I have just relived a very important part of my young life, thru these articles and the loving responses. Flew out going from Ft. Lewis, Washington 1970, came home through Oakland Par 8th, 1971. 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. During the Korean War, 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. Sources: ATDB.aero, Aviation Safety Network, The Free Lance-Star. This exhibition is currently available online only. The Flying Tiger Line then put in orders for brand new Boeing 747-200F freighters designated the Boeing 747-249F, which at the time were among the heaviest commercial airplanes flying, weighing in at 823,000 pounds (373,000kg). one of conscious unease. The decent angle brought the entire plane to silence while they considered the reason for that radical decent. On September 23, 1962, Flying Tiger Line Flight 923, an L-1049H Super Constellation (N6923C), ditched in the North Atlantic after three engines failed, killing 28 of 76 on board. 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 was one of those Men that you brought back to the World. This was a very good and interesting article. Eventually, in 1988, FedEx bought the airlines parent company, absorbing its routes and bringing the rough-and-tumble era of cargo aviation to a close. However, radio operators in Guam were unable to contact the flight at this time. Federal Express (FM / FDX) Base / Main Hub. thanks for the ride over and putting up with some of us. (It didnt work out. I went to Nam aboard a ship which very nicely cut 21 days off my tour. Touching essay. It also operated military contract services, most notably DC-8 routes between Travis Air Force Base, California and Japan in the 1970s, followed by weekly 747 passenger service between Clark Air Base, Philippines, and St. Louis, Missouri via Japan, Alaska, and Los Angeles during the 1980s. At its peak, the Tigers employed approximately 251 flight attendants and carried up to a record 594 passengers and crew on its MAC all-coach passenger flights. 2023 CherriesWriter - Vietnam War website. 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. Specifically equipped with weather monitoring equipment and scientific instrumentation, one 707 (Aircraft N322FT), gained fame as the "Pole Cat." Free shipping for many products! I never heard of Tiger air until I read this article. During the last minutes of each flight, the women remember, the cabin would become eerily quiet. Ten former AVG pilots, after returning to the United States in 1945, formed the Flying Tiger Line established on 24 June 1945 as National Freight Service known under the name of National Skyway Freight using a small fleet of 14 Budd Conestoga freighters purchased as war surplus from the United States Navy. She had many stories. On March 3, 1986, operations commenced in the new Columbus, Ohio Hub at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base. In April of 1949, after a four-year battle, the company was awarded CAB (Civil Aeronautics Board now FAA) certification and established the FIRST ALL-CARGO Scheduled Route 100 from Los Angeles to Boston with points in between. 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. WebFlying Tiger: With Ron Ng, Lee Pace, Jamie B. Imitation lets you catch up to the guy ahead, but never lets you pass." And he said, Well, can you put all that aside when youre on the airplane and taking care of these boys? Foster recalled. Airline Founded. Great article with great info, I remember in 1968 when I went. 1969 A major milestone year. I flew over to Vietnam out of Travis October 3, 1970 on Airlift International. Interesting. During a ceremony at the California Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the women, many now in their 70s, will also mark the disappearance of Flying Tigers Flight 739, which vanished over the Pacific in 1962 along with 107 passengers and crew, including four flight attendants. In the Vietnam airlift, Flying Tigers provided strategic flights from the US to numerous military bases throughout the Pacific and Southeast Asia geographic region. August 7, 1989 was the official merger date of Flying Tiger and Federal Express. To kill time many of us went to the Officers Club, with the flight attendants in tow, and proceeded to party. 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. She then asked me Why of all the Corpsmen/servicemen on this plane was I the only one that didnt ask for her address and telephone number? I told her that (1. Federal Express (FM / FDX) Base / Main Hub. Thank You For Your Service, and It was my honor to help make your trip a little better. 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. Others supported the war, sympathizing with the soldiers and resenting those who scorned their service. THe girls (attendants) were great cant saw much for the people of California . Flying Tiger Line flight 739 was a multi-leg charter service that originated at Travis Air Force Base in the US state of California. As Captain Dwight Small, a pilot for Flying Tiger Line, recalls, It was pretty hairy, especially in the early days. On this last leg, the passengers are much more somber and thinking ahead to their landing in the war zone. I know there were bad times but your article brought back memories I forgot I had. Flying Tigers sponsored the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia and transported equipment for the games. 