Claude Hendrickson

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Claude F. Hendrickson, III (born c. 1960) is the owner of Dixie Equipment Co. a dealer for new and recycled commercial and industrial equipment headquartered in Birmingham.

Hendrickson is also an avid collector and flier of vintage airplanes. He was inspired by his father's service as a U. S. Navy pilot and owns a SNJ-4 warbird that his father flew. His purchase of a 1952 AD-4N Skyraider was complicated by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigation, which determined that he made false statements to Customs officials and separately imported the plane's demilitarized cannons in shipping containers. The airplane was seized and placed under ICE control at the Bessemer Airport where Hendrickson stores his planes. The Department of Justice subsequently filed a successful civil claim which resulted in the aircraft being given to the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida. In 2012 the aircraft went on loan to the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park in Mobile where it was put on display.

Hendrickson's son, Brother, solicited contributions to fund gift packages for recovering veterans at Walter Reed Hospital for his Eagle Scout project in 2008.

References

  • Ellaby, Liz (June 30, 2008) "Shelby County Eagle Scout candidate sends iPods to Walter Reed hospital." Birmingham News
  • Debro, Anita (June 3, 2009) "Collector puzzled over seizure of his vintage war plane by customs agents." Birmingham News
  • Debro, Anita (January 28, 2011) "Shelby County man told to surrender old Navy war plane to U.S. government." Birmingham News
  • Debro, Anita (January 9, 2012) "Judge orders vintage military aircraft owned by Shelby County man forfeited to US government." Birmingham News