View source for SS Flying Enterprise

{{Short description|Shipwreck in Cornwall}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Lead too short|date=January 2021}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=[[Image:Flying Enterprise.JPG|300px]]<!-- 300px is the standard ship infobox picture size -->
|Ship caption=Still from [[newsreel]] footage of SS ''Flying Enterprise'' when she was sinking, 10 January 1952
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Ship name=*1944: SS ''Cape Kumukaki''
*1947: SS ''Flying Enterprise''
|Ship owner=*1944: [[War Shipping Administration]]
*1947: [[American Export-Isbrandtsen Lines|Isbrandtsen Company]]
|Ship operator=
|Ship registry=*1944: {{flagicon|United States}}&nbsp;[[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]]
*1947: {{noflag|1=[[New York City|New York]]}}
|Ship builder= Consolidated Steel Corporation, Wilmington, California
|Ship original cost=
|Ship yard number=360
|Ship laid down=
|Ship launched=7 January 1944
|Ship completed=March 1944
|Ship maiden voyage=
|Ship in service=18 March 1944
|Ship identification=*Official number 215133
*Code letters KWFZ [[Image:ICS Kilo.svg|15px]] [[Image:ICS Whiskey.svg|15px]] [[Image:ICS Foxtrot.svg|15px]] [[Image:ICS Zulu.svg|15px]]
|Ship fate= Sank 10 January 1952
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Ship type=[[Type C1 ship|Type C1-B ship]]
|Ship tonnage={{GRT|6711}}
|Ship length= {{convert|396|ft|5|in|m|2|abbr=on}}, [[length between perpendiculars|pp]]
|Ship beam= {{convert|60|ft|1|in|m|2|abbr=on}}
|Ship height= {{convert|25|ft|8|in|m|2|abbr=on}}
|Ship decks=
|Ship deck clearance=
|Ship power=
|Ship propulsion= 2 x Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Co steam turbines, double reduction geared driving one screw. {{convert|4000|hp|kW|abbr=on}}
|Ship speed= {{convert|14|kn|km/h}}
|Ship crew=48, plus 10 passengers
}}
|}

'''SS ''Flying Enterprise''''' was a 6,711 ton [[Type C1 ship|Type C1-B ship]] which sank off [[Cornwall]] in 1952.  She was built in 1944 as '''SS ''Cape Kumukaki''''' for the [[United States Maritime Commission]] for use in [[World War II]]. The ship was sold in 1947 and operated in scheduled service under the name ''Flying Enterprise''. At the end of 1951, on a voyage from Hamburg to the USA with mixed cargo and a few passengers, she was crippled by storm damage and shifting cargo. Passengers and crew were evacuated. Three weeks of effort to save the ship having failed, she sank in January and some of the cargo was later salvaged.

==History==
''Cape Kumukaki'' was built by [[Consolidated Steel Corporation]] of [[Wilmington, California]] and launched on 7 January 1944.<ref>{{cite web |last=Colton |first=Tim |url=http://shipbuildinghistory.com/history/shipyards/4emergency/wwtwo/consolidatedwilmington.htm |title=Consolidated Steel Corporation, Long Beach and Wilmington CA |work=Shipbuildinghistory.com |publisher=The Colton Company |access-date=2009-02-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215205717/http://shipbuildinghistory.com/history/shipyards/4emergency/wwtwo/consolidatedwilmington.htm |archive-date=2009-02-15 }}</ref> Delivered on 18 March 1944,<ref name="USA">{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/books/excerpts/2006-07-24-simple-courage_x.htm |title=Excerpt from 'Simple Courage' |publisher=USA Today |access-date=2008-11-27 | date=24 July 2006}}</ref> she was owned by the [[War Shipping Administration|United States War Shipping Administration]] and registered at [[Los Angeles]].<ref name="Lloyds">{{cite web |url=https://plimsoll.southampton.gov.uk/shipdata/pdfs/45/45a0200.pdf |title=Lloyds Register |publisher=Plimsollshipdata |access-date=2008-11-27}}</ref>

After the end of [[World War II]], she was sold in 1947 to the [[American Export-Isbrandtsen Lines|Isbrandtsen Company]]. At this time, her name was changed to the ''Flying Enterprise'' and re-registered in [[New York City|New York]].<ref name="Arend">{{cite web |url=http://www.arendnet.com/c029.htm |title=SS Flying Enterprise (1944-1952) |publisher=Arendnet.com| access-date=2008-11-27}}</ref> For the next five years, she was used as a general cargo freighter in the [[North Atlantic]].

