Flying Tiger Line was ramping up operations in Vietnam, too, and it's believed maintenance standards dropped as a result of increased demand. C-47-Flying Tiger relied heavily on the Douglas C-47, the cargo version of the famed DC-3. Its ultimate destination was the Vietnamese city of Saigon, to which it was transporting 96 soldiers. Flying Tigers was a mechanism of the war she opposed. 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: Quickview. Add to Cart. 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. 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. they developed an air delivery system that has become the standard by almost 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. No lights on the plane in the dark. On the paper were words that Donald Sargents motherKirks grandmotherfound too incomprehensible to believe. I only wish that I could stand before these wonderful ladies. Thanks! 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. I dont remember the faces of the flight attendantsprobably because I was so overwhelmed by my own emotions going to war and coming home. (LogOut/ I remember we had trouble on departure from Travis and then landed at Hickham and had to spend the night awaiting a replacement aircraft. Outstanding article! 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. In the 1980's, the B747-200F series was introduced to the fleet. Piloted by the novice American Volunteer Group, who were from all branches of the military and civilians, these men provided military support to the Republic of China in their defense against the Japanese invasion between 1941-1942. 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. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Air Jet Advance Flying Tiger Cargo Airlines 1:200 B747 Freighter Model Airplane at the best online prices at eBay! for the first time, when I read this article, I remembered the cheer that went up spontaneously when we pulled up to about 10,000 feet and realized we were safety out of rocket/mortar danger and headed for home. Thank you so much angels. This exhibition is currently available online only. 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. 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. All rights reserved. Just reading this article brings tears to my eyes. I know there were bad times but your article brought back memories I forgot I had. I sat on the left side isle with a window seat just to the rear edge of the left wing. Sky Marks 1/200th scale SKR828 Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787-9 2014 colours. Thank you for writing this story, it was way overdue. (LogOut/ 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. Flew out going from Ft. Lewis, Washington 1970, came home through Oakland Par 8th, 1971. 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. Welcome Home with many thank you for all your support of the Vietnam veterans!! The young men would leave their patches, their names, their addresses, their rosary beads and ask the crew members to write to them while they were in Vietnam. Notable among the Tigers' achievements were their participation in both the Korean and Vietnam airlifts. My return flight was one of those that cheered as we lifted off. 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 was USAF and made that stop in Alaska. )I was engaged and (2.) Arrived Travis in daylight and was struck by the absence of bomb craters from my aerial view. 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. Daniel Dattpla IIFFV Original Party. Vintage Flying Tigers Airline 1981 Timetable from/to Greece - Flying Tiger Line. Opens in a new window or tab. Vietnam-era airline crews carry memories of the men they flew to, fromwar, Videos, Film, Music, and Movies about VN War, Author interview War & Life: Discussions with a Veteran, A Chat Between Three Veterans [live video with author], Lest We Forget Meet the Authors & Book Signing April 4th: Cherries and Donut Dolly, Interview with author John Podlaski in Examiner Magazine, American Heroes Radio interviews author of Cherries A Vietnam War Novel, Cherries Author Interviewed on British Website, U.K. Blogspot posts interviews author, John Podlaski, More Book Reviews and author interviews about Cherries, The Story behind the famous Saigon Execution Photo. McCord was doing maintenance on the runway. Great, I had the opportunity to fly w/those ladies one great experience,,! I have never heard this or found any reference on it, but I knew it would be of interest - AB I was on those flights, twice over and back although on other carriers. 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. 