flying tiger airlines vietnam

Flying Tiger aircraft were getting old and worn, but their flight attendants were still top notch. 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. Remember the pungent fish smell and heat as we deplaned. Various conspiracy theories regarding sabotage have arisen, but the flight's exact fate will likely remain unknown. I only wish that I could stand before these wonderful ladies. Best Airline Business in Southeast Asia. But soon after they started working troop transports to Southeast Asia, the women realized that the job required a whole different set of skills. Click on Links for More information About Each Plane. Theyre being pushed aside to be forgotten, Kirk said. 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. Thank you so much angels. Flugzeugfotos und Luftfahrtfotos - Fotos ansehen, suchen oder hochladen! After just under two hours on the ground, The Free Lance-Star reported that the flight departed Guam just before 21:00. A true airfreighted with a unique swing-tail design, the CL-44 permitted the straight-in loading of freight no other plane could carry. Thank you ladies. "We packed our bags we never knew when we were coming home," Wright. Wheels up lots of cheering and hope. One of the seven people on boardthe flight engineerwas killed in a fire that destroyed the aircraft and all its contents. Thank you stewardesses. Never again! Great, I had the opportunity to fly w/those ladies one great experience,,! Not only told to leave, but not to come back. You have my deepest sympathy during this trying time. It was signed by Maj. Gen. J.C. Lambert, The Adjutant General of the U.S. Army. March 15, 1962, marked the first day of the Vietnam War Campaign, according to U.S. Army historians. Read about what they talk about at their reunions. It would be the first of a list of expected things that wouldnt materialize for the family, according to Kirk. $18.00. Their names have been excluded from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., a wrong their families are trying to right. 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. The Stewardess came back after about 10-15 minutes and asked me Do you mind if I ask you a personal question? I told her No, not really.. A keen amateur photographer, he also recently reached the milestone of flying his 100th sector as a passenger. The women say its what helped them keep their sanity, a support network that allowed them to face the heartbreak of the job as the true cost of the war emerged. I know the feelings, having done the flights in 68 & 70. +C $19.78 shipping estimate. 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. En route to Saigon, the flight was set to make several refueling stops. 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! ber 1.000.000 Bilder Flying Tiger Line flight 739 was a multi-leg charter service that originated at Travis Air Force Base in the US state of California. 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. What was the worst work detail you pulled in Vietnam? With only six thousand employees around the world, the Flying Tiger Line carried cargo and people to all corners of the planet. 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. We were goin up and up , the war down below, falling away now far behind us. 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. 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. The flight attendant standing at the top said see you in a year, Ill be wearing the same dress. return home flight in July 69 was on a Flying Tigers stretch-8. Very interesting. 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. The flight attendants were as depicted in this article, both going and coming home. Until now, I mostly ignored the efforts of these people (especially the attendants they saw, heard & felt all of it). A total of 141 lives were lost on board the four aircraft and three lives were lost of people on the ground. 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. And there were parties every single day and every single night, Foster remembered. Apart from Pan Am and Braniff, also Continental, Northwest, TWA, United, World Airways, Flying Tiger, Seaboard World, among others. . At 11:15PM June 29, 1968 I left Bien Hoa airport on a Trans International DC-10. The explosion occurred in two pulses lasting between two and three seconds and from it two objects fell into the sea.. (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. Tiger Air Flights To Vietnam Tiger Air is one of the few low-cost airlines currently operating in Vietnam. These ladies were great listeners and very supportive. Vintage Flying Tigers Airline 1981 Timetable from/to Greece - Flying Tiger Line. 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. Wonderful memories. Hamburg, 27 February 2023 - EGYPTAIR took delivery of its first A321neo from Airbus' Delivery Centre in Hamburg, making the airline the first African operator of the aircraft.. EGYPTAIR has specified a high comfort, two-class configuration with 16 Business class seats and 166 Economy class seats, and will increase the airline's single aisle capacity to the Middle East, Africa and Europe. Flying Tiger was my airline of choice. Gotoff the jet and was greated by relatives. Six decades later, and the families of those onboard Flight 739 still dont know what happened. These men and their flight crew perished in what would become one of the biggest aviation. where we are found aloft Top Rated Plus. a light greenish blue The plane very quiet, I often wondered what happened to them and now your story has given closure. Others slept for hours, exhausted and often traumatized from their experiences in Vietnam. Thank you Flying Tiger! Thank you ladies, Im one of those boys. Flew over on Military Transport (think it was a 141) The flight was a complete 3 stooges movie MATS had trouble w/plane. Travel the world, the ad said. He wouldnt believe me until I showed him the slip of paper. Those ladies had a very important part in the war and they are to be commended for their service. 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. 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, The flights depart at 7:35 (SIN time), 13:10 (SIN time) and 15:15 (SIN time). Reach further with Vietnam Airlines flights, a Skyteam member and a global leading 4-Star Skytrax and awarded airline. 