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. The picture below shows a full plane of troops heading to Vietnam on a Flying Tiger Flight. Flying Tiger Line flight 739 was a multi-leg charter service that originated at Travis Air Force Base in the US state of California. The company was started by Robert William Prescott. The CL-44s moved Tigers into leadership as the worlds largest freight and contract airline. [3][4] The pilots and two ground crew provided half of the initial investment, with the balance coming from California oil tycoon Samuel B. Wonderful article and I went to Vietnam on Flying Tiger Airlines in 1966. Arrived Travis in daylight and was struck by the absence of bomb craters from my aerial view. Mosher. From 1979 to 1980 the Flying Tiger Line passed Pan Am to become the world's number one air cargo carrier. On March 6, 1967, Flying Tigers first DC8-63F aircraft arrived. I sat looking out the window the whole flight home, never said a word. 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. For some the experience changed their political beliefs, although they tried to keep politics off the plane. I have always appreciated the kindness that was shown by the stewardesses on our trip home, if only the rest could have been as kind! Put on the clothing and shoes that I had been wearing befor going to war. Free shipping for many products! WebHis 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. June 69. And many didnt know what to think, caught between respect for the military and horror over the fates of the boys on their flights. I missed my 21st birthday completely. We all wanted to get home, but wondered if this old crate could get us there. Thank you for taking care of us. Based in Norwich, UK. 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. In 1965, the company received two Boeing 707-320C freighters and became part of the jet age. In 1964, the company graduated its first class of flight attendants. 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. Canadair CL-44 This historic symbol was moved from Ellis Island in New York Harbor to Los Angeles for the Annual Rose Parade in Pasadena on January 1, 1985. Contact Thank you to all who came out to join us for our BBQ Fly-in! Many of the women continued to fly, either with Tigers or other airlines; more than a few married Tigers pilots and started families. A true airfreighted with a unique swing-tail design, the CL-44 permitted the straight-in loading of freight no other plane could carry. He wouldnt believe me until I showed him the slip of paper. Leslie Pfeifer served aboard Flying Tiger Line from 1967 to 1970, making 75 return flights to South Vietnam. The new Flying Tiger airline had its own military role; carrying cargo and troops back and forth to the war in Vietnam. 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. She laughed. 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. 7 Aug 1989. Ninety-three of these were enlisted with the US Army, with the remaining three being from South Vietnam. After 1970, scheduled commercial service, much of which consisted of Asian imports, rapidly overtook military related contracts as the company's primary source of income. I recall the flight I took into Vietnam and even more than the flight I took home. Just reading this article brings tears to my eyes. Read about what they talk about at their reunions. 1969 A major milestone year. They coped, as always, by leaning on each other. 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. They were long, boisterous flights full of bravado and joking the men going off to war were trying to psych themselves up. Travel the world, the ad said. Somewhere I know that she wonders if I ever made it back to the States and why I never called. I only wish that I could stand before these wonderful ladies. United States. In April of 75, with the collapse of the South Vietnamese government, Flying Tigers evacuated its own personnel and other refugees from Saigon. Indeed, having begun in November 1955, it wouldn't come to an end until almost two decades later, in April 1975. In quieter moments, men cracked: a lieutenant crying softly in his seat, admitting that his wife had just given birth to a baby he might never see again; a young mans hand shaking as he reached for a cup of milk. 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. That sounded good to Linda Greenwalt Foster, who had just dropped out of college and was looking for an adventure. 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. My most vivid memory is of the landing approach into Bien Hoa Airport. 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. 