Having met Wheatcroft, he's a typical Limey git compared to other collectors/restorers I actually talked to in person, like Kermit Weeks and (RIP) Mr. Littlefield, < someone I deeply respect for the work he allowed to benefit the armour loving community.
In case some of you might have been wondering about the status of the APG Tiger I, the latest news isn't very good. I've been making phone calls to different agencies, here in the U.S., and, I have been informed of the following:
I have it from officials who are knowledgeable of the situation at the Center for Military History, the Judge Advocate General's Office and The Ordinance Museum, APG, that there is ongoing litigation regarding the return of the APG Tiger to the U.S., from one Kevin Wheatcroft.
One of the main points of contention in this matter is proof of ownership. It seems that when Wheatcroft worked out an agreement with the CMH to perform restoration work on the vehicle, in exchange for being allowed to study it, with the intention of manufacturing accurate replicas, he did so without ever intending to return the tank to the U.S. government. How can I substantiate this assertion? In order to ship the tank from Germany, Wheatcroft needed to secure an import permit from the British (U.K.) government. He deviously circumvented that by having the Tiger shipped, free of charge, along with the equipment of a Britsh Army unit which was rotating back to the U.K. Since the Tiger, and the unit's equipment, would be unloaded at a military facility, no such license would be required. Wheatcroft arranged this with an officer of the B.A.O.R., prior to the unit's transfer back to the U.K. He also arranged to meet the ship at port with a transporter to retrieve the Tiger, once it was off-loaded. In a nutshell, he smuggled the tank into the country.
When the U.S. government requested the return of the Tiger, Wheatcroft demanded compensation for shipping it back to the States. He was vague and evasive when asked about the dollar amount. "In essence," quoting a U.S. official, "he's holding the tank hostage." JAG approached the U.K. authorities to rectify the situation. The U.K. requested to see the import permit for the Tiger to ascertain ownership. None could be provided; because, none was ever applied for by Wheatcroft. Wheatcroft is hoping that the U.S.will lose interest and will forego further claims to the Tiger, leaving him in full possession. Fortunately, the U.S. government is doing neither. All this information was obtained from legitimate official sources within the previously mentioned government organizations.
I urge all who would like to see this rare and historic artifact returned to its rightful owners, the people of the United States of America, to contact your respective representatives in the U.S. and U.K., and urge them to bring this matter to its rightful conclusion. Contrary to his image in some circles, Kevin Wheatcroft has unmasked himself as being no better than a common thief.
Been there, done that. 