On 21 December 1951, under the command of [[Henrik Kurt Carlsen]], she left [[Hamburg]], [[Germany]] bound for the USA. Among her cargo was {{convert|1270|LT|t}} of [[pig iron]] and {{convert|486|LT|t}} of [[coffee]], {{convert|447|LT|t}} rags, {{convert|39|LT|t}} peat moss, twelve [[Volkswagen]] cars, antiques and antique musical instruments, typewriters, {{convert|447|LT|t}} of [[naphthalene]]<ref name="USA"/> as well as ten passengers.<ref name="Tees">{{cite web |date=2005-12-10 |title=The FLYING ENTERPRISE Saga Page 1 |url=http://www.teesships.freeuk.com/1129flying.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100317150709/http://www.teesships.freeuk.com/1129flying.htm |archive-date=17 March 2010 |access-date=2008-11-27 |website=Teesships |publisher= }}</ref> There is speculation that the cargo also included [[gold]] and [[zirconium]].<ref name="Tees3">{{cite web |url=http://www.teesships.freeuk.com/1129flying3.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030808230117/http://www.teesships.freeuk.com/1129flying3.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 August 2003 |title=The FLYING ENTERPRISE Saga Page 3 |publisher=Teesships |access-date=2008-11-27}}</ref>

Four days later, on Christmas night, she encountered a storm in the [[Western Approaches]] to the [[English Channel]].<ref name="Tees"/> Afterwards, it was discovered that she had suffered structural damage and a crack was found across the weather deck from a [[rogue wave]]. The cargo then shifted. An [[SOS]] was issued on 28 December, by which time she was listing 45 degrees to port. British flagged vessel MV ''Sherborne'' and [[USS General A. W. Greely (AP-141)|USNS ''General A. W. Greely'']] responded, ''Sherborne'' being first to arrive, early in the morning of 29 December. Carlsen, however, was reluctant to evacuate passengers and crew to a British ship. ''Sherborne'' was asked to remain on station in case the situation deteriorated before an American ship arrived.  The situation did deteriorate, just as USNS ''General A W Greely'' arrived mid-afternoon and both ships sent lifeboats to pick up passengers and crew. The crew and passengers were evacuated<ref name="Navy">{{cite web |url=http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-civil/civsh-f/flyg-ent.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000919230031/http://history.navy.mil/photos/sh-civil/civsh-f/flyg-ent.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 September 2000 |title=SS Flying Enterprise (1944-1952), originally named SS Cape Kumukaki |publisher=US Navy |access-date=2008-11-27}}</ref> with the loss of one life (a male passenger).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.dco.uscg.mil/Portals/9/DCO%20Documents/5p/CG-5PC/INV/docs/boards/flyingenterprise.pdf|title=Marine Board of Investigation: SS FLYING ENTERPRISE, 26 February 1952}}</ref> Captain Carlsen remained on board.  After passengers and crew had been evacuated, MV ''Sherborne'' was released and continued her voyage to Manchester.

