Tiger I tank of the U.S. Army Ordnance Museum
Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2007 3:36 pm
The early model Tiger I (hull No. 250031) captured from the 501st Heavy Tank Battalion in Tunisia remains property of the U.S. Army Ordnance Museum of Aberdeen, Maryland. Since arriving in the USA the tank hull was cut away to show areas of the interior. In about 1989 the Tiger was loaned to the Sinsheim Auto & Technik Panzermuseum Munster in Germany with the understanding that there it would be restored, and in return the Museum could show it for a ten year term. The Tiger I was not restored while there.
Kevin Wheatcroft of Leicestershire <http://www.wheatcroftcollection.com/> offered to remove the Tiger I from Germany and restore it at his facility in the UK. This plan was approved by the US Army with the understanding no private party can profit from the effort. The work in the UK was completed as planned and it looks good; there is a video on the Internet showing a crew member position that would obviously have been taken from the exterior vantage point through the cut away area. The engine can be started and run however, the US Army has no plans to do so. The goal has always been to restore to running condition but not run it since if you run it then in time it will wear out, break, or at least become contaminated.
On 3 April 2006 a C-5 Galaxy assigned to the 436th Airlift Wing and flown by members of the 512th Airlift Wing, a Reserve associate unit at Dover, departed Dover Air Force Base, Delaware bound for Ramstein Air Base, Germany with supplies for the US Central Command. This aircraft was assigned the task of returning via the UK and picking up the Tiger I for return to the USA. After take off and initial climb, the crew noted a warning light and returned to Dover, but on the approach human error crashed the aircraft. The crew of 17 and most of the 105,000 lbs of supplies survived the crash.
In Summer 2006, the US Army sent a representative to visit the Tiger in the UK. Most recently the US Army Center of Military History is working to get their paperwork in order to return the Tiger I to the USA. Rules have changed of course over the years, and this complicates matters somewhat. It is now a matter of the JAG approving aspects of law that the Center needs to comply with. It will not be too much of a problem to arrange its return, probably via the US Air Force.
The Aberdeen facility lacks the interior space to properly exhibit its entire collection. So for safekeeping upon its return the Tiger I will be warehoused but available to be seen by appointment. Plans call for the Museum to be relocated to Fort Lee in Virginia, but funding delays have set back these plans. And before the collection moves from Maryland to Virginia there are issues for the tanks since these must be cleaned of fuel, lead based paint, petroleum Hazmats etc, prior to the move. The shops at Aberdeen can do this work.
The Tiger I remains safely stored by Mr. Wheatcroft and there is no disagreement between the involved parties, and there is no question what the outcome will be - it will return to the US Army. This is not a secret or guarded matter.
Kevin Wheatcroft of Leicestershire <http://www.wheatcroftcollection.com/> offered to remove the Tiger I from Germany and restore it at his facility in the UK. This plan was approved by the US Army with the understanding no private party can profit from the effort. The work in the UK was completed as planned and it looks good; there is a video on the Internet showing a crew member position that would obviously have been taken from the exterior vantage point through the cut away area. The engine can be started and run however, the US Army has no plans to do so. The goal has always been to restore to running condition but not run it since if you run it then in time it will wear out, break, or at least become contaminated.
On 3 April 2006 a C-5 Galaxy assigned to the 436th Airlift Wing and flown by members of the 512th Airlift Wing, a Reserve associate unit at Dover, departed Dover Air Force Base, Delaware bound for Ramstein Air Base, Germany with supplies for the US Central Command. This aircraft was assigned the task of returning via the UK and picking up the Tiger I for return to the USA. After take off and initial climb, the crew noted a warning light and returned to Dover, but on the approach human error crashed the aircraft. The crew of 17 and most of the 105,000 lbs of supplies survived the crash.
In Summer 2006, the US Army sent a representative to visit the Tiger in the UK. Most recently the US Army Center of Military History is working to get their paperwork in order to return the Tiger I to the USA. Rules have changed of course over the years, and this complicates matters somewhat. It is now a matter of the JAG approving aspects of law that the Center needs to comply with. It will not be too much of a problem to arrange its return, probably via the US Air Force.
The Aberdeen facility lacks the interior space to properly exhibit its entire collection. So for safekeeping upon its return the Tiger I will be warehoused but available to be seen by appointment. Plans call for the Museum to be relocated to Fort Lee in Virginia, but funding delays have set back these plans. And before the collection moves from Maryland to Virginia there are issues for the tanks since these must be cleaned of fuel, lead based paint, petroleum Hazmats etc, prior to the move. The shops at Aberdeen can do this work.
The Tiger I remains safely stored by Mr. Wheatcroft and there is no disagreement between the involved parties, and there is no question what the outcome will be - it will return to the US Army. This is not a secret or guarded matter.
I will ask my state Senator to launch a Congressional Inquiry.
