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. In transit to Viet Nam via Alaska, Japan and Okinawa. We were goin up and up , the war down below, falling away now far behind us. This is what I wrote when I had set up my home page on geocities which is now archived: His 93 U.S. military passengers, three South Vietnamese soldiers and the 11 civilian crew members aboard Flying Tiger Line Flight 739 disappeared on their way from Guam to the Philippines.. Despite the intensity of the operations, many flight attendants found the military contract flights rewarding and continued to serve on them for years. 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. Free shipping for many products! Flying Tiger Line Flight 739 was a Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation propliner chartered by the United States military that disappeared on March 16, 1962, over the Western Pacific Ocean. Available now to pre-order at Flying Tigers. Flying Tiger Line 747-200 In April of '75, with the collapse of the South Vietnamese government, Flying Tigers evacuated its own personnel and other refugees from Saigon. Flying Tiger was my airline of choice. They wanted to cry but stifled the impulse. Breen went from being gung ho about the war to suspecting the government was lying and thinking the war was a mistake. The aircraft operating the flight was a Lockheed L-1049H Super Constellation registered as N6921C. 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. In the hours after the Constellations takeoff from Guam, witnesses on a ship offered potential clues. With only six thousand employees around the world, the Flying Tiger Line carried cargo and people to all corners of the planet. That was not us, recalled Andee Reingold Wright, a San Francisco native who was 21 when she started with Flying Tigers in 1967. Many of these people became valuable members of the Flying Tigers family. (1945 - 1947). Flying Tigers on Airline History JP Airline Fleets 87/88 . Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Top Rated Seller Top Rated Seller. Sign up | Sign in. December 31st, 1968 at the age of 20 we flew from Travis AFB to Anchorage Alaska. ! Last year, Wreaths Across America founder Morrill Worcester erected a monument at the site bearing the names of those lost on the flight, creating the only memorial to the incident in existence. The flight attendants, although very young themselves, couldnt believe how young the troops were just 17 and 18 in some cases. I flew out of Travis Air Force Base and was on my way to Thailand. Just reading this article brings tears to my eyes. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for FLYING TIGER AIRLINES - Patch - MAAG - 45th Transport - Early Vietnam War, #.561 at the best online prices at eBay! I was lucky enough to have regular contact with the flight crews as they came and went in and out of Tan San Nhut AB . )I was engaged and (2.) On board the Constellation were 11 crew members and 96 passengers, 93 of whom were U.S. Army soldiers specialized in electronics, communications, and sharpshooting. Flying Tiger Line Country United States of America Operator Image Crash of a Douglas DC-8-63AF off Naha: 4 killed Date & Time: Jul 27, 1970 at 1136 LT Type of aircraft: Douglas DC-8 Operator: Registration: N785FT Flight Phase: Landing (descent or approach) Flight Type: Cargo Survivors: No Site: Lake, Sea, Ocean, River Schedule: Despite the approved conditions, the Constellation came down more than 300 feet short of the runway, tearing off the landing gear and sending the aircraft skittering across the runway for about 2,000 feet. Answer (1 of 28): There is a guy who claimed that when he landed at Bien Hoa Airbase in May of 1970 that they came under rocket an mortar fire, and that two of his comrades were wounded. I sat on the left side isle with a window seat just to the rear edge of the left wing. A group of ex-AVG and CNAC pilots, some still flying in China, took advantage of this opportunity, and on June 25, 1945 started an airfreight company that in less than two years would formally adopt the name the Flying Tiger Line. Thank you so much angels. More on this later). a version of Purgatory, In this decade the company developed an extensive global network, directly servicing all continents except for Africa, which was served through interlining. I remember well my Flying Tiger trips. I remember how kind and understanding these ladies were to we soldiers going to a war zone. On Wednesday morning in Sacramento, as many as 30 former flight attendants for the airline are reuniting to honor servicemen killed in the 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 . meets a very pale blue, The pilot is believed to have misjudged distance and altitude while making the final approach, a report would later conclude. (1974 -1989). https://open.spotify.com/show/5Th7BCpIKDE1hVTqNL3u0Q. By 1949, the Flying Tiger Line had won approval for the first commercial all-cargo route in the U.S., according to an