By 2 January 1952, the [[USS John W. Weeks (DD-701)|USS ''John W. Weeks'']] had arrived and relieved the [[merchant ship]]s.<ref name="Tees"/> The following day, the tug ''Turmoil'' arrived, guided by the searchlights from USS ''John W Weeks'',<ref name=Tees6/> but found it impossible to take the ''Flying Enterprise'' in tow. The tug's [[Chief Mate|mate]], Kenneth Dancy, was then transferred to the ''Flying Enterprise'' on 4 January, by which time the list had increased to 60 degrees. The ship was taken in tow on 5 January, when she was some {{convert|300|nmi|km}} from [[Falmouth, Cornwall]].<ref name="Tees"/> On 6 January, [[USS Willard Keith (DD-775)|USS ''Willard Keith'']] relieved the ''John W Weeks'' and the French tug ''Abeille 25'' also joined the rescue effort.<ref name="Tees6"/> The tow line parted at 01:30 on 10 January, with ''Flying Enterprise'' {{convert|31|nmi|km}} south of [[The Lizard]] and {{convert|41|nmi|km}} from Falmouth. Later that day, the ''Turmoil'' was joined by the [[Trinity House]] vessel ''Satellite'' and the tugs ''Dexterous'' and ''Englishman''.<ref name="Tees"/> Carlsen and Dancy finally abandoned ship at 15:22 hrs and were picked up by ''Turmoil''. The ''Flying Enterprise'' capsized and sank, stern first, at 16:10 hrs to whistle, siren and foghorn salutes from the flotilla.<ref name="Tees6"/>

The salvage attempts were criticised as the ship might have been saved by heading for the nearest safe harbour, [[Cork (city)|Cork]], rather than Falmouth.{{Citation needed|date=November 2008}}

A [[public house]] in [[Cork (city)|Cork]], [[Ireland]] is named the "Flying Enterprise" after the ship.<ref name="Pub">{{cite web |url=http://www.munsterpubs.com/?p=363 |title=The Flying Enterprise Lounge |publisher=Munster Pubs |access-date=2008-11-27}}</ref>

==Salvage==
In 1960, some $210,000 of the $800,000-worth of cargo was salvaged from ''Flying Enterprise'' by the [[Italy|Italian]] company Sorima. Under a confidentiality clause in the salvage contract, further details of the recovered cargo were not released.<ref name="Salvage">{{cite web|url=http://www.qld.vindicatrix.com/newsletter/Oct%202007.pdf |title=The Flying Enterprise |publisher=Vindicatrix Association |access-date=2008-11-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080720225013/http://www.qld.vindicatrix.com/newsletter/Oct%202007.pdf |archive-date=July 20, 2008 }}</ref>

In 1976 author Bjarne Bekker published "Flying Enterprise & Kurt Carlsen" that told the life story of Carlsen and his efforts to save the Flying Enterprise.  Carlsen was buried at sea at the ''Flying Enterprise's'' final resting place on 8 February 1990 after a journey to Japan in a safety box on SS ''Jutlandia''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://flying-enterprise.xn--avisen-9xa.dk/|title=Flying Enterprise • Kurt Carlsen story of life &#124; English and Danish edition: www.bekkerbok.com|access-date=5 July 2019|archive-date=26 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026213939/http://flying-enterprise.xn--avisen-9xa.dk/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | isbn=9788788876758 | title=Flying Enterprise & Kurt Carlsen: Kurt Carlsens Story of Life Told to Bjarne Bekker | last1=Bekker | first1=Bjarne | date=2 October 2023 | publisher=Bekker Media }}</ref>

==Wreck discovery and diving==
In June 2001 British technical divers, rediscovered the lost shipwreck of ''Flying Enterprise'' almost 50 years after she had sunk.  Deep wreck diver [[Leigh Bishop]] had researched the whereabouts of the sinking and obtained information from British government departments on the wreck's approximate location.  His photographs were enough to positively identify the wreck as that of the ''Flying Enterprise''.

In 2002 the Danish expedition company No Limit Diving and the Danish filmmaker Lasse Spang Olsen aired a documentary, ''The Mystery of Flying Enterprise'', to commemorate the 50th year of the sinking.

