Relics from the world-famous S.S Flying Enterprise, including one that was displayed in a local pub, are set to go to auction.

The American freighter Flying Enterprise, built in the US in 1944 and registered at 6,711 tons, sailed from Hamburg on 21st December 1951, bound for the United States - captained by Kurt Carlsen.

Encountering rough weather from the outset, on 28th December, by which time she was about 380 miles west of Land's End, a crack opened up across her main deck and began to take on water.

A line was put on Flying Enterprise by Falmouth boat Turmoil and it was towed back.

Unfortunately, early on 9th January and only 37 miles from safety, the tow parted and could not be rejoined.

The next morning Flying Enterprise was taking on water so badly that Captain Carlsen was able to walk along the horizontal funnel onto the deck of the ship towing it (Turmoil), at 4:12pm precisely, the ship heeled over and sank.

A life preserver and a lifebuoy from The Enterprise are set to go to auction.

The lifebuoy was given to Jock Drennan, landlord of the Chain Locker at the time, by Captain Ken Dancy of Turmoil (tug) who was a regular at the pub where it was framed and displayed until 1973, it was later sold and acquired by Drennan's grandson.

At the auction of Maritime Memorabilia and Scientific Instruments on November 24th, the item is expected to fetch between £1,000-1,500.

Expert Charles Miller told Nub News:

"These are one-off artefacts, there are not many things that survived the Flying Enterprise and not many from the captain.

"At the time this story was an absolute sensation, the captain got a parade in New York as well as a medal from Congress and other awards from around the world, the whole world watched this ship sinking slowly before them and the only guy on board was the captain who was trying to save it.

"When it was laying on its side the captain walks onto a funnel and to a tugboat, he saved all his crew and he was lauded for doing everything he could to save his ship.

"It is an important artefact of what it represents and it is important to Falmouth because that is where the Turmoil came from and went back too."

Click here to see more from Charles Miller Ltd.

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