VFW post #8896
E. Berlin, Pennsylvania

Grumman Tomcat F-14B Bu No162916
Outdoor display at VFW post #8896
US Navy VF-32 "Swordsmen CAG Bird" # AC-100.

At 0730 on 15 February, I headed out toward the Maryland border in search of 162916. As I approached the Mason-Dixon Line on US 15, I noticed the distinctive outline of a tailless Tomcat parked in the rest stop there. The hood was up on the truck tractor and a pair of PSP inspectors were under the trailer. By the way, the trailer was custom built by Grumman for hauling Tomcat fuselages. It is scheduled to be sold following this shipment. Anyway, things did not look good for getting 162916 to the post today. It turned out to be nothing major, minor adjustments to the brakes and steering linkage and PSP signed off on the permit to travel into PA. By 0930 we were on our way north on 15 heading for Rt 30 and Gettysburg. The trip on the four lane was uneventful. We went under a couple of bridges and up and around a couple more. The ones we passed under were cleared by inches. The load was twenty-two feet wide and fourteen feet high. Exiting US 15 we headed East on the Lincoln Highway, also known as Rt 30. Things got tricky here because at it's widest, the Lincoln Hwy is 44 feet wide and then narrows down to only two lanes in some spots. The Cat had to also pass through New Oxford and Abbottstown, both of which have Traffic Circles. Fortunately, the recent snow storm resulted in the declaration of a snow emergency in both Boroughs so no vehicles were parked on the main street. The driver was an expert at hauling wide loads and had no difficulty traversing the traffic circles. The PSP and PDOT were awesome providing traffic control and escorting the load from the Maryland line to the post. The only real difficulty was encountered when the rig had to make a tight turn from State Route 194 onto Locust Str back to the VFW. Piles of snow blocked the intersection. The driver maneuvered the load expertly around the corner and 162916 was at her new home, East Berlin, Adams County, PA. Tomorrow, the wings and stabs are put back on and when the weather improves, she'll get a good wash down. Thanks to everyone who made this happen.