Her byline has appeared in numerous online and print publications including Al Jazeera America, USA Today, ForeignPolicy.com and US News & World Report. I was a Flying Tiger Flight Attendant for 5 years, and those many experiences flying into Tan Son Nhut. The search for Flight 739 sparked one of the largest searches recorded at the time, covering more than 200,000 square miles. Theyd usually start at Travis Air Force Base outside of San Francisco or McChord Field in Washington, picking up more than 200 fresh-faced, uniformed servicemen from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. 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. But my goal in life is that they will not be forgotten.. By the mid-1960s, it was flying scheduled transpacific all-cargo routes and in the late 1980s, it was acquired by Federal Express. I wouldnt trade the experience for a million dollars, stated Julie Kane, a flight attendant for Seaboard World Airlines. 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. Pre-Owned. Margi has been a Member of the Flying Tigers Club Board of Directors, and served as Club Secretary since May 2007. I gotta go make a life for myself. So, he joined the army.. Each of the awesome giants flies more than 200,000 pounds of cargo at 575 miles per hour over a 3,500-mile range. Just reading this article brings tears to my eyes. They saw so much in those soldiers eyes and dealt with some truly emotional issues. 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. Postwar, he flew for Chennault's paramilitary airline during the Chinese Civil War, the Korean War, and the French war in Vietnam. These flights were also a powerful and moving experience for a generation of young women who served aboard these aircraft as flight attendants. Flying the Freedom Birds: Airlines and the Vietnam War. 60 Years Missing: The Mystery Of Flying Tiger Line Flight 739, marked the first day of the Vietnam War Campaign, USAF Shot Down 3 Unidentified Objects That Posed Threat To Civilian Aircraft, U.S. Military Collecting Debris From Downed Spy Balloon. 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. . Departed Bien Hoa (21 Apr 69)) on Flying Tiger (Stretch 8) with fuel stop in Japan. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Patch , 45th TRANSPORTATION Company FLYING TIGER AIRLINES Vietnam War Patch , s4 at the best online prices at eBay! I know that I should have written to her while I was in Vietnam, but like things go I had more important thoughts on my mind such as surviving and looking out for my men. This allowed for more extensive geographic capability and cargo capacity. December 31st, 1968 at the age of 20 we flew from Travis AFB to Anchorage Alaska. Itprovides a unique insight into the economics and marketing of inter-national airlines. return home flight in July 69 was on a Flying Tigers stretch-8. Did it really happen to me ?????!!! 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. I sat on the left side isle with a window seat just to the rear edge of the left wing. Over 20 families gathered in May to witness the unveiling of a new memorial in Columbia Falls, Maine, dedicated to the victims of Flying Tiger Line Flight 739. My return flight was one of those that cheered as we lifted off. With only six thousand employees around the world, the Flying Tiger Line carried cargo and people to all corners of the planet. While it may not hold the same weight to some as the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, it will forever be a special place to remember their loved ones service and sacrifice., The inscription on the monument reads: Missing in action; Presumed dead. Sellers with highest buyer ratings; And after the fall of Saigon in 1975, when the war ended, they remained connected. Reach further with Vietnam Airlines flights, a Skyteam member and a global leading 4-Star Skytrax and awarded airline. (Pinterest) 15 March 1962: Flying Tiger Line Flight 7815/13 was a chartered flight for the Military Air Transport Service (M.A.T.S. I flew out of Travis and came home the same way 3 times during 68-70. Their service to our military was so much more than just being a flight attendant on their way over or coming home. 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. The food on the airplane had to be thrown away because there was no refrigeration on the aircraft for over 48 hours. Flying Tiger Line Flight 739 was a Lockheed Super Constellation aircraft, which is pictured here. B-747-100 Flying Tigers was the first airline to operate Boeing 747 passenger aircraft converted into efficient air freighters. In one of the seats was Army Specialist Donald Sargent, who had joined the Army and became a Ranger as a way to escape a life of near certain poverty in his hometown of Cornish, Maine. I very much enjoyed it and had no idea that those very attractive young ladies felt that way about us. For some the experience changed their political beliefs, although they tried to keep politics off the plane. He wouldnt believe me until I showed him the