WWII landing craft finds new home

[BEAST]

From the Daily Herald; for the rest of the story and more photos go to: http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=283801

 

"A World War II landing craft that's been fully restored since it was found rusting in a field in northern France arrived Thursday at its new home in Cantigny Park near Wheaton.

 

The Higgins boat, which is one of the few remaining vessels of its type, may have been used to deliver soldiers to the beaches of Normandy during the Allied invasion of Europe nearly 65 years ago. However, officials with Cantigny's First Division Museum still are trying to piece together the background of the craft, which was built in 1943.

 

"It's an exciting piece of history," said Terri Navratil, the museum's curator of collections, as she watched a massive crane gently lower the 9-ton craft to the ground. "It's been beautifully restored. Now we get the chance to tell its story."

 

The Higgins boat was transported on a trailer after a six-month restoration at the North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort, N.C.

 

Formally called Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel (LCVP), the barge-like boats were used in every amphibious assault landing during World War II. And even though the United States manufactured more than 22,000 of them during the war, fewer than a dozen are known to exist today.

 

Steven Hawkins, director of information management with the First Division Museum, said the Cantigny craft is believed to be one of only four in the U.S.

 

"This is our U-505," said Hawkins, referring to the Museum of Science and Industry's German submarine exhibit. "This is the top of our collection. I don't think there's any doubt about that."

 

While there are few World War II-era Higgins boats left, the craft is often seen in movies, including "Saving Private Ryan." The First Division Museum even has a replica of a landing craft that visitors sit in to watch a video about D-Day.

 

Navratil said she believes having the real thing will draw people to Cantigny. "I think it will be a huge attraction - just enormous," she said.

 

With a big public unveiling planned for June 6 - the 65th anniversary of D-Day - Cantigny officials say they are relieved the Higgins boat was recovered.

 

"This is a very special piece because it is so iconic to the World War II experience," said Paul Herbert, executive director of the Cantigny First Division Foundation. "Without this vessel we could not have fought World War II the way we did. So this is a real find for us."

 

In addition to more than 1,000 Higgins boats landing at Normandy, the crafts were used to shuttle troops and supplies ashore at places such as Guadalcanal and Sicily.

 

But once the war was over, there was little use for crafts that were designed for the single purpose of attacking a defended beach.

 

So while the Navy continued to make Fiberglas LCVPs until the 1960s, most of the wooden hull versions made during World War II were scrapped, according to Herbert.

 

Herbert said the LCVP Cantigny acquired spent part of its postwar life as a harbor utility boat in a marina. That's why officials are having a hard time proving it was at Normandy. The original steering column that had the serial number was removed.

 

The craft eventually was found by a private collector in a field outside a small museum near the Normandy beaches. After shipping the boat to England and attempting to restore it, the collector decided to sell it to the First Division Museum.

 

"It was in solid condition, but it looked a mess," Herbert said. "It just needed tender loving care."

 

The fully restored boat still has 70 percent to 80 percent of its original parts and has been painted to its battleship gray. While the engine has been restored, there are no plans to run it. In fact, Cantigny officials said they intend to keep the LCVP indoors and only bring it outside on special occasions. Hawkins said the ultimate goal is to preserve the vessel."

[Bugme]

Very neat! I'm glad to see this one restored and put in it's proper place in history where future generations can see it!