organization devoted to its history. I went to Nam aboard a ship which very nicely cut 21 days off my tour. A total of 141 lives were lost on board the four aircraft and three lives were lost of people on the ground. English. I spent one year there and flew 15 missions in Vietnam, 8 north and 7 south. Others ordering aircraft include Cebu Pacific, Tiger Airways, 40-percent owned by Singapore Airlines Ltd, Garuda Indonesia's low-cost unit Citilink, and the Qantas Airways Ltd-owned Jetstar and its affiliates such as Singapore-based Jetstar Asia. The Secretary of the Army has asked me to express his deep regret that your son Specialist Donald A Sargent was a passenger aboard a chartered aircraft that was reported missing while in flight over the Pacific Ocean on 15 March 1962, the telegram read. The first two of these saw delays due to engine maintenance having to be carried out. Flying at 210 miles per hour, the C-54 carried 20,000 pounds of cargo over a 2,000 -- mile range. Change). 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. we sat silently in the darkness almost trying to will ourselves into that jet thru the air. I had read everything in sight that was in the pocket of the seat in front of me. I flew out of Travis and came home the same way 3 times during 68-70. This article is an important read. Opens in a new window or tab. Circa 1968-1972 Vietnam War CASI Continental Air Services Inc Shirt Type 1st Officer Wing RARE Item: aircw60001sw. These men and their flight crew perished in what would become one of the biggest aviation. It was acquired by FedEx in 1989, after more than 40 years of flying cargo and passenger . Sometimes, when the wheels pulled up on takeoff, the whole plane would burst out in yells and clapping. Apart from Pan Am and Braniff, also Continental, Northwest, TWA, United, World Airways, Flying Tiger, Seaboard World, among others. 15 March 1962: Flying Tiger Line Flight 7815/13 was a chartered flight for the Military Air Transport Service (M.A.T.S. 2019 by the San Francisco Airport Commission. . They played cards with the guys, laughed with them. Marine leaving from Da Nang Jan 31, 1971 to Okinawa Japan, 3 days later back to the World by way of Alaska to Nortin AFB. The six man recon team was on an observation mission near Fire Support Base Alpine, about six miles east of the Laotian Border. 2023 CherriesWriter - Vietnam War website. Hamburg, 27 February 2023 - EGYPTAIR took delivery of its first A321neo from Airbus' Delivery Centre in Hamburg, making the airline the first African operator of the aircraft.. EGYPTAIR has specified a high comfort, two-class configuration with 16 Business class seats and 166 Economy class seats, and will increase the airline's single aisle capacity to the Middle East, Africa and Europe. Antique Airlines Vietnam Flying Tiger Vintage Pin Gold Tone Enamel Metal. Despite its modest size, Vietnam attracts tourists from all over the world with plenty to offer: expansive paddy fields, white-sand beaches, modern cities, hundred-year-old temples, limestone islands rising dramatically from under the ocean, magnificent natural caves, and minority communities with fascinating cultural traits. May 23, 2016 by Flight 12 - Flying Tigers DC-8 Incident in Bien Hoa Vietnam Dan was kind enough to share a fascinating story from the Vietnam war involving a Flying Tigers DC-8. . The former stewardesses of Tiger Airlines still reminisce about their experiences with those brave soldiers, coming and going to Vietnam a long time ago. At 8:22 a.m. on March 16the time when FTL 739s fuel would have officially run outthe flight was declared lost. The flight went missing while en route to Vietnam. And many didnt know what to think, caught between respect for the military and horror over the fates of the boys on their flights. 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. By the mid-1960s, it was flying scheduled transpacific all-cargo routes and in the late 1980s, it was acquired by Federal Express. A true airfreighted with a unique swing-tail design, the CL-44 permitted the straight-in loading of freight no other plane could carry. America's stake in the Vietnam War didn't begin as late as history books specify. The extension allowed a 30 trip home so I had 2 Tiger flights in and 2 out. 