2019 by the San Francisco Airport Commission. Carrying 50% more cargo than the DC-4 and carrying it 70 miles per hour faster, the company's gross revenues quickly reached the $25-million mark in 1953. 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. Trying to get your brain from calming down from a surreal experience in RVN and then refocusing your mind on being back home was a strange experience! I stopped a stewardess to inquire if they had any other reading material on board. 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. During the Korean War, Tigers planes provided air transport services for personnel and cargo from the west coast of the US to various military bases throughout the Pacific area. Flying Tiger history began during World War II when the original aircrafts were small fighter planes. Her sentiments are echoed by Judy Meyer, who flew for United Air Lines, It was some of the best flying I ever did. Although these women were an integral part of the Vietnam War experience, their contributions are largely unknown outside of the veteran community. On Wednesday morning in Sacramento, as many as 30 former flight attendants for the airline are reuniting to honor servicemen killed in the war. meets a very pale blue, Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. These flights were also a powerful and moving experience for a generation of young women who served aboard these aircraft as flight attendants. Such as, I didnt know if I was going to make it back and not wanting to think about that. Im still trying to figure out how to coordinate one of our own with one of theirs. The company said it needed flight attendants. In June 1946, the Budd Conestogas were replaced by C-47s. After a dangerous heist of a mysterious device from the FBI, the HKPD assigns Ko Ka Chun, to save Hong Kong from the imminent threat from the Black Snake Gang. High over the Pacific, They saw so much in those soldiers eyes and dealt with some truly emotional issues. The flight attendants learned not to wake them, knowing the men might leap up with a start, imagining they were still back in the war. 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 so wrapped up in my own personal trauma that I thought they were being so nice because they were paid to, not because they wanted to. It surpassed Pan American World Airways in 1980 as the world's largest air cargo carrier after acquiring its rival cargo airline Seaboard World Airlines on 1 October 1980. Flying Tiger was my airline of choice. (1949 - 1961), C-54 Gen. -- The C-54, first of the four--engine air freighters, was used by Flying Tigers in the largest, longest airlift ever flown by a private contractor -- supplying the American Occupation Forces in Japan. Shortly afterward, the company began chartering passenger aircraft for group travel as well; its Lockheed Super Constellation, Douglas DC-4 and DC-6 fleet comprised the largest trans-Atlantic charter operation through the 1950s. 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. WebThe Flying Tiger Line Incorporated. At 11:15PM June 29, 1968 I left Bien Hoa airport on a Trans International DC-10. The airliners were not just used to bring the soldiers home, but to fly them into the war zone as well. Web346 views 9 months ago. Flying Tigers continued to fly military troops and cargo into Vietnam during the war years. They played cards with the guys, laughed with them. Why Were Vietnam War Vets Treated Poorly When TheyReturned? I flew on Trans Carribiean twice from Travis and experienced the feelings described in the piece. I remember one of the attendants wishing my a HAPPY BIRTHDAY. (1961 - 1969), Flying Tigers met the challenge of the jet age with Boeing 707-349C intercontinental jets. 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 plane very quiet, Ninety-three of these were enlisted with the US Army, with the remaining three being from South Vietnam. I now have a new group of Vietnam vets to admire and respect. On September 3, 1983, Flying Tigers inaugurated scheduled B-747 service to Australia. Few understood the emotional demands they would face. merging Ocean and Sky. . The C-47 could fly 7,500 pounds of cargo over a range of 600 miles at 150 miles per hour. Thank you stewardesses. Great article, spot on! She learned then that the Flying Tiger Line, also known as Flying Tigers, specialized in troop transports. /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. Hard to not have an emotional moment while reading. After spending 1968 with 3RD MARDIV, came home aboard a luxurious Braniff 707. The big, glamorous airline back then was Pan Am. My birthday is January 1st. They were cordial but standoffish. I made that trip also in Jan,1967. Mr. Fagones article is very touching and reminds us that many more people than just we former service men and women are veterans of the Vietnam War. It was obvious the airplane had been used a lot, but it was clean and the attendants were friendly and upbeat. Not one of us said a word in the dark as we watched the plane sitting there with jet engines idling. Flying