bit more detail and other photos. Ron

3.12.02:

Hi Ron. Thanks for the info re google - will give them a try-- I have looked closely at the map in the F.E Saga-- I make out the most westerly written inscription to be--"F.E. had been ?? 450 miles west of W of Lands End at 12-29 Dec 18 . After drifting E. passengers and crew were rescued at( x )Dec 27." --- F.E. is my abbreviation--?? is not possible to make out but it could be Lat. & Lon.-and x is the map point at the start of the course track----If this is correct then she must have left Hamburg before the 21st Dec. as written in the Saga.--Hamburg is at least 1500 miles from 400 miles west of L.E.-- This then ties in with my memory of the night of Christmas Eve--which I'm pretty sure of--Hope you don't mind my pointing this out--Thanks for listening-- Pim (this is what I'm usually called) ATBOM

3.12.02:

To Yahoo! Forum Maritime Questions:
Only 51 years after the event here's an interesting one! I have been contacted by a chap with a personal recollection that it was Christmas Eve (24 December) 1951 that he overheard an SOS (or other emergency signal) from the FLYING ENTERPRISE. I have found one other personal recollection online which seems to support this date. However, the book TURMOIL by Ewart Brookes, published 1956 (4 and a bit years later) says it was Boxing Day, 26 December. Sawyer & Mitchell in the WSS publication FROM AMERICA TO UNITED STATES - PART ONE put it even later - 28 December.
I have briefly Googled without success to try and find any definitive contemporary version of events, so can anyone clarify this matter, please?
Also confirm what most sources say that the FE sailed from Hamburg on 21 December. My contact queries if she could have reached her reported position in 3 days? (If he is correct re 24 December).
My TEESSHIPS item on the FE is at: http://www.teesships.freeuk.com/1129flying.htm
There is a link thereon to a second page of map and photos.

Ron Mapplebeck

7.12.02:

Hello Thomas--Have read your info etc re Flying Enterprise on your website-- I / We are interested in confirming the date/time of first distress call from the Flying Enterprise--some doubt seems to exist between the 24th or 28th of Dec.1951---Do you think your Danish records could help.-- Was there any mention in the statement when Cpt.Carlsen was awarded ''The Order of Danborg''-- The suggestion that she had valuable cargo could account for the swift arrival of US navy vessels--Why only US navy vessels ??
Good luck with your dives and thanks for any help you can give------Pim (Weston Pimlott)

and, then, 10.12.02:

Hi Thomas---Many thanks for your reply and confirmation of the 24th as distress date ----My reason for asking is that on the 24th Dec. 1951 I was radio-operator on a trawler who-- under special reception conditions--heard the F.E.'s distress call to Lands End radio--who did not hear--so I then QSP'd with the result that LER made contact with F:E:---- Due to fading conditions I did not hear so much after but I do remember that F:E: said his position was south west of Fastnet---That to me is fairly well into the Atlantic---Reports --such as ''THE FLYING ENTERPRISE SAGA '' by Jim Layton (see www.teesships.freeuk.com ) give figures of 400/500 miles west of Lands End-- Is it possible for you to be a little more specific about ''just entering the Atlantic''--- Also do you have any information of her sailing date from Hamburg ??--Re the valuable cargo - I've seen a mention of gold but but Zi. makes the US ships even more understandable---Again thanks for your help (and confirmation of an old man's memory)--- Happy Diving - Pim

(Unfortunately, as you can see, I got only the one side of these discussions sent to me by Pim.)

7.12.02:

RON -- I've just taken in your last 3 e/ms You certainly have been a busy boy --It will take a little time to digest all
this --so will be back to you later-- One idea was to contact Lands End Radio-they should have log book records of all traffic--but discovered that they had been closed---maybe GPO still as records ??----TTFN--- ps ATBOM = all the best old man--Used by w/t ops of my generation.

7.12.02:

Somewhere on the web I found the following, which I asked Maik Ebel to translate:

Maik, Just wonder if you could give me a (rough) translation of the following, please?

21. Kapitän Carlsen 24. Dezember 1951. Einer der verheerendsten Orkane des Jahrhunderts tobt über dem Atlantik. Einige Schiffe, unter ihnen die "Flying Enterprise", können keinen Hafen mehr erreichen. An Bord des US-Frachters befinden sich außer 48 Besatzungsmitgliedern zehn Passagiere. Vor der englichen Küste wird die Lage hoffnungslos. Kapitän Carlsen gibt den Befehl, das Schiff zu verlassen. Er bleibt allein an Bord. Textquelle: Funk Uhr 46/1980, S. 53 - Länge: 25' - Erstausstrahlung: 19.11.1980 ZDF

Ron

From Maik: Hi ! No problem !

21. Captain Carlsen 24. December 1951. One of the most destructive gales of the century riots over the Atlantic. Some ships´, as the "Flying Enterprise" could not reach a harbour. Aboard are 48 crew-members and 10 passengers. At the English coast, the situation became hopeless. Captain Carlsen gave order to leave the ship. He remains on the ship.
Source: Funk Uhr (German magazin) 46 / 1980 Length 25 Minutes. Date of first transmission: 19.11.1980 on ZDF (German television)
OK ? Maik

The upshot of these interesting discussions is that two if not three people specifically remember the FE Saga as beginning on Christmas Eve - 24 December 1951, and not on later dates given in other accounts, including "official" versions of the story. Through TEESSHIPS can we bring this uncertainty to a satisfactory conclusion?

22.1.03:

Over Christmas we were discussing our family history and the subject of the Flying Enterprise came up, so I was delighted to find it on your website. I well remember the excitement at the time being only about 8 years old. You see Captain Dan Parker the Master of the tug Turmoil was my Grandfather's cousin, my mother remembers him quite well. The Parkers are a local seafaring family, many of them serving in some capacity or other.
Today whilst searching through a box that belonged to my late Grandmother I found a Newspaper cutting from the local newspaper The Southern Evening Echo, unfortunately there is no date on it but gran has been gone 20 years now. It concerns the Widow of Dan Parker and shows a picture of them meeting Captain Carlsen in London, I have scanned it and attached it to this E mail ,hope it is of some interest. You see we haven't all forgotten.
Best Wishes Mike Herbert

And, in lighter vein!

16.2.03:

Attached are two video capture frames from the 1961 Disney animated movie "One Hundred and One Dalmatians".

I am hoping you can guess why I have sent them to you.

For a hint, see ... http://us.imdb.com/Trivia?0055254

Cheers, Martin C. Fong
mcfong@yahoo.com

21.07.03: Dave Martin comments

Hi, Ron, talk about capturing the imagination of a generation , most of the people that wrote to you were between the ages of 3 and ten at the time. I can still remember watching Harry Corbett and Sooty [lol] (what, you had a TV?!!), you might want to add the link www.britishpathe.com to that page they have some nice footage online of the Flying Enterprise saga.

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