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. Flight 7816, a cargo flight, was enroute from Travis Air Force Base, California to Japan. Within a matter of hours, the carriers losses would get much worse. I gotta go make a life for myself. So, he joined the army.. I was a Flying Tiger Flight Attendant for 5 years, and those many experiences flying into Tan Son Nhut. There were also 11 crew members onboard, giving a total occupancy of 107 people. Not certain but I believe Delta may have been one exception. Dont remember who flew me over my second trip in Dec. 71. between heaven and hell. 60 Years Missing: The Mystery Of Flying Tiger Line Flight 739 In the opening days of the Vietnam War, an aircraft carrying 107 people went missing as it was en route to Saigon on a secret. Flying Tiger Based on the observations of civilians on a nearby tanker, the plane was between Guam and the Philippines when there was a flash and a vapor trail, indicating a midair explosion.. Color photograph of Flying Tiger Line's Lockheed L-1049H Super Constellation N6921C. Stay informed: Sign up for our daily and weekly aviation news digests. Suspected Chinese Spy Balloon Detected Over the U.S. DARPA Narrows Down Liberty Lifter Design Competition, USAF Awards Electra $85M Contract for eSTOL Aircraft, Navy Awards Textron Aviation $113M Contract for Multiengine Trainers, AOPA Names Regional Flight School, Instructor Award Winners, Biden Makes Unprecedented Surprise Trip To Ukraine, NTSB Launches Investigation Into 777s Sudden Loss of Altitude. Meanwhile, the flight attendants were becoming like a family. 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. All of us silently got on the plane ,each of us finding a seat. The team had completed its assigned mission and was waiting to . 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. After all the things i remember about my viet nam year , i never remembered about the flight to or from . changed me for the better many moons ago. They were long, boisterous flights full of bravado and joking the men going off to war were trying to psych themselves up. The picture below shows a full plane of troops heading to Vietnam on a Flying Tiger Flight. In accordance with the government directives and in the interest in protecting the health of our visitors, the Aviation Museum & Library is currently closed. In the Vietnam airlift, Flying Tigers provided strategic flights from the US to numerous military bases throughout the Pacific and Southeast Asia geographic region. Jason Fagone is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Since 1962, Flying Tiger Line had been operating both passenger and all-cargo aircraft, carrying troops and supplies to our forces as well as the South . The C-47 could fly 7,500 pounds of cargo over a range of 600 miles at 150 miles per hour. He was pulled back in on a special mission, handpicked by [President] John F. Kennedy, Kirk said. Flying Tiger Line was the first scheduled cargo airline in the U.S., founded by ex-military pilots in 1945. Thank you all. Few understood the emotional demands they would face. I remember we had trouble on departure from Travis and then landed at Hickham and had to spend the night awaiting a replacement aircraft. Feb.3-8, 1968. And he said, Well, can you put all that aside when youre on the airplane and taking care of these boys? Foster recalled. If I remember correctly I went over on Continental and came back on United. And this aricle brought back many memories, both sad & scared, and delighted and full of joy! I flew into Sea-Trac on Flying Tiger Airlines from Camh Rhan October 4 , 1971. Founded in 1945 by a group of pilots who had flown in World War II, Flying Tigers was Americas first major cargo airline, a seat-of-the-pants operation that hauled freight on Canadian turboprop planes. Great article with great info, I remember in 1968 when I went. (LogOut/ It was the first time I was truly surrounded around military men, and I was overwhelmed by their commitment and belief in their mission. {Photo: Ruth As]. After just under two hours on the ground, The Free Lance-Star reported that the flight departed Guam just before 21:00. Flying Tigers Line Flight 739, a Lockheed L-1049H, was chartered by the United States military. Flying Tigers was a mechanism of the war she opposed. Thats funny. Fosters opposition to the war only intensified; she attended anti-war meetings and demonstrations on her days off. The flight had originated at Travis AFB, Ca. I recall the flight I took into Vietnam and even more than the flight I took home. Thanks so much to all the people that participated in this adventure and thanks for helping us all get there and back. (1968-1989), B-747-100 Flying Tigers was the first airline to operate Boeing 747 passenger aircraft converted into efficient air freighters. Many airlines operated the flights, the most obvious being the Braniff, Continental, Pan Am, United, Seabord World etc 707s and DC-8s, as well as the smaller charter airlines like Universal I also understand the approaches into the airport there could at times be comparable to emergency descents - very rapid! ATDB.aero shows that it spent most of its career at Flying Tiger Line, but did also serve Lufthansa on a leased basis. 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. I flew on Trans Carribiean twice from Travis and experienced the feelings described in the piece. 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. It broke my heart the way they were treated a few years later, especially knowing I had been in attendance on their flight into a war zone, and wondered how they had faired in the return to the USA. Pre-Owned. 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