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 flew out of Travis Air Force Base and was on my way to Thailand. Like you were going to hang around. Opens in a new window or tab. Touching essay. Nobody wanted to take anybody over there who wasnt coming back.. The C-47 could fly 7,500 pounds of cargo over a range of 600 miles at 150 miles per hour. Based in Norwich, UK. She has more than 20 years reporting experience, much of it covering aviation and defense issues. Many of these people became valuable members of the Flying Tigers family. The next stop was Saigon where we left off troops. The team had completed its assigned mission and was waiting to . Color photograph of Flying Tiger Line's Lockheed L-1049H Super Constellation N6921C. Patch , 45th TRANSPORTATION Company FLYING TIGER AIRLINES Vietnam War Patch , s4 | Collectibles, Militaria, Militaria (Date Unknown) | eBay! from Greece Circa 1968-1972 Vietnam War CASI Continental Air Services Inc Shirt Type 1st Officer Wing RARE Item: aircw60001sw. And he said, I gotta get out of Cornish. Email:jason.fagone@sfchronicle.comTwitter:@jfagone, Link to the actual article: https://bit.ly/2PbitdY. Pre 1965 - MAAG GUTS AIRLINE - Vietnam - CIA - Z.017. 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! . Looking back, I owe them my deep thanks for doing their job so splendidly despite the emotional roller-coaster they must have been on. She told me that there were more books in the back of the plane. Compounding the mystery was that there was no physical evidence of what happened, not even an oil slick. 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. It brought back memories from 68. My most vivid memory is of the landing approach into Bien Hoa Airport. Thats funny. During the course of the war, thousands of flights crisscrossed the Pacific Ocean. I know the feelings, having done the flights in 68 & 70. This represented a significant transition for the Flying Tigers, and paved the road to future success. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Flying Tigers Line Flight 739, a Lockheed L-1049H, was chartered by the United States military. It wasnt delivered, Kirk said. They wanted to cry but stifled the impulse. Some of the now-adult children of those on board speculate that the flight made it, but that passengers were captured, Kirk said. ! From the beginning, Prescott had a vision for the company: "We're unique, so let's not imitate. 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. View Product. Its variants seat 242 to 335 passengers in typical three-class seating configurations. Check out our flying tigers airlines selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. Also those that returned with ptsd, most of us. Not one of us said a word. Others slept for hours, exhausted and often traumatized from their experiences in Vietnam. We were goin up and up , the war down below, falling away now far behind us. I have no comment for this person, He/she is beyond help. 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. 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. Ninety-three of these were enlisted with the US Army, with the remaining three being from South Vietnam. They were long, boisterous flights full of bravado and joking the men going off to war were trying to psych themselves up. What aviation news will you check out next? To kill time many of us went to the Officers Club, with the flight attendants in tow, and proceeded to party. 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. It was important to stay upbeat, to act like every one of the men was coming home. Its a way to look back, said one woman planning to attend, Ann Price Montgomery, who joined Flying Tigers in 1968. The picture below shows a full plane of troops heading to Vietnam on a Flying Tiger Flight. The first two of these saw delays due to engine maintenance having to be carried out. These were to take place in Honolulu, Wake Island, Guam, and the Philippines (Clark Air Base). Sweet Jesus, I was back in the USA ; I came back on a USAF flight as I was in a 1-1/2 hip spika cast they called it. By this time the airline's personnel had gained such expertise in shipping challenging pieces of freight that the attitude in the industry was, "if Tigers can't move it, nobody can." The pilot is believed to have misjudged distance and altitude while making the final approach, a report would later conclude. I flew over to Vietnam out of Travis October 3, 1970 on Airlift International. or Best Offer. I salute you all ladies!! 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. 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. No folded flag was presented to the family. Within a matter of hours, the carriers losses would get much worse. Meanwhile, the flight attendants were becoming like a family. 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 . Malaysia Airlines, Royal Jordanian,SAS, Thai International, Vietnam Airlines and most notably SingaporeAirlines, where I . All four were Lockheed L-1049H Super Constellations. Thank you Flying Tiger! Nonetheless, it reached Guam as planned on March 15th. Change). No one was home, but a neighbor walked up to the car. I now have a new group of Vietnam vets to admire and respect. Thank you Jason for a story well told. The jet went faster, higher, finally the landing gear came up into the plane. Result Pages: 1 Displaying 1 to 1 (of 1 products) From there the plane, often a stretch DC-8, would fly west to Anchorage, then to Japan, then to the Philippines or Vietnam, dropping the troops off at military bases. 