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. Each of the awesome giants flies more than 200,000 pounds of cargo at 575 miles per hour over a 3,500-mile range. Some of the now-adult children of those on board speculate that the flight made it, but that passengers were captured, Kirk said. These were to take place in Honolulu, Wake Island, Guam, and the Philippines (Clark Air Base). The company had a contract to fly U.S. servicemen into Vietnam and to bring troops home after their tours were complete. What I do remember is that the plane had a very unpleasant odor and the food was cold. She told me that there were more books in the back of the plane. It flew at 200 miles per hour, carried 13,000 pounds of cargo and had a range of 900 miles. I would have been on Flying Tigers returning to the states. They cant be forgotten.. The years after the Vietnam war saw continued growth for the Flying Tigers. The big, glamorous airline back then was Pan Am. Imitation lets you catch up to the guy ahead, but never lets you pass." If I remember correctly I went over on Continental and came back on United. (1974 -1989) After 1989 Mr Narita 806 in Polar Colors HISTORY Tigers suddenly needed bodies to work those long overseas flights, and when it put out calls for flight attendants, adventurous women answered. I gotta go make a life for myself. So, he joined the army.. Few understood the emotional demands they would face. I also n=mourned those I had lost there who could not return alive but were shipped home to grief stricken families. The airline industry is always full of new developments! The Douglas DC-8-63AF N783FT (msn 46003) they flew is, remarkably, still . Thank You For Your Service, and It was my honor to help make your trip a little better. 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. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. 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. During the Vietnam years the Flying Tiger Line also worked overtime for the US Postal Service. I came back on a USAF flight as I was in a 1-1/2 hip spika cast they called it. Landed in Saigon. This allowed for more extensive geographic capability and cargo capacity. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is an American long-haul, mid-size widebody, twin-engine jet airliner made by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. To kill time many of us went to the Officers Club, with the flight attendants in tow, and proceeded to party. War touches more people than the veterans who fought in it. ! Thank you for writing this story, it was way overdue. 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. Sweet Jesus, I was back in the USA ; . Flying the Freedom Birds Airlines and the Vietnam War Freedom Bird. AU $196.32 20% off + AU $5.80 postage. 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. 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. Thanks for a great story. . 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. Shamu the whale took a first ride on Flying Tigers. Crossing the international date line was my experience in time travel. I flew on Trans Carribiean twice from Travis and experienced the feelings described in the piece. My return flight was one of those that cheered as we lifted off. 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. 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. Thank you and God Bless you all!!!! Out of rocket range. History - Flying Tiger Line was founded on 24 June 1945 by R.W. When a positive story about the Vietnam experience shows up it helps the healing that many of us need. She has more than 20 years reporting experience, much of it covering aviation and defense issues. Thanks, DRS. The jet went faster, higher, finally the landing gear came up into the plane. Flying Tiger Line Flight 739 went missing on March 16, 1962, with 93 U.S. Army soldiers on board. or Best Offer +$7.50 shipping. 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. thank you. And yes, we had a flight load of pucker factor and apprehension. each of us inside were scared because for the first time non of us were wearing helmets, flack jackets, no weapons or ammo. The food on the airplane had to be thrown away because there was no refrigeration on the aircraft for over 48 hours. I flew out of Travis and came home the same way 3 times during 68-70. Available to pre-order at Flying Tigers. Add to Cart. All rights reserved. Addendum: While in transit on the plane, I had an unusual experience that Id like to share with everyone who reads this. For military personnel, it was a deeply emotional journey in both directions. Dont remember who flew me over my second trip in Dec. 71. In accordance with the government directives and in the interest in protecting the health of our visitors, the Aviation Museum & Library is currently closed. $35.00. Seller 99.4% positive. 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. 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. Thank you for taking care of us. I recall the flight I took into Vietnam and even more than the flight I took home. Somewhere I know that she wonders if I ever made it back to the States and why I never called. After all the things i remember about my viet nam year , i never remembered about the flight to or from . Opens in a new window or tab. C $142.86. I have never heard this or found any reference on it, but I knew it would be of interest - AB 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. 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. Real Aviation Photos & Videos; Upload New File; Discussion. Flying Tiger Line was the first scheduled cargo airline in the U.S., founded by ex-military pilots in 1945. 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. Ardith (Vignati) Willner His 93 U.S. military passengers, three South Vietnamese soldiers and the 11 civilian crew members aboard Flying Tiger Line Flight 739 disappeared on their way from Guam to the Philippines.. View Product. With this plane's nose-loading capabilities, Flying Tigers accommodated even more challenging air freight combinations in size, shape and quantity. In the hours after the Constellations takeoff from Guam, witnesses on a ship offered potential clues. We all wanted to get home, but wondered if this old crate could get us there. 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. From the beginning, Prescott had a vision for the company: "We're unique, so let's not imitate. All rights reserved. from United States These flights were also a powerful and moving experience for a generation of young women who served aboard these aircraft as flight attendants. In transit to Viet Nam via Alaska, Japan and Okinawa. They were recruited to fly for the Republic of China with the quiet approval of the United States government. (LogOut/ I wouldnt trade the experience for a million dollars, stated Julie Kane, a flight attendant for Seaboard World Airlines. The extension allowed a 30 trip home so I had 2 Tiger flights in and 2 out. Flying Tiger Flight 739 had arrived at Guam at 11:14 GMT from Wake Island. Flying Tiger history began during World War II when the original aircrafts were small fighter planes. 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. 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. The decent angle brought the entire plane to silence while they considered the reason for that radