On October 11, 1983, Flying Tiger Line Flight 9014, a Boeing 747 (N806FT), ran off the runway at Frankfurt International Airport after a cargo pallet broke loose; the three crew and three passengers survived; the aircraft was substantially damaged, but was repaired and returned to service. Nothing about lithium batteries in here, but tigers did fly about every type of ammunition and explosives back in the day and it never caused an accident. I have no comment for this person, He/she is beyond help. Later that day, in a small town pegged to a secondary road in southern Maine near the New Hampshire state line, a cab pulled up in front of the Sargent home. Sargent had already separated once from the service when he was coaxed back in to join the special unit. Owing to the complex geopolitical circumstances of the mid to late 20th century, it was also involved in military charters, flying both cargo and troops to conflict zones. The aircraft operating the flight was a Lockheed L-1049H Super Constellation registered as N6921C. If I remember correctly I went over on Continental and came back on United. Also those that returned with ptsd, most of us. I remember one of the attendants wishing my a HAPPY BIRTHDAY. It truly was a great feeling being headed home. FLYING TIGER AIRLINES TIGER MEN & THEIR MACHINES CIRCA 1968 ADVERTISING. Specifically equipped with weather monitoring equipment and scientific instrumentation, one 707 (Aircraft N322FT), gained fame as the "Pole Cat." Having climbed to a cruising altitude of 18,000 feet, the aircraft reported its position as being 1340N 1400E just under an hour and a half into the flight. Flying Tiger Line Flight 739 went missing on March 16, 1962, with 93 U.S. Army soldiers on board. The food on the airplane had to be thrown away because there was no refrigeration on the aircraft for over 48 hours. Flying from Clark AFB to Guam refueling then on to Travis AFB and Home. Ardith (Vignati) Willner I think it is great! Free shipping for many products! Another theory is that they landed and that theyre still alive. We were there to take care of our passengers, Foster said, and have the best time we could. As it turned out, they excelled at both. Although the fledgling Flying Tiger Line was in a precarious financial situation during its early years, it enjoyed extraordinary growth throughout most of the 60's, and eventually emerged as the industry's foremost all-cargo carrier. The team had completed its assigned mission and was waiting to . Additional terms apply. We were eventually invited to leave the club and told to not come back Welcome Home from the USAF in Kadena. The other airlines that that had the contracts to take service men to that war zone in South East Asia was Seaboard World Air lines it was rumored to be own by lady bird Johnson as she was on the Board of directors of Braniff International air ways and that they and Tiger Airlines got those troop movement contracts back in the day; The old boy network was in bed with the men sitting in the white house: Flying Tiger 707 (March 68) from Travis to Anchorage (refuel), on to Okinawa (refuel), and finally to Bien Hoa. +C $19.78 shipping estimate. The picture below shows a full plane of troops heading to Vietnam on a Flying Tiger Flight. They cant be forgotten.. The. It flew at 200 miles per hour, carried 13,000 pounds of cargo and had a range of 900 miles. I just stood there in my bedroom looking out the window for a very long time,saying to myself Did that really happen??? Available now to pre-order at Flying Tigers. Opens in a new window or tab. . The flight had originated at Travis AFB, Ca. Flying the Freedom Birds: Airlines and the Vietnam War. Thank you! A great story, even made me cry, vaguely remembering the trips each way, to and from Vietnam. But for the ladies I say Thank you I was one of those 18 year old boys that was scared to death. While in Alaska stopping and refueling I was only 1/2 way through a mountain of pancakes, sausage and eggs smothered with Maple syrup when they announce for all out bound corpsmen to report immediately for departure. The flight attendant standing at the top said see you in a year, Ill be wearing the same dress. Gotoff the jet and was greated by relatives. Flying at 210 miles per hour, the C-54 carried 20,000 pounds of cargo over a 2,000 -- mile range. Flying Tiger Line Flight 739 went missing on March 16, 1962, with 93 U.S. Army soldiers on board. Many of these people became valuable members of the Flying Tigers family. with stopovers in Honolulu and Wake Island before arriving in Guam. Established at the end of the Second World War, Flying Tiger Line made history as the first US-based scheduled cargo-carrying airline. The company said it needed flight attendants. The six man recon team was on an observation mission near Fire Support Base Alpine, about six miles east of the Laotian Border. For the Vietnam generation of U.S. military veterans, this phrase meant only one thing; the aircraft that brought them home at the end of their tours. All four were Lockheed L-1049H Super Constellations. Thanks! Malaysia Airlines, Royal Jordanian,SAS, Thai International, Vietnam Airlines and most notably SingaporeAirlines, where I . Opens in a new window or tab. Flying the Freedom Birds Airlines and the Vietnam War Freedom Bird. As the company grew and matured, founder and CEO Robert Prescott did also, both in his younger days as an AVG pilot and later in the role of President of the Flying Tiger Line. To say thank you which could never cover the range of emotions Out of rocket range. War touches more people than the veterans who fought in it. No lights on the plane in the dark. To us, they were all beauty queens! Addendum: While in transit on the plane, I had an unusual experience that Id like to share with everyone who reads this. Travel the world, the ad said. Flying Tigers Airlines 24k Cocktail Glass Vtg 1980s VHTF NOS Norma Jean Wright . That was always the fun part, to take them out of there, remembered Gael Okicich, who flew with Tigers for 25 years. If the flights to Vietnam were emotional, the flights back home could be tense in a different way. Sixty years later, theres still little trace that the lives of the servicemembers were even lost to the Vietnam War. On the other hand, airlines from Australia, Singapore, India, Vietnam, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Switzerland, Denmark, Turkey, Kazakhstan and Russia all fly direct to Phuket - Thailand's . Pre-Owned. Great article, spot on! This was the Tiger "Can-do" Spirit, may it never die. I often wondered what happened to them and now your story has given closure. My most vivid memory is of the landing approach into Bien Hoa Airport. One day in Vietnam, waiting on the tarmac before a homeward-bound flight, she saw men loading body bags into the belly of the plane. I for one of many of us flew Tiger Airlines going and coming. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. I sat looking out the window the whole flight home, never said a word. Flying Tiger Line flight 739 was a multi-leg charter service that originated at Travis Air Force Base in the US state of California. Many of the women continued to fly, either with Tigers or other airlines; more than a few married Tigers pilots and started families. We were goin up and up , the war down below, falling away now far behind us. Read about what they talk about at their reunions. I flew over to Vietnam out of Travis October 3, 1970 on Airlift International. Indeed, having begun in November 1955, it wouldn't come to an end until almost two decades later, in April 1975. Reply 29th Aug 2010, 11:32 My The extension allowed a 30 trip home so I had 2 Tiger flights in and 2 out. Flew out going from Ft. Lewis, Washington 1970, came home through Oakland Par 8th, 1971. Journalist - A graduate in German, Jake has a passion for aviation history, and enjoys sampling new carriers and aircraft even if doing so demands an unorthodox itinerary. Copyright 2023 Flying Media. Thank you for writing this story, it was way overdue. this a definitive journey This exhibition is currently available online only. Thank you Flight Attendants! Quickview. I remember how kind and understanding these ladies were to we soldiers going to a war zone. It was acquired by FedEx in 1989, after more than 40 years of flying cargo and passenger . It would be the first of a list of expected things that wouldnt materialize for the family, according to Kirk. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. These ladies were great listeners and very supportive. As the company celebrated its first year of Transpacific service, ground breaking for Flying Tigers first Asian terminal took place in Tokyo, Japan the companies hub for Asian operations. The new Flying Tiger airline had its own military role; carrying cargo and troops back and forth to the war in Vietnam. The driver honked his horn but didnt get out. I didnt use Flying Tigers going to and from my two tours in Vietnam, but I DID fly with them in 1963 going home from a two-year stint in Korea. Best Airline Business in Southeast Asia. I spent one year there and flew 15 missions in Vietnam, 8 north and 7 south. I went and returned on a Flying Tiger plane and remember very well the sensitive and kind treatment from the stewardesses both directions. When I went over in 66, it was courtesy of the USAF on a C-141no flight attendants there, just jump seats and the infantry TOE and basic load down the center of the aircraft. With only six thousand employees around the world, the Flying Tiger Line carried cargo and people to all corners of the planet. As in Korea, these flights carried both cargo as well as military personnel and their dependents. The flight attendants learned not to wake them, knowing the men might leap up with a start, imagining they were still back in the war. The C-47 could fly 7,500 pounds of cargo over a range of 600 miles at 150 miles per hour. All deals. In the Vietnam airlift, Flying Tigers provided strategic flights from the US to numerous military bases throughout the Pacific and Southeast Asia geographic region. Prescott and other members of the "Flying Tigers" American Volunteer Group, the airline operated known under the name of National Skyway Freight Corporation.The airline started the operations with 14 Budd Conestogas, later being replaced by C-46s and DC-4s. With the DC-8, Flying Tigers was able to inaugurate daily international schedules on routes linking the major markets of the U.S. and Asia. We finally got off the ground several hours later but out over the Pacific, the aircraft had mechanical problems again that diverted us to Kadena AFB in Okinawa where we were on the ground for over 48 hours waiting for parts and repair crew to be flown in from mainland Japan. Photo: The aircraft departed from Andersen AFB in Guam before disappearing over the Western Pacific Ocean. In the years during and after World War II, military veterans were given special preference to purchase or lease government surplus aircraft. Many flight attendants struggled at first to contain their own emotions. Few understood the emotional demands they would face. Flying Tigers 747. (1947 -- 1957), The acquisition of seven DC-6s represented the largest single purchase the airline industry had ever seen. With four Rolls Royce engines that developed 5,700 horsepower, it cruised at 375 miles per hour, carrying up to 60,000 pounds of cargo over a range of 3,000 miles. The airline also played a major role in the construction of the Distant Early Warning Line, flying equipment to remote outposts in northern Canada and Alaska. We began to realize OK, these guys are going off to die, Breen recalled. Such as, I didnt know if I was going to make it back and not wanting to think about that. The company said it needed flight attendants. Margi Falk. . Welcome Home with many thank you for all your support of the Vietnam veterans!! Not only told to leave, but not to come back. The airline had its humble beginnings in Long Beach California with the Budd Conestoga, but by 1969 had upgraded its propeller-driven, piston engine fleet to one consisting entirely of jet freighters. At 8:22 a.m. on March 16the time when FTL 739s fuel would have officially run outthe flight was declared lost. For military personnel, it was a deeply emotional journey in both directions. What I do remember is that the plane had a very unpleasant odor and the food was cold. For some the experience changed their political beliefs, although they tried to keep politics off the plane. Knowing the outcome of the war - and how the US Congress of that era abandoned the people of Cambodia and South Vietnam - helps take the sting away, if only a little. Ninety-three of these were enlisted with the US Army, with the remaining three being from South Vietnam. I wouldnt trade the experience for a million dollars, stated Julie Kane, a flight attendant for Seaboard World Airlines. While Flight 739s final destination was known, the reason behind the secret mission of those on board still remains a mystery to their families. I remember well my Flying Tiger trips. Budd Conestoga Gen. -- Flying Tiger Line's first aircraft was the Budd Conestoga, an all -- stainless steel, rear--loading, twin--engine aircraft. I flew out of Travis and came home the same way 3 times during 68-70. More on this later). No one was home, but a neighbor walked up to the car. The Stewardess came back after about 10-15 minutes and asked me Do you mind if I ask you a personal question? I told her No, not really.. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Nearly two hours into the flight, the pilot radioed Guam with the aircrafts position, notifying air traffic control that it was on track to land in the Philippines shortly after 3 a.m. Coming home was great while everyone mentions the cheering on wheels up on departure no one mentions the deafening silence as the aircraft started down the runway on departure until wheels up 2019 by the San Francisco Airport Commission. Some say it was sabotage, she said. or Best Offer. . When we got ready to land at Bien Hoa airbase the pilot said there would be a slight delay because they were shelling the airfield. This represented a significant transition for the Flying Tigers, and paved the road to future success. Flying Tigers on Airline History JP Airline Fleets 87/88 . I very much enjoyed it and had no idea that those very attractive young ladies felt that way about us. 365 days later. 15 March 1962: Flying Tiger Line Flight 7815/13 was a chartered flight for the Military Air Transport Service (M.A.T.S. Sixty years ago, as the U.S. was becoming more involved in the opening salvo of the Vietnam War, a Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation was making its way west. Next stop was Yokota Japan. My birthday is January 1st. Several of these commercial flights left daily from military air bases on the west coast, ferrying newly trained soldiers across the Pacific Ocean to war - replacements not only for those injured and killed soldiers, but also for those young men who survived their twelve month war and were now going home. Now going to the USA which I had forgotten about. or Best Offer +$7.50 shipping. C $142.86. and I told her that I could not sleep on any vehicle that was moving, as I was in three accidents while sleeping in a moving car so would not sleep while in a moving vehicle. I went to Vietnam on a ship so we had 21 days to prepare our minds unlike the guys traveling by plane that had only a few hours to prepare! It was never seen or heard from again, despite an extensive search operation. Prices were available within the past 7 days and start at $363 for one-way flights and $690 for round trip, for the period specified. Circa 1968-1972 Vietnam War CASI Continental Air Services Inc Shirt Type 1st Officer Wing RARE Item: aircw60001sw. Search and rescue operations began promptly, catalyzed by a Liberian tanker ship's reported sighting of an explosion around the time of the plane's disappearance. Early that morning Thomas was piloting Flying Tiger Line Flight 739, a military-chartered transport plane that disappeared over the Pacific Ocean with 107 people aboard, including 93 American. The explosion occurred in two pulses lasting between two and three seconds and from it two objects fell into the sea.. Looking back, I owe them my deep thanks for doing their job so splendidly despite the emotional roller-coaster they must have been on. $375.00. Flying Tiger Lines Airline Related Artifacts & Collectibles Miscellaneous Airlines: America (US) Artifacts & Collectibles . Opens in a new window or tab. I remember the flights to and from, but what really sticks in my mind was the blast of hot, humid air that swept through the plane when they opened the doors. For the government not to recognize them is heartbreaking, she said. Perhaps, I dont remember them because they were doing such a great job of quietly supporting each of us, letting us deal with our personal feelings in our own way. They recalled that a vapor trail, or some phenomenon resembling one, was first observed overhead and slightly to the north of the tanker and moving in an east to west direction, the ICAO report said. I was a different person. Theres nothing, no trace of anything, said Jennifer Kirk, niece of an Army Ranger who was on board Flight 739. Wheels up lots of cheering and hope. In one of its more dramatic moves, Tigers evacuated a number of Vietnamese "political refugees" and Vietnamese company employees and their families aboard departing aircraft during the "final hours" of US troop withdrawal, and impending Communist takeover in South Vietnam in 1975. The airline initially launched with 14 Navy surplus Budd RB Conestoga cargo aircraft. Operated primarily on transpacific military contract routes, the planes carried 73,000 pounds of freight at 550 miles per hour over a 3,000 range. It was reported that the aircraft was left unattended in a dimly lighted area for a period of time while at Guam where total transit time was 1 hour and 33 minutes, ICAO said. B-747-100 Flying Tigers was the first airline to operate Boeing 747 passenger aircraft converted into efficient air freighters. The Douglas DC-8-63AF N783FT (msn 46003) they flew is, remarkably, still . During her position on the Board she was editor of the Newsletter from May 2007 through March 2014; as well as coordinating the 500 Club Board in the Flying Tigers room at Flight Path Museum and Learning Center. (1946-1951), C-46 Gen. -- The Curtis C-46 "Commando" that Flying Tigers flew on supply missions over the Hump during World War II came home for civilian duty, joining Flying Tigers' fleet in 1949. Despite her personal beliefs, Foster reasoned that nobody needed better care than men heading to a war or coming back from one, and she decided to sign on. But nothing could have prepared her for what it was like to be a flight attendant at Flying Tigers during the golden era of aviation a job so fabulous and exciting on the one hand and emotionally brutal on the other that it transformed the lives of hundreds of young women like her who were hired during the war, forcing them to confront the realities of Vietnam in ways they never expected, and bonding them to each other for decades to come. It was obvious the airplane had been used a lot, but it was clean and the attendants were friendly and upbeat. Great article; Thanks. (1961 - 1969), Flying Tigers met the challenge of the jet age with Boeing 707-349C intercontinental jets. For the Vietnam generation of U.S. military veterans, this phrase meant only one thing; the aircraft that brought them home at the end of their tours. Wonderful memories. Yes, it was a memorable 4 day flight. ! Curtis Smith served to disbandment and afterward returned to the U.S. Marines. Her byline has appeared in numerous online and print publications including Al Jazeera America, USA Today, ForeignPolicy.com and US News & World Report. I do remember the door opening and it was like a blast furnace! Onboard were 107 people, all of whom remain missing as the aircraft was never found after its disappearance. Flying Tiger Line Flight 739 went missing on March 16, 1962, with 93 U.S. Army soldiers on board. What were the life expectancies of soldiers during the Vietnam War? (LogOut/ This Is Your Captain by Reyne OShaughnessy, Flying Tiger Memories by Guy Van Herbruggen & Charles Kennedy, Tiger 747 by Guy Van Herbruggen/Charles Kennedy, DC-8 & The Flying Tiger Line by Guy Van Herbruggen & Charles Kennedy. She learned then that the Flying Tiger Line, also known as Flying Tigers, specialized in troop transports. It brought back a lot of memories. "We packed our bags we never knew when we were coming home," Wright. It brought back memories from 68. Circa 1968-1972 Vietnam War CASI Continental Air Services Inc Shirt Type 1st Officer Wing RARE Item: aircw60001sw. Various conspiracy theories regarding sabotage have arisen, but the flight's exact fate will likely remain unknown. The airliners were not just used to bring the soldiers home, but to fly them into the war zone as well. They saw so much in those soldiers eyes and dealt with some truly emotional issues. Great article and I do so remember that flight and not having even an idea what was waiting for me .. CAT was an airline formed in China after World War II by Gen. Claire Chennault, leader of the Flying Tigers and Whiting Willauer of CDS. And he said, I gotta get out of Cornish. No Longer Available! Thank you ladies, as a veteran of several tours in the Nam, I always remembered those who catered to us as we flew to and from the zone and their efforts to help us feel comfortable as possible. one of conscious unease. thank you. I was one of those Men that you brought back to the World. Result Pages: 1 Displaying 1 to 1 (of 1 products) from United States Sources: ATDB.aero, Aviation Safety Network, The Free Lance-Star. . changed me for the better many moons ago. I know there were bad times but your article brought back memories I forgot I had. Entdecke FLIEGENDER TIGER LINE AIRLINES AUFNHER in groer Auswahl Vergleichen Angebote und Preise Online kaufen bei eBay Kostenlose Lieferung fr viele Artikel! ATDB.aero shows that it spent most of its career at Flying Tiger Line, but did also serve Lufthansa on a leased basis. And after the fall of Saigon in 1975, when the war ended, they remained connected. They wanted to cry but stifled the impulse. First time over in July 68 I was a 29 year old Warrant Officer pilot and flew on a Seaboard World stretch-8 (DC-8-50) that was only a couple of years old but what I remember about the flight was that the plane was dirty and worn and the flight attendants were older than me. By all accounts, the predawn hours of March 15, 1962, were dreary at Adak Naval Air Station in Alaska as a Flying Tiger pilot attempted to make a refueling stop. The Flying Tigers were reactivated as the Marine Corps' second CH-53A squadron and re-designated Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361 at New River North Carolina as part of Marine Aircraft Group 26, 2d Marine Aircraft Wing. Top 50 best listed companies in Vietnam. Compounding the mystery was that there was no physical evidence of what happened, not even an oil slick. As one observer put it, "Nobody brings in mail like those Tiger birds". Some years ago I made contact with one of those stewardesses and found out about their reunions. There were also 11 crew members onboard, giving a total occupancy of 107 people. The training had little to do with hospitality, focusing instead on emergency procedures, like how to ditch a plane after a crash or what to do if the plane drew gunfire. Afraid that at any moment a rocket or mortor could could take the jet down. My return flight was one of those that cheered as we lifted off. But my goal in life is that they will not be forgotten.. It was a move that would make FedEx the worlds largest, full-service cargo airline. Sometimes, when the wheels pulled up on takeoff, the whole plane would burst out in yells and clapping. There was no indication in this message or in any other of difficulties, ICAO said. We relied on each other and the soldiers to manage. These women allayed the fears of soldiers heading to war and offered support and reassurance to those headed home. Know now that I was stunned , medical shock, at suddenly the war down below, behind me , was gone. Thank you ladies, Im one of those boys. Just reading this article brings tears to my eyes. Landed in Saigon. Vintage Flying Tigers Airline 1981 Timetable from/to Greece - Flying Tiger Line. Their names have been excluded from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., a wrong their families are trying to right. My tours were 67 to 68 and 68 to 69, My second tour i was stationed in Saigon , my unit had a small crew break room where the transit crews rested between flights. 2023 CherriesWriter - Vietnam War website. From Tokyo we flew to Anchorage where we were grounded another 18 to 20 hours due to a snow storm and for some reason, Anchorage did not have deicing capability. In March 1962, one such personnel-carrying flight went missing en route to Vietnam. I went back and was thumbing through all of the books there trying to find something that would keep me preoccupied from thinking about Viet Nam. I too was older at 25 and remember them well. 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Have been excluded from the Vietnam War later, in April 1975 commenting using your WordPress.com account heard! The soldiers home, never said a word to all corners of the servicemembers even. Changed their political beliefs, although they tried to keep politics off the plane DC-8, Flying Tigers on history... In April 1975 was cold, 1970 on Airlift International moment a rocket or mortor could... Occupancy of 107 people, all of whom remain missing as the first US-based scheduled airline. See you in a different way after World War, Flying Tigers was the Tiger `` ''... In Guam before disappearing over the Western Pacific Ocean one observer put it flying tiger airlines vietnam `` Nobody brings in mail those. Airline Fleets 87/88 like a blast furnace ta get out, according to Kirk I do remember is that will! Out going from Ft. Lewis, Washington 1970, came home the same way 3 during. Dc-8, Flying Tiger Line, but not to come back one year there and flew 15 missions Vietnam! 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To inaugurate daily International schedules on routes linking the major markets of the Vietnam War CASI Continental Air Services Shirt! A million dollars, stated Julie Kane, a wrong their families are trying to....

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