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.. Great article and I do so remember that flight and not having even an idea what was waiting for me .. However, radio operators in Guam were unable to contact the flight at this time. The company said it needed flight attendants. I was 24, Breen recalled. (1966-1969), The Douglas DC-8-63F was a new breed of aircraft that had a far reaching effect on the continuing growth for the airfreight industry. this a definitive journey The company said it needed flight attendants. The flight attendant standing at the top said see you in a year, Ill be wearing the same dress. He wouldnt believe me until I showed him the slip of paper. 15 March 1962: Flying Tiger Line Flight 7815/13 was a chartered flight for the Military Air Transport Service (M.A.T.S. we sat silently in the darkness almost trying to will ourselves into that jet thru the air. She learned then that the Flying Tiger Line, also known as Flying Tigers, specialized in troop transports. The new Flying Tiger airline had its own military role; carrying cargo and troops back and forth to the war in Vietnam. (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 also n=mourned those I had lost there who could not return alive but were shipped home to grief stricken families. Until now, I mostly ignored the efforts of these people (especially the attendants they saw, heard & felt all of it). The Army did pay out life insurance for Donald, but it was only $264. . with stopovers in Honolulu and Wake Island before arriving in Guam. 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. 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 one of the attendants wishing my a HAPPY BIRTHDAY. According to the Aviation Safety Network, it first flew in 1957, and had amassed a total of 17,224 hours. The monument in Maine has given many families a sense of peace that finally their loved ones names are recognized. A Lockheed Constellation L-1049, similar to the aircraft that disappeared. 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. When you went to school for Pan Am, they showed you how to do your makeup and your hair. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Others supported the war, sympathizing with the soldiers and resenting those who scorned their service. Imitation lets you catch up to the guy ahead, but never lets you pass." 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. I went and returned on a Flying Tiger plane and remember very well the sensitive and kind treatment from the stewardesses both directions. Apart from Pan Am and Braniff, also Continental, Northwest, TWA, United, World Airways, Flying Tiger, Seaboard World, among others. Wheels up lots of cheering and hope. A true airfreighted with a unique swing-tail design, the CL-44 permitted the straight-in loading of freight no other plane could carry. Many of the women continued to fly, either with Tigers or other airlines; more than a few married Tigers pilots and started families. 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. I made that trip also in Jan,1967. each of us inside were scared because for the first time non of us were wearing helmets, flack jackets, no weapons or ammo. Such as, I didnt know if I was going to make it back and not wanting to think about that. Opens in a new window or tab. We turned off our running lights to avoid ground fire.. Flying Tiger Line Flight 739 went missing on March 16, 1962, with 93 U.S. Army soldiers on board. I never heard of Tiger air until I read this article. Few understood the emotional demands they would face. With Tigers, they said, OK, make sure your hair isnt longer than your shoulders, and get on the plane.. On Wednesday, families of those lost on Flight 739 gathered in Columbia Falls, Maine, for a ceremony marking the 60th anniversary of the loss of Tiger Flight 739. I flew out of Travis and came home the same way 3 times during 68-70. I only just sat there, silently , the flight home to Fort Lewis. and flew to Portland ,Oregon. I just stood there in my bedroom looking out the window for a very long time,saying to myself Did that really happen??? Thank you for taking care of us. Curtis Smith served to disbandment and afterward returned to the U.S. Marines. MAAG THAILAND . If not for you, the World would be much worse off. Thanks so much to all the people that participated in this adventure and thanks for helping us all get there and back. About the only scenario that's been ruled out is. Top Rated Seller. We all wanted to get home, but wondered if this old crate could get us there. Dont remember who flew me over my second trip in Dec. 71. Joe Namath, Jim Otto, and, Marv Fleming on our returning flight after spending time visiting the wounded Vietnam soldiers at several hospitals. 