flying tiger airlines vietnamflying tiger airlines vietnam

There was more to this exciting excursion. Additional terms apply. Know now that I was stunned , medical shock, at suddenly the war down below, behind me , was gone. $35.00. Thank you Jason for a story well told. That was not us, recalled Andee Reingold Wright, a San Francisco native who was 21 when she started with Flying Tigers in 1967. 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. During the Vietnam years the Flying Tiger Line also worked overtime for the US Postal Service. From 1945 to 1989 Flying Tigers management, mechanics, office staff, flight attendants, pilots and crew members worked together to build an airline that became a legend. Notable among the Tigers' achievements were their participation in both the Korean and Vietnam airlifts. It hooked up with the Pentagon to carry troops during the Korean War, and by the mid-1960s the airline was flying tens of thousands of soldiers into Vietnam at a time before the U.S. public was paying much attention to the conflict unfolding there. This article was greatdefined exactly how it was when we flew homeI left Vietnam on or about the 5th of January 1968 & Flying Tigers was my carrier! I do remember the door opening and it was like a blast furnace! 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. One of the seven people on boardthe flight engineerwas killed in a fire that destroyed the aircraft and all its contents. 365 days later. 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. According to the Aviation Safety Network, it first flew in 1957, and had amassed a total of 17,224 hours. Flying Tiger Line was the first scheduled cargo airline in the U.S., founded by ex-military pilots in 1945. And he said, Well, can you put all that aside when youre on the airplane and taking care of these boys? Foster recalled. Based in Norwich, UK. And welcome home. Three Vietnam service members were also among the passengers. Somewhere I know that she wonders if I ever made it back to the States and why I never called. Nonetheless, it reached Guam as planned on March 15th. My most vivid memory is of the landing approach into Bien Hoa Airport. Meanwhile, the flight attendants were becoming like a family. There are two main mo No Longer Available! Pre-Owned. It wasnt my style to go asking every woman that I met to get her address and telephone number, besides I had more important things on my mind. Marilyn Breen was 24 when a girlfriend called her from Japan, bragging that she had gotten a job with a different charter airline and was now sitting in Tokyo having her nails done for $1.50. we sat silently in the darkness almost trying to will ourselves into that jet thru the air. 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. 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. they developed an air delivery system that has become the standard by almost That sounded good to Linda Greenwalt Foster, who had just dropped out of college and was looking for an adventure. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. 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. Specifically equipped with weather monitoring equipment and scientific instrumentation, one 707 (Aircraft N322FT), gained fame as the "Pole Cat." It was a time when the U.S. was quietly increasing its presence in Vietnam, sending advisers and equipment, such as those on Flight 739, to bolster the government of the Republic of Vietnam against the VietCong insurgency. 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. I was USAF and made that stop in Alaska. I flew out of Travis Air Force Base and was on my way to Thailand. However, radio operators in Guam were unable to contact the flight at this time. All attempts to re-establish contact with the flight were unsuccessful.. I do not dwell on the negatives of that war , but there will always be a part of those of us that served in Vietnam that we would prefer to live without. Apart from Pan Am and Braniff, also Continental, Northwest, TWA, United, World Airways, Flying Tiger, Seaboard World, among others. While Flight 739s final destination was known, the reason behind the secret mission of those on board still remains a mystery to their families. What aviation news will you check out next? /stilI could not talk or say a word, still stunned that in one day went from war to out of Army and nowback in the house at home. The aircraft that disappeared was around five years old. Flew over on Military Transport (think it was a 141) The flight was a complete 3 stooges movie MATS had trouble w/plane. 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. merging Ocean and Sky. I flew over on Continental..We had a flight attendant come to one of our VVA Chapter meeting and tell us about her time. If you've . 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. The decent angle brought the entire plane to silence while they considered the reason for that radical decent. 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. While there I recall them telling us that there are enemy at the end of the runway and when we take off we are pulling up as fast as we can to keep from being hit. These ladies were great listeners and very supportive. But for the ladies I say Thank you I was one of those 18 year old boys that was scared to death. The year 1962, however, would be a particularly bad year for the airline started by former military pilots. They were again ordered to Vietnam with Marine Aircraft Group 36 at Phu Bai in 1969 and remained there until their return . 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. The driver honked his horn but didnt get out. Entdecke FLIEGENDER TIGER LINE AIRLINES AUFNHER in groer Auswahl Vergleichen Angebote und Preise Online kaufen bei eBay Kostenlose Lieferung fr viele Artikel! Very good article. Circa 1968-1972 Vietnam War CASI Continental Air Services Inc Shirt Type 1st Officer Wing RARE Item: aircw60001sw. Unfortunately for me I returned in a Medevac flight from Japan Yokosuka Naval Hospital. Flying from Clark AFB to Guam refueling then on to Travis AFB and Home. 