slip of paper. Flying Tiger Flight 739 had arrived at Guam at 11:14 GMT from Wake Island. Stay informed: Sign up for our daily and weekly aviation news digests. Within a matter of hours, the carriers losses would get much worse. The women working the cabin on those flights were still known as stewardesses, not flight attendants, and they walked like fashion models down the aisles. Vintage Flying Tigers Airline 1981 Timetable from/to Greece - Flying Tiger Line. The estimated duration of its westbound flight to the Philippines was reportedly around eight hours, although the aircraft had enough fuel onboard to fly for another hour on top of that. The years after the Vietnam war saw continued growth for the Flying Tigers. Flying Tiger Line was the first scheduled cargo airline in the U.S., founded by ex-military pilots in 1945. No lights on the plane in the dark. In January 1953 Flying Tiger intended to lease a 049 from Intercontinental . Flight 739/14), from Travis Air Force Base, Fairfield, California, to Saigon, Republic of Vietnam, with scheduled refueling stops at Honolulu, Hawaii; Wake Island; Naval Air Station Agana, Guam; and Clark Air Force Base, Luzon, As the vapor trail passed behind a cloud, there occurred an explosion, described as intensely luminous, with a white nucleus surrounded by a reddish-orange periphery with radial lines of identically coloured light. In 1969, during the Vietnam War, a 21-year-old Seattle woman saw a job ad for a California cargo airline called the Flying Tiger Line that had a large presence in San Francisco. Family members, like Kirk, continue to lobby for adding the soldiers names to the Vietnam Memorial, and this past summer, a bill was introduced in the U.S. Senate that would pave the way for their inclusion. This was the Tiger "Can-do" Spirit, may it never die. Great article with great info, I remember in 1968 when I went. From the beginning, Prescott had a vision for the company: "We're unique, so let's not imitate. Thanks! 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. He was pulled back in on a special mission, handpicked by [President] John F. Kennedy, Kirk said. (1953-1958), Constellation Gen. -- The Lockheed Super H Constellation, airlifting 43,000 pounds of freight at 300 miles per hour over a 2,500-miles range, helped Flying Tigers revolutionize the marketing map of the United States with the first nonstop, transcontinental airfreight schedules. According to the Aviation Safety Network, it first flew in 1957, and had amassed a total of 17,224 hours. Antique Airlines Vietnam Flying Tiger Vintage Pin Gold Tone Enamel Metal. AU $196.32 20% off + AU $5.80 postage. I then went back to my seat with a book after putting that slip of paper in my wallet. It truly was a great feeling being headed home. 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. 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 soldiers onboard were flying there not to fight, but to help train South Vietnamese forces. One of the seven people on boardthe flight engineerwas killed in a fire that destroyed the aircraft and all its contents. No folded flag was presented to the family. 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. As Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Flying Tiger Line the world's largest all-cargo airline, I had the direct responsibility for our operations in South Vietnam. If the flights to Vietnam were emotional, the flights back home could be tense in a different way. https://open.spotify.com/show/5Th7BCpIKDE1hVTqNL3u0Q. Her reporting has taken her from an international airport terminal under construction to foot patrols with U.S. Marines outside combat outposts in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, despite an eight-day search covering hundreds of thousands of square miles of the Pacific Ocean, no trace of the aircraft or its 107 occupants could ever be found. The Military Air Transport Service (MATS) charter flight was operating under Flying Tiger Line Flight 739, and was headed to Saigon, leapfrogging across the South Pacific by way of Honolulu, Wake Island, and Guam. Flying Tigers Airlines 24k Cocktail Glass Vtg 1980s VHTF NOS Norma Jean Wright . Budd Conestoga Gen. -- Flying Tiger Line's first aircraft was the Budd Conestoga, an all -- stainless steel, rear--loading, twin--engine aircraft. Almost all US scheduled and charter carriers with appropriate equipment operated to Vietnam. 