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. I sat looking out the window the whole flight home, never said a word. 302/3 Kim Ma Street, Ngoc Khanh Ward, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi, Vietnam. where we are found aloft C $52.00. Thanks for the ride! thank you. Skip to main content . That was always the fun part, to take them out of there, remembered Gael Okicich, who flew with Tigers for 25 years. No such thing happened, as I was at that location in May of 1970. They played cards with the guys, laughed with them. The Boeing 737 is a narrow-body aircraft produced by Boeing at its Renton Factory in Washington. 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. Flying the Freedom Birds: Airlines and the Vietnam War. 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 was one of those Men that you brought back to the World. Its ultimate destination was the Vietnamese city of Saigon, to which it was transporting 96 soldiers. 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. I flew on Trans Carribiean twice from Travis and experienced the feelings described in the piece. 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. 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. Flying Tigers Airlines 24k Cocktail Glass Vtg 1980s VHTF NOS Norma Jean Wright . The Flying Tiger Line lost four airplanes to crashes with fatalities in 1962. June 69. During the Vietnam years the Flying Tiger Line also worked overtime for the US Postal Service. Pre-Owned. She very quickly wrote down something and gave it to me. Some years ago I made contact with one of those stewardesses and found out about their reunions. 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. 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. Thank you! B-747-100 Flying Tigers was the first airline to operate Boeing 747 passenger aircraft converted into efficient air freighters. The first of the "stretched" airfreights, it carried a payload of 110,000 pounds at 550 miles per hour over a 3,000 mile range. I have just relived a very important part of my young life, thru these articles and the loving responses. I think i was numb, both ways. I went to Nam aboard a ship which very nicely cut 21 days off my tour. English. The CVR for Flying Tiger Line flight 66, with added subtitles.The following are all resources used for the making of this video:1) Transcript of flight: http. How much is the cheapest flight to Vietnam? 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. 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. Because they were young and energetic, they could work a 5-hour flight from Japan to Vietnam, spend an hour on the ground, turn around and fly 5 hours back to Japan, then take a quick shower and then go out dancing at a go-go club. 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, Thank You For Your Service, and It was my honor to help make your trip a little better. Phnom Penh, against a background of advancing NVA troops in Vietnam, it describes the relations among the crew and their motivation and features a pet cockroach named Hiram and a 'mother' to the crew aged 13. JW, beautiful poem. History - Flying Tiger Line was founded on 24 June 1945 by R.W. The flight went missing while en route to Vietnam. Various conspiracy theories regarding sabotage have arisen, but the flight's exact fate will likely remain unknown. 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. Sign up | Sign in. Sargent had already separated once from the service when he was coaxed back in to join the special unit. The search for Flight 739 sparked one of the largest searches recorded at the time, covering more than 200,000 square miles. He settled into a niche with the "Flying Tiger Line", an airline started by pilots that gained fame by trouncing superior, in number, forces of Japanese warplanes. On Wednesday morning in Sacramento, as many as 30 former flight attendants for the airline are reuniting to honor servicemen killed in the war. The driver honked his horn but didnt get out. With the Boeing 707s supplemented by Canadair CL-44s, Flying Tigers supplied U.S. military forces and became the largest carrier of cargo in the Pacific. Thank you ladies, Im one of those boys. FLYING TIGER AIRLINES TIGER MEN & THEIR MACHINES CIRCA 1968 ADVERTISING. merging Ocean and Sky. This was the Tiger "Can-do" Spirit, may it never die. The food on the airplane had to be thrown away because there was no refrigeration on the aircraft for over 48 hours. Landed in Saigon. Freedom Bird. 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. Know now that I was stunned , medical shock, at suddenly the war down below, behind me , was gone. It flew at 200 miles per hour, carried 13,000 pounds of cargo and had a range of 900 miles. What Was It Like To Hump The Boonies in Vietnam? Carrying 32,000 pounds of cargo at 275 miles per hour with a 2,000 mile range, the DC-6A carried more, cheaper and faster than any other aircraft flying at the time. 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