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! 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. 2023 CherriesWriter - Vietnam War website. Flying Tiger Attendant It was the first time I was truly surrounded around military men, and I was overwhelmed by their commitment and belief in their mission. He tried to grab it but I told him If she had wanted him to have it she would have given it to him. With that I went back to reading. Established at the end of the Second World War, Flying Tiger Line made history as the first US-based scheduled cargo-carrying airline. Shamu the whale took a first ride on Flying Tigers. Margi Falk. To this day, I send emails to friends who are Vets, and the young people in the airports who are recognizable by their uniforms and sincerely Thank them for thier Service. So they tried to keep it light. These men and their flight crew perished in what would become one of the biggest aviation. Another theory is that they landed and that theyre still alive. Not a good way to start the year! Top Rated Plus. Also those that returned with ptsd, most of us. 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! ber 1.000.000 Bilder It was really a struggle to decide what was right or what was wrong, said Okicich. 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. My return flight was one of those that cheered as we lifted off. The Flying Tiger Line lost four airplanes to crashes with fatalities in 1962. Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. Great Read, I was a 26 year old man when I went to that war, I remember not sleeping on the flying tiger flight back home, and the stewardess, sat and talked to me as everyone else was sleeping, I thought the stewardess was a nice person that was concerned about my not sleeping and ask why. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. The flight from Guam to the next layover was to take about 6 hours and 20 minutes, but the Constellation had enough fuel for nearly 10 hours of flight, according to an International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) accident report documenting the incident. Despite the intensity of the operations, many flight attendants found the military contract flights rewarding and continued to serve on them for years. It truly was a great feeling being headed home. Those ladies had a very important part in the war and they are to be commended for their service. 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. Touching essay. 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. 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. 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. I only wish that I could stand before these wonderful ladies. 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. https://open.spotify.com/show/5Th7BCpIKDE1hVTqNL3u0Q. There was no military service at the funeral. However, Kadena was not able to resupply the galley but the crew got a lot of junk food to hold us over till we got to Tokyo where we were off-loaded again and the plane was serviced. In addition to the emotional impact, the flight attendants risked physical harm while flying to military bases in an active combat zone. I never heard of Tiger air until I read this article. Thats incomprehensible. 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. Afraid that at any moment a rocket or mortor could could take the jet down. Sponsored. These men and their flight crew perished in what would become one of the biggest aviation. It was a vivid reminder we were entering a war zone. Put on the clothing and shoes that I had been wearing befor going to war. Real Aviation Photos & Videos; Upload New File; Discussion. Great article .. enjoyed it more than my flight to Vietnam,but, what a wonderful sight when I walked out to the plane to return home. Just reading this article brings tears to my eyes. Hard to not have an emotional moment while reading. 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. I think it is great! or Best Offer. In this decade the company developed an extensive global network, directly servicing all continents except for Africa, which was served through interlining. They were thrown together all the time on the planes, in Saigon hotels sipping cocktails and at officers clubs on overseas military bases, where guys bought them drinks. 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. Vintage Flying Tigers Airline 1981 Timetable from/to Greece - Flying Tiger Line. Travel the world, the ad said. Thanks, DRS. It flew at 200 miles per hour, carried 13,000 pounds of cargo and had a range of 900 miles. The aircraft was transporting 93 U.S. soldiers and three South Vietnamese from Travis Air Force Base, California to Saigon, Vietnam. Top 50 best listed companies in Vietnam. Remember the illumination flares as we were coming in on final as the sun had not come up yet. 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. I remember we had trouble on departure from Travis and then landed at Hickham and had to spend the night awaiting a replacement aircraft. . A great story, even made me cry, vaguely remembering the trips each way, to and from Vietnam. (1945 - 1947). I spent one year there and flew 15 missions in Vietnam, 8 north and 7 south. We began to realize OK, these guys are going off to die, Breen recalled. The jet went faster, higher, finally the landing gear came up into the plane. $27.95. I came back on a USAF flight as I was in a 1-1/2 hip spika cast they called it. Prices and availability are subject to change. or Best Offer. where we are found aloft As in Korea, these flights carried both cargo as well as military personnel and their dependents. It brought back memories from 68. Fosters opposition to the war only intensified; she attended anti-war meetings and demonstrations on her days off. That year, Flying Tiger Line lost four aircraft in incidents, the bulk of which while operating charters for the U.S. military. 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. race to get Asians flying in a region set to overtake the United States as the biggest aviation market. Flying off Course has established itself over the years as the indispens-able guide to the inner workings of this exciting industry. Thanks! with stopovers in Honolulu and Wake Island before arriving in Guam. Great, I had the opportunity to fly w/those ladies one great experience,,! Capable of lifting 7,000 pounds over a version of the famed DC-3. For military personnel, it was a deeply emotional journey in both directions. Addendum: While in transit on the plane, I had an unusual experience that Id like to share with everyone who reads this. (1957 - 1967), Flying Tigers acquired the first turbine-powered air-freighter placed in service when it purchased a $55-million fleet of Canadair CL-44s in 1961. The aircraft was lost and no part was found in spite of one of the most extensive searches ever conducted in the history of aviation, ICAO said. flying tigers airlines was the prenier air cargo air carrier of the world long before fedex even considered overseas deliveries. Thank You For Your Service, and It was my honor to help make your trip a little better. Sellers with highest buyer ratings; God Bless those women who helped me on those hours headed home to start to feel like I might still have some humanity left in me. I was one of those Men that you brought back to the World. They coped, as always, by leaning on each other. Flying Tigers Line Flight 739, a Lockheed L-1049H, was chartered by the United States military. I went and returned on a Flying Tiger plane and remember very well the sensitive and kind treatment from the stewardesses both directions. Conditions were, however, well within the weather minimums set for the airline at the landing strip of a 400-ft ceiling and three-quarter-miles visibility, a report later noted. Photo: The aircraft departed from Andersen AFB in Guam before disappearing over the Western Pacific Ocean. We all wanted to get home, but wondered if this old crate could get us there. Pre 1965 - MAAG GUTS AIRLINE - Vietnam - CIA - Z.017. I was on those flights, twice over and back although on other carriers. I have never heard this or found any reference on it, but I knew it would be of interest - AB It was important to stay upbeat, to act like every one of the men was coming home. History - Flying Tiger Line was founded on 24 June 1945 by R.W. Some of the now-adult children of those on board speculate that the flight made it, but that passengers were captured, Kirk said. They were recruited to fly for the Republic of China with the quiet approval of the United States government. I remember the flight over and appreciate this article about those that made the trip over to Vietnam enjoyable despite apprehension and anxiety most of us 19 year olds carried with us. 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. I gotta go make a life for myself. So, he joined the army.. Its such a part of history, and our own personal history.. Here we are, 60 years later, Kevin Woodward, remembrance coordinator at Wreaths Across America, said Wednesday during the ceremony. 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. Her byline has appeared in numerous online and print publications including Al Jazeera America, USA Today, ForeignPolicy.com and US News & World Report. English. We all knew that some going would not make it back alive. Flying Tiger Line flight 739 was a multi-leg charter service that originated at Travis Air Force Base in the US state of California. I dont remember the faces of the flight attendantsprobably because I was so overwhelmed by my own emotions going to war and coming home. All rights reserved. Great article; Thanks. My grandfather had to go pick it up. I very much enjoyed it and had no idea that those very attractive young ladies felt that way about us. Flying Tiger Line Flight 739 was a Lockheed Super Constellation aircraft, which is pictured here. Flying Tiger aircraft were chartered to transport troops and supplies from the United States to Asia; Flying Tigers later received a cargo route award to Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. They were long, boisterous flights full of bravado and joking the men going off to war were trying to psych themselves up. Wonderful memories. from United States Looking back, I owe them my deep thanks for doing their job so splendidly despite the emotional roller-coaster they must have been on. Today. 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. 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. 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. Dont remember who flew me over my second trip in Dec. 71. 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. (Pinterest) 15 March 1962: Flying Tiger Line Flight 7815/13 was a chartered flight for the Military Air Transport Service (M.A.T.S. And their dependents on those flights, twice over and back although on carriers! Mortor could could take the jet went faster, higher, finally the landing gear came up into the.! Spent one year there and flew 15 missions in Vietnam, 8 north and 7.. 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Vietnam airlifts the plane a particularly bad year for the ladies I say Thank you for your Service and. They were recruited to fly w/those ladies one great experience,, Lockheed L-1049H, was chartered by the States...

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