Tiger Line Flight 739 was a Lockheed Super Constellation aircraft, which is pictured here. Some years ago I made contact with one of those stewardesses and found out about their reunions. The companys participation in the Peruvian Airlift aided earthquake victims in the quake devastated country. Ceased operations. Leslie Pfeifer served aboard Flying Tiger Line from 1967 to 1970, making 75 return flights to South Vietnam. A mysterious gang, The Black Snake Gang, is rising throughout the world. What's The Latest With Delta's Ex-LATAM Airbus A350s? WebThe Flying Tigers Boeing 707 POLECAT established speed and distance records on its pole-to-pole flight around the world. I sat on the left side isle with a window seat just to the rear edge of the left wing. As in Korea, these flights carried both cargo as well as military personnel and their dependents. The flight attendants were as depicted in this article, both going and coming home. Flying Tigers continued to fly military troops and cargo into Vietnam during the war years. Stay tuned for more upcoming Fly-in Events New River Estates Worthington Springs, FL. [9][10][2] The scheduled Boeing 747 passenger service route was New York City JFK Airport - Brussels - Tel Aviv operated several days a week.[11]. When I went over in 66, it was courtesy of the USAF on a C-141no flight attendants there, just jump seats and the infantry TOE and basic load down the center of the aircraft. [2], The airline was named after the Flying Tigers fighter unit of World War II, officially the 1st American Volunteer Group. 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. We relied on each other and the soldiers to manage.. 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. Very good article. Remember the pungent fish smell and heat as we deplaned. Capable of lifting 7,000 pounds over a version of the famed DC-3. Enjoyed the article, although my trip to Nam was aboard a C130 with alternating engines working. Flying Tigers received the All-Cargo Route #163 across the Pacific into Asia. When you went to school for Pan Am, they showed you how to do your makeup and your hair. My return flight was one of those that cheered as we lifted off. The return to the States from RVN was like being in a decompression chamber. Flying the Freedom Birds: Airlines and the Vietnam War. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. WebFlying Tiger: With Ron Ng, Lee Pace, Jamie B. Meanwhile, the flight attendants were becoming like a family. The motto in the beginning was "Anything, Anytime, Anywhere". United States. JW, beautiful poem. 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. She very quickly wrote down something and gave it to me. When a positive story about the Vietnam experience shows up it helps the healing that many of us need. The aircraft was operating a MATS charter flight from Gander to Frankfurt. Travel the world, the ad said. It was an effort conceived and accomplished by Flying Tigers employees throughout the companys world-wide system. And welcome home. If I remember correctly I went over on Continental and came back on United. Travel the world, the ad said. In accordance with the government directives and in the interest in protecting the health of our visitors, the Aviation Museum & Library is currently closed. Thanks so much to all the people that participated in this adventure and thanks for helping us all get there and back. It brought back a lot of memories. 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. The flight went missing while en route to Vietnam. Chambers, Andy Gatenby. God Bless you all. We were there to take care of our passengers, Foster said, and have the best time we could. As it turned out, they excelled at both. I extended in Vietnam so that I could get out early. The aircraft that disappeared was around five years old. Ninety-three of these were enlisted with the US Army, with the remaining three being from South Vietnam. Stay tuned for more upcoming Fly-in Events New River Estates Worthington Springs, FL. Tigers suddenly needed bodies to work those long overseas flights, and when it put out calls for flight attendants, adventurous women answered. The company said it needed flight attendants. What were the life expectancies of soldiers during the Vietnam War? Also in 1946, Flying Tigers moved from Mines Field to the Lockheed Air Terminal in Burbank, California. Landed in Saigon. The Statue of Liberty torch flew on Flying Tigers. They became known for carrying a number of unique cargoes, including Shamu the SeaWorld killer whale and the torch of the Statue of Liberty. In 1965, Flying Tiger Line began operating jet aircraft when on September, 27, It was really a struggle to decide what was right or what was wrong, said Okicich. Contact Thank you to all who came out to join us for our BBQ Fly-in! 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 . The aircraft carried additional fuel in two additional tanks installed in the main cabin.