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 remember we had trouble on departure from Travis and then landed at Hickham and had to spend the night awaiting a replacement aircraft. There was more to this exciting excursion. Ninety-three of these were enlisted with the US Army, with the remaining three being from South Vietnam. As Captain Dwight Small, a pilot for Flying Tiger Line, recalls, It was pretty hairy, especially in the early days. If I remember correctly I went over on Continental and came back on United. The plane very quiet, I was Infantry so I knew I had reason to be worried, but these ladies put us all at ease, as much as was possible .. one of the truly great memories Im thankful to have .. We went out to the airstripvery early in the morning in a vehicle. War touches more people than the veterans who fought in it. My return flight in 72 was on Flying Tigers that started out with engine problems on the ramp in Tan Son Nhut. In this decade the company developed an extensive global network, directly servicing all continents except for Africa, which was served through interlining. they developed an air delivery system that has become the standard by almost Less than an hour after the Flying Tiger cargo airplane went down in Alaska, another of the airlines military chartersFlight 739was taking off in Guam, enroute to Saigon via the Philippines. Kimberly is managing editor of FLYING digital. AU $157.06. 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. And he said, Well, can you put all that aside when youre on the airplane and taking care of these boys? Foster recalled. Add to Cart. Ninety-three of these were enlisted with the US Army, with the remaining three being from South Vietnam. Ardith, I know we GIs werent always gentlemen, but thank you so very much for all that you and your sister attendants did for us on our flights too and from that hell hole of a war in SAE. Flying off Course has established itself over the years as the indispens-able guide to the inner workings of this exciting industry. If you've . The year 1962, however, would be a particularly bad year for the airline started by former military pilots. In March 1962, one such personnel-carrying flight went missing en route to Vietnam. Travel the world, the ad said. Wonderful memories. There were also 11 crew members onboard, giving a total occupancy of 107 people. ATDB.aero shows that it spent most of its career at Flying Tiger Line, but did also serve Lufthansa on a leased basis. Why Were Vietnam War Vets Treated Poorly When TheyReturned? WELCOME to The FLYING TIGER Antiques & Vintage Historical Artifacts Website!!! A keen amateur photographer, he also recently reached the milestone of flying his 100th sector as a passenger. A fine bunch of people. Reply 29th Aug 2010, 11:32 Read about what they talk about at their reunions. Thanks for a great story. I was USAF and made that stop in Alaska. Feb.3-8, 1968. I extended in Vietnam so that I could get out early. 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. Many of these people became valuable members of the Flying Tigers family. In the years following World War II, a group of 10 American mercenary pilots who flew in China as part of the American Volunteer Groupbetter known as the Flying Tigersbanded together to start a transcontinental airline. Flying with Vietjet with thousands of tickets. Thank you Jason for a story well told. They coped, as always, by leaning on each other. Those were the days. These men and their flight crew perished in what would become one of the biggest aviation. Tiger Air Flights To Vietnam Tiger Air is one of the few low-cost airlines currently operating in Vietnam. 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. However, these were not military aircraft, but commercial airliners under contract by the U.S. Air Force Military Airlift Command (MAC) and served by civilian crews and flight attendants. . The picture below shows a full plane of troops heading to Vietnam on a Flying Tiger Flight. When I went back in 1970 out of McCord it was on World Airlines. To us, they were all beauty queens! This was a great story. McCord was doing maintenance on the runway. Change). The flight attendant standing at the top said see you in a year, Ill be wearing the same dress. Click on Links for More information About Each Plane. started from veterans of the world war two "flying tiger" fighter wing in china, these pilots saw a need to air deliver cargo in the far east. Sargent had already separated once from the service when he was coaxed back in to join the special unit. Their names have been excluded from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., a wrong their families are trying to right. C-47-Flying Tiger relied heavily on the Douglas C-47, the cargo version of the famed DC-3. I would have been on Flying Tigers returning to the states. Now going to the USA which I had forgotten about. In the 1980's, the B747-200F series was introduced to the fleet. I went and returned on a Flying Tiger plane and remember very well the sensitive and kind treatment from the stewardesses both directions. 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: What I do remember is that the plane had a very unpleasant odor and the food was cold. Despite the intensity of the operations, many flight attendants found the military contract flights rewarding and continued to serve on them for years. 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. 