Later Bishop worked with US divers [[John Chatterton]] and [[Richie Kohler]] to film the wreck for a 2005 episode of the History Channel's ''[[Deep Sea Detectives]]''.  This became the deepest wreck dived of the 56 episodes made.<ref>[[History (U.S. TV channel)|History Channel]]. ''[[Deep Sea Detectives]]'': "Captain's Last Stand" (Season 5, Episode 8, 24 April 2005)</ref>

The wreck now lies resting on her port side in a depth of {{convert|84|m|ft}} on the seabed of the western approaches to the English Channel.  Bishop recovered artifacts from the site, which went on display for many years to the general public in the Cornish Maritime Museum.

==Speculation into the sinking and cargo==
Speculations about a shipment of [[zirconium]], intended for use in the first nuclear submarine [[USS Nautilus (SSN-571)|USS ''Nautilus'' (SSN-571)]], but registered as [[pig iron]], were discussed in a 2002 [[Denmark|Danish]] television documentary ''Det Skæve skib'' ([[English (language)|English]] title: ''The Mystery of Flying Enterprise'').<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dr.dk/drsales/pdf_programmes/MysteryofFlyingEnterprise.pdf |format=promotional flyer for documentary |title=The Mystery of Flying Enterprise |publisher=Danish Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=2007-11-04 }}</ref>

According to this documentary, information regarding the cargo is still (in the year 2002) regarded as confidential and details are not available from the CIA, FIA, Coast Guard and/or US Navy. On the other hand, there appears to have been no secret that the [[US Atomic Energy Commission]] was acquiring zirconium,<ref name=Ohrstrom>{{cite book|last=Öhrström|first=Lars|title=The Last Alchemist in Paris|year=2013|publisher=Oxford University Press|location=Oxford|isbn=978-0-19-966109-1}}</ref> so it is not clear why any of these organizations should actually have information related to the ''Flying Enterprise''. In the interview with Bekker, Carlsen tells him that yes the ship had a zirconium cargo and that it came from the [[German nuclear energy project]].<ref name=Bekkerbook>{{cite book|last=Bekker|first=Bjarne|title=Flying Enterprise og Captain Carlsen (also available in English translation as Flying Enterprise and Captain Carlsen)|year=2011|publisher=Bekkers ferlag|location=Skårup}}</ref>  While there seems to be no reason to doubt the first statement, the origin of the zirconium is questionable as the German nuclear energy program was not very advanced. It has been speculated that the zirconium instead came from [[Philips]] in [[Eindhoven]], the company that had the first patent on a process to obtain high purity zirconium, and that the buyer was one of the companies intending to bid for a contract with the US Atomic Energy Commission.<ref name="Ohrstrom"/>

[[Hammond Innes]] fictionalized the story with "[[The Wreck of the Mary Deare]]" published in 1956, about a decrepit and drifting freighter found by a salvager. A [[The Wreck of the Mary Deare (film)|movie by the same name]] was made in 1959 and featured [[Gary Cooper]] and [[Charlton Heston]]. The plot features a salvager (Heston) boarding a drifting freighter with only the first officer onboard trying to run the ship by himself (Cooper). After the ship is finally caught up on some rocks, the two survive but Cooper has to face a court of inquiry which does not go well. Cooper and Heston then go on to investigate the sunken cargo, supposedly high-quality American aircraft engines.

==Passengers and cargo==
The passengers on board ''Flying Enterprise'' were Nicolai Bunjakowski, Nina Dannheiser, Maria Duttenhofer, Rolf Kastenholz, Leonore von Klenau, Curt and Elsa Müller and their children Liane and Lothar, and Frederick Niederbrüning.<ref name="USA"/> All survived except Bunjakowski, who drowned during the rescue.<ref name=":0" />

An exceptionally rare violin by [[Vincenzo Rugeri]] was lost to the sea when the ship sank.<ref>{{cite news|title=King Neptune Gets Rare Old Violins as Freighter Sinks|date=Jan 11, 1952|work=The Los Angeles Times|agency=The Los Angeles Times}}</ref>

==Honours==
Captain Carlsen was awarded a [[Lloyd's of London|Lloyd's]] Silver Medal for Meritorious Service in recognition of his efforts to save ''Flying Enterprise'',<ref name="Tees"/> and received a [[ticker-tape parade]] in [[New York City]] on January 17, 1952.

