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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- CIVILIAN SHIPS --

SS Flying Enterprise (1944-1952),
originally named SS Cape Kumukaki

SS Flying Enterprise, a 6711-ton C1-type cargo ship, was built at Wilmington, Delaware, for the U.S. Maritime Commission under the name Cape Kumukaki. She was obtained by the Isbrandtsen Company in 1947 and renamed Flying Enterprise. In late December 1951, while en route from Europe to the United States, she encountered a severe North Atlantic storm, suffered hull cracks and took on a heavy list to port. Among the several ships that came to her assistance was the transport USNS General A.W. Greely (T-AP-141), which removed many of the damaged ship's passengers and crew on 29 December 1951.

For nearly two weeks thereafter, Flying Enterprise's Master, Captain Henrik Kurt Carlsen, remained aboard his ship as efforts were made to tow her to port. He was finally forced to abandon her when the list increased to a fatal degree on 10 January 1952, only about 40 miles away from Falmouth, England. The ordeal of the Flying Enterprise and Captain Carlsen was World-wide news at the time and remains one of the great stories of endurance and courage at sea.

This page features our only view of the SS Flying Enterprise.

If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: NH 97096

SS Flying Enterprise
(left distance)

Listing heavily to port in stormy seas in the northeastern Atlantic, seen from USNS General A.W. Greely (T-AP-141), circa 29 December 1951. At right is a lifeboat, returning to the General A.W. Greely with survivors of the Flying Enterprise. A merchant tanker is standing by off the listing ship's bow.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the "All Hands" collection at the Naval Historical Center.

Online Image: 200KB; 740 x 630 pixels

 


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


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Text corrected 17 January 2000