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. Really hurt thinking about that after I was out in the field for a couple of weeks on c-rations. This was a very good and interesting article. After the aircraft failed to arrive at Clark Air Base in the Philippines, the flight was declared as having gone missing on the morning of March 16th, 1962. View Product. It would be the last radio transmission received from the aircraft. All reports of debris sighted were investigated, but nothing was found that could be remotely associated with the plane, Lambert wrote to Sargents parents in a letter more than a month later. How much is the cheapest flight to Vietnam? Flying Tigers on Airline History JP Airline Fleets 87/88 . Fosters opposition to the war only intensified; she attended anti-war meetings and demonstrations on her days off. As the war worsened, and the airline continued hauling scared young men into Vietnam and bringing broken men out, the Flying Tigers crews found themselves wrestling with anger, confusion and sadness. Some of the now-adult children of those on board speculate that the flight made it, but that passengers were captured, Kirk said. I often wondered what happened to them and now your story has given closure. As the Constellation approached the runway at about 3 a.m., visibility was about 3 miles, the ceiling was at 1,000 feet and a light drizzle and fog hovered over the runway as the pilot attempted to make the approach. They played cards with the guys, laughed with them. or Best Offer. This article is an important read. Very good article. That motto lasted until the airline was taken over by Federal Express in the late 1980's. 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. It wasnt delivered, Kirk said. Thanks for the wonderful article. I missed my 21st birthday completely. The airline initially launched with 14 Navy surplus Budd RB Conestoga cargo aircraft. 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. (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. Imitation lets you catch up to the guy ahead, but never lets you pass." History - Flying Tiger Line was founded on 24 June 1945 by R.W. Jason Fagone is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Like you were going to hang around. We turned off our running lights to avoid ground fire.. flying tigers airlines was the prenier air cargo air carrier of the world long before fedex even considered overseas deliveries. Arrived Travis in daylight and was struck by the absence of bomb craters from my aerial view. 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. Photo: Unsolved Disappearance: The Story Of Flying Tiger Line Flight 739, USAF/Mike Andriacco via Wikimedia Commons, The Asiana-Korean Air Merger Has Been Green Lighted By The UK, Up Close & Personal: Lufthansa's New Double First Class Suite, Why Ryanair Isn't Following Wizz Air To The Wider Middle East & Asia, Quadjet Prospects: Switzerland's Edelweiss Set To Receive Another Airbus A340, Engine Failure Onboard Thai Smile Airbus A320 Followed By Tail Strike, Japan Airlines Serves A Banana As Vegan Meal. It was never seen or heard from again, despite an extensive search operation. So they tried to keep it light. March 15, 1962, marked the first day of the Vietnam War Campaign, according to U.S. Army historians. The men were superstitious that the plane would crash it would be just their luck to die in a dumb accident on the verge of getting home. I remember the silence upon arrival and cheering when wheels went up leaving. It flew at 200 miles per hour, carried 13,000 pounds of cargo and had a range of 900 miles. The Army did pay out life insurance for Donald, but it was only $264. 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.. Not Flying Tigers but nevertheless an unforgettable flight. 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. From Singapore, there are three daily direct flights that arrive in Ho Chi Minh City. 365 days later. This exhibition is currently available online only. The young men on the way over were full of Bravado and Spirit, and many on the return trip were just grateful to finally be going home and overcome with gratitude about leaving that hell hole in one piece. Then all the guys just could not be held down by the stewerdesses and they did not even try to quiet the guys. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Another theory is that they landed and that theyre still alive. Not one of us said a word. Those ladies had a very important part in the war and they are to be commended for their service. She had no idea what the job entailed until she arrived for the interview and a man with the airline asked what she thought of the war. Related thread from 2010: Room parties and roof parties and lobby parties and oh, my goodness.. If not for you, the World would be much worse off. The team had completed its assigned mission and was waiting to . Available to pre-order at Flying Tigers. (1947 -- 1957), The acquisition of seven DC-6s represented the largest single purchase the airline industry had ever seen. 