Kenneth Dancy was awarded the [[Order of Industrial Heroism]] medal by the ''[[Daily Herald (UK newspaper)|Daily Herald]]'' newspaper and an illuminated citation from the American Institute of Marine Underwriters.<ref name="Tees6">{{cite web |url=http://www.teesships.freeuk.com/1129flying6.htm |title=The Flying Enterprise Saga|page= 6 |publisher=Teesships |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090617205312/http://www.teesships.freeuk.com:80/1129flying6.htm |archive-date=17 June 2009}}</ref><ref name="RFA-Dancy">{{cite web |title=RFA Turmoil |url=http://historicalrfa.org/rfa-turmoil-ships-details |publisher=Royal Fleet Auxilary Historical Society |access-date=27 May 2019}}</ref> He died on 3 August 2013, aged 88.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/military-obituaries/naval-obituaries/10236118/Kenneth-Dancy.html|title=Kenneth Dancy|date=August 11, 2013|via=The Telegraph}}</ref>

In addition, the ship's owners made payments in respect of the bravery of the ''Turmoil'''s crew – £750 to Captain Parker, £500 to Dancy and £1,250 to be distributed among the 26 crew; the gifts presented by US Ambassador [[Walter Sherman Gifford]]<ref name="RFA-Dancy"/>

==References==
;Specific
{{Reflist|30em}}

;General
* {{cite book |first=Ewart |last=Brookes |year=1957 |title=Rescue Tug: The story of the Flying Enterprise and the salvage tug Turmoil |publisher=Dutton }}
* {{cite book |first=Frank |last=Delaney |year=2006 |title=Simple Courage - A True Story of Peril on the Sea |pages=[https://archive.org/details/simplecourage00fran_0/page/292 292] |publisher=Random House |location=New York |isbn=1-4000-6524-0 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/simplecourage00fran_0/page/292 }}
* {{cite book |first=Gordon |last=Holman |title=Carlsen of the Flying Enterprise }}
* Footage and interviews are featured in ''Catastrophe-No Safe Place'' (1980), hosted by [[Charles Bronson]] and [[Jill Ireland]].

==External links==
{{Commons category-inline|Flying Enterprise (ship)}}
* [http://www.flying-enterprise.com/Kurt Carlsens story of life told to Bjarne Bekker] {{ISBN|978-87-88876-75-8}}
* [http://www.britishpathe.com/search/query/%22Flying+Enterprise%22 Newsreel footage collection] from [[Pathé News]]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20000919230031/http://history.navy.mil/photos/sh-civil/civsh-f/flyg-ent.htm Photo of listing ''Flying Enterprise''] from the U.S. Navy Historical Center.
<!--URL defunct as of 13-7-2009: *[http://www.shipsoflongago.co.uk/flying%20enterprise.htm Site about the sinking, with timeline.]-->
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140813043414/http://www.deepimage.co.uk/wrecks/flying_enterprise/fe_mainpages/fe_mainpage.htm Information and Photos of the wreck by Leigh Bishop.]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xtl5ZeLMeuA Newsreel story of Captain Kurt Carlsen and the ''Flying Enterprise'']
* Danish documentary: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzCOYlMcOiA The Mystery of ''Flying Enterprise'']
* [[iarchive:catastrophe-no-safe-place-1980|Watch ''Catastrophe-No Safe Place (1980)'' on the Internet Archive]]

{{Type C1-B ships|state=collapsed}}
{{1951 shipwrecks}}
{{1952 shipwrecks}}
{{MARCOMships}}
{{WWII US ships}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Flying Enterprise}}
[[Category:1944 ships]]
[[Category:Cornish shipwrecks]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1951]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1952]]
[[Category:Ships built in Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Shipwrecks in the Atlantic Ocean]]
[[Category:Type C1-B ships]]
[[Category:World War II merchant ships of the United States]]
[[Category:Ships of American Export-Isbrandtsen Lines]]