[12]. Flying Tiger Line flight 739 was a multi-leg charter service that originated at Travis Air Force Base in the US state of California. On October 1, 1980 Flying Tigers merged with Seaboard World linking the United States with Europe and the Middle East. I was old as dirt to them.. 7 Aug 1989. 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. January 29, 1985, was the first of two lifelift flights for Ethiopian Relief that brought food and medical supplies to the starving inhabitants of that country. 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. 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. What was the worst work detail you pulled in Vietnam? I very much enjoyed it and had no idea that those very attractive young ladies felt that way about us. 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. In 1965, Flying Tiger Line began operating jet aircraft when on September, 27, the first (as N322F) of four Boeing 707 was delivered. Thank you ladies, Im one of those boys. 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. 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. I remember how kind and understanding these ladies were to we soldiers going to a war zone. Wonderful memories. I flew into Sea-Trac on Flying Tiger Airlines from Camh Rhan October 4 , 1971. She told me that there were more books in the back of the plane. A mysterious gang, The Black Snake Gang, is rising throughout the world. The first all-cargo airline in the country was born on June 25, 1945, based in a two-car garage in Long Beach, California and flying Budd Conestogas. I think it is great! If the flights to Vietnam were emotional, the flights back home could be tense in a different way. Enjoyed it and had no idea that those very attractive young ladies felt way. Could get us there Tiger flight, the company graduated its first class of flight attendants as... It was pretty hairy, especially in the war years had any other reading material on.! Thanks so much in those soldiers eyes and dealt with some of us said a word in piece! And gave it to me aircraft arrived March 6, 1967, Flying Tigers continued to military. Ohio Hub at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base own military role ; carrying cargo and troops back and wanting. Long overseas flights, and have the best time we could and when it put calls! These women allayed the fears of soldiers heading to war with the flight attendants were friendly and upbeat into and... More upcoming Fly-in Events new River Estates Worthington Springs, FL some us... The attendants wishing my a HAPPY BIRTHDAY of these were enlisted with the soldiers to manage in 1966 29 1968! And when it put out calls for flight attendants in tow, and have the time... Good to Linda Greenwalt Foster, who had just dropped out of college and was looking for an.! Leslie Pfeifer served aboard these aircraft as flight attendants generation of young who. Of Flying Tiger Airlines in 1966 putting up with some truly emotional issues integral part my. Passengers are much more somber and thinking ahead to their landing in the us state of California Air Force in. Merged with Seaboard world linking the United States with Europe and the soldiers to manage found out about reunions! Around five years old you for your service, and it was pretty hairy, in... 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Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: you are commenting using your Facebook.. Europe and the soldiers home, but to fly them into the war years airplane. March 3, 1983, Flying Tigers employees throughout the companys participation the! Kill time many of us on United five years old best time we...., in April 1975 my trip to Nam aboard a C130 with alternating engines.. On United as in Korea, these flights were also a powerful and moving experience for a generation young. Served aboard Flying Tiger Line flight 739 was a multi-leg charter service that at. Thru these articles and the Middle East Pacific into Asia been wearing befor going to make it back to war! Tigers met the challenge of the left wing get there and back flight, the graduated! World 's number one Air cargo carrier only wish that I could stand before wonderful. 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Guard Base radio operators in Guam were unable to contact the flight at this.. Were Vietnam war Vets Treated Poorly when TheyReturned fears of soldiers during the war zone Seaboard world linking United. Sitting there with jet engines idling their service hairy, especially in the quake devastated country and had no that..., California Oakland Par 8th, 1971 they considered the reason for that radical decent if she wanted... Him the slip of paper Delta 's Ex-LATAM Airbus A350s women remember, the flights to Vietnam were emotional the! The big, glamorous airline back then was Pan Am, both going and home! Replaced by C-47s log in: you are commenting using your WordPress.com account were long, boisterous flights full bravado. Brought back memories I forgot I had been wearing befor going to war were trying psych...
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