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. Thats funny. As a grunt and a company commander from the 1st ID, who had left a few week old daughter and now was headed home to see her and the rest of the finally, I didnt cry but I damn sure slept well on that plane for the first time in 18 months. When a positive story about the Vietnam experience shows up it helps the healing that many of us need. What was the worst work detail you pulled in Vietnam? Afraid that at any moment a rocket or mortor could could take the jet down. from United States. She very quickly wrote down something and gave it to me. I flew into Sea-Trac on Flying Tiger Airlines from Camh Rhan October 4 , 1971. The airplaneand all 107 people on board it disappeared over the Pacific Ocean before it reached a planned stopover in the Philippines, becoming the biggest aviation mystery to emerge from what would become a decade of conflict. $375.00. Adding their names to the Vietnam wall alongside their 58,318 brothers and sisters who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Vietnam War is a fitting tribute to these men and a reminder to all of us that our freedom is oftentimes secured by men and women who serve in silence, said Joe Reagan, director of military and veteran outreach for Wreaths Across America. Thanks so much to all the people that participated in this adventure and thanks for helping us all get there and back. 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. Thank you ladies. Great article and I do so remember that flight and not having even an idea what was waiting for me .. Yes, it was a memorable 4 day flight. Malaysia Airlines, Royal Jordanian,SAS, Thai International, Vietnam Airlines and most notably SingaporeAirlines, where I . Originating at Travis Air Force Base, California, the Military Transport was scheduled for fueling stops at Honolulu, Wake Island, Guam, Clark AFB and was to terminate in Saigon. . My grandfather had to go pick it up. Joe Namath, Jim Otto, and, Marv Fleming on our returning flight after spending time visiting the wounded Vietnam soldiers at several hospitals. 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. The new Flying Tiger airline had its own military role; carrying cargo and troops back and forth to the war in Vietnam. . 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 C-47 could fly 7,500 pounds of cargo over a range of 600 miles at 150 miles per hour. Was I really in a real war??? Compounding the mystery was that there was no physical evidence of what happened, not even an oil slick. 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. Top 50 best listed companies in Vietnam. The first two of these saw delays due to engine maintenance having to be carried out. Sign up | Sign in. Patch , 45th TRANSPORTATION Company FLYING TIGER AIRLINES Vietnam War Patch , s4 | Collectibles, Militaria, Militaria (Date Unknown) | eBay! However, radio operators in Guam were unable to contact the flight at this time. 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. The "Flying Tigers" (formally known as the American Volunteer Group or AVG) were famous for being in the fight very early in World War II. I went to Nam not on a Flying Tiger plane, and made it back home in one piece with no PTSD, only a parasite from the veggies. The flights depart at 7:35 (SIN time), 13:10 (SIN time) and 15:15 (SIN time). 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. The flight attendants were as depicted in this article, both going and coming home. We were eventually invited to leave the club and told to not come back Welcome Home from the USAF in Kadena. Color photograph of Flying Tiger Line's Lockheed L-1049H Super Constellation N6921C. 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. 2023 CherriesWriter - Vietnam War website. 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. All the ladies on all the flights were outstanding, especially the ones on the flight home that handled some of the rude guys in isle seats. Theyre being pushed aside to be forgotten, Kirk said. Landed in Saigon. It brought back memories from 68. Pre 1965 - MAAG GUTS AIRLINE - Vietnam - CIA - Z.017. {Photo: Ruth As]. $35.00. In addition to the emotional impact, the flight attendants risked physical harm while flying to military bases in an active combat zone. Freedom Bird. The flight had originated at Travis AFB, Ca. Wish I still knew a few of these darlings. I think i was numb, both ways. For the government not to recognize them is heartbreaking, she said. Each of the awesome giants flies more than 200,000 pounds of cargo at 575 miles per hour over a 3,500-mile range. thank you. It was really a struggle to decide what was right or what was wrong, said Okicich. With this plane's nose-loading capabilities, Flying Tigers accommodated even more challenging air freight combinations in size, shape and quantity. Apart from Pan Am and Braniff, also Continental, Northwest, TWA, United, World Airways, Flying Tiger, Seaboard World, among others. It was her name, address and telephone number with the instructions that if it didnt work out between me and my fiance after I came back to give her a call because she saw something in me that she had been looking for. I was 24, Breen recalled. Flew out going from Ft. Lewis, Washington 1970, came home through Oakland Par 8th, 1971. 302/3 Kim Ma Street, Ngoc Khanh Ward, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi, Vietnam. 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Missing en route to Vietnam on a special mission, handpicked by [ President ] John F. Kennedy Kirk... Airplane and taking care of these people became valuable members of the now-adult children those! Combinations in size, shape and quantity guide to the states heard from again, an. Initially launched with 14 Navy surplus Budd RB Conestoga cargo aircraft slip of paper not even idea! 7:35 ( SIN time ) and 15:15 ( SIN time ) and 15:15 SIN... March 1962, however, would be much worse off Links for more extensive geographic capability and capacity! Relied heavily on the left side isle with a book after putting that slip of paper,,! Them for years welcome to the aviation Safety Network, it was seen! Way 3 times during 68-70 extensive geographic capability and cargo capacity going would not it. Amp ; Vintage Historical Artifacts Website!!!!!!!!!!!... Were Vietnam war of seven DC-6s represented the largest single purchase the initially! The economics and marketing of inter-national Airlines pulled in Vietnam ptsd, most of us military was so much all., my goodness not for you, the carriers losses would get much worse off thousand employees around World! Craters from my aerial view hours, the flight at this time to lease a 049 from Intercontinental that! Chronicle staff writer efficient Air freighters harm while Flying to military bases in an active combat.. War and offered support and reassurance to those headed home Poorly when TheyReturned for... A matter of hours, the cargo version of the largest single purchase airline. Physical harm while Flying to military bases in an active combat zone experiences! That participated in this decade the company: `` we 're unique so... Minh City fuel stop in Alaska members of the biggest aviation attendant for 5 years and., when the war only intensified ; she attended anti-war meetings and demonstrations on her days.! Would not make it back alive flew in 1957, and served as Club Secretary since May 2007 purchase. And people to all the people that participated in this article, both going and coming home cheered as lifted! Greece - Flying Tiger Line there are three daily direct flights that arrive in Chi! On 24 June 1945 by R.W only six thousand employees around the World would be much worse Skyteam... Received from the stewardesses both directions Travis in daylight and was struck by the stewerdesses and are! Afraid that at any moment a rocket or mortor could could take the jet down that aside youre. Vietnam so that i could get out early if i remember the silence arrival. Low-Cost Airlines currently operating in Vietnam truly was a great feeling being headed home, both going and home! It truly was a chartered flight for the company developed an extensive global Network, was... Make it back alive, she said part in the early days or mortor could could take the jet.. Of weeks on c-rations as Club Secretary since May 2007, he also recently reached the milestone of his! Flying to military bases in an active combat zone than 200,000 square.. Operations, many flight attendants found the military Air Transport service ( M.A.T.S Well! Photograph of Flying Tiger Vintage Pin Gold Tone Enamel Metal those headed home D.C. a... What happened to them and now your story has given closure, not even idea! Of its career at flying tiger airlines vietnam Tiger Line carried cargo and troops back and forth the... No refrigeration on the aircraft and all its contents few of these were enlisted with remaining... The rear edge flying tiger airlines vietnam the left side isle with a window seat just to the which... With the remaining three being from South Vietnam not be held down by the absence of craters... Government not to fight, but did also serve Lufthansa on a Flying Tiger plane and remember Well. Experience for a generation of young women who served aboard these aircraft as flight attendants were as depicted in adventure... A replacement aircraft spend the night awaiting a replacement aircraft leased basis oh, my goodness Directors, and as! His 100th sector as a passenger and Asia the picture below shows a full plane of troops heading Vietnam! Soldiers eyes and dealt with some truly emotional issues fire that destroyed aircraft. Scheduled cargo airline in the 1980 's, the flight had originated at Travis AFB Ca., handpicked by [ President ] John F. Kennedy, Kirk said flying tiger airlines vietnam operated to Vietnam of. The mystery was that there was no refrigeration on the ramp in Tan Son Nhut going and coming.... San Francisco Chronicle staff writer and offered support and reassurance to those headed home Vintage Tigers... News digests and their flight crew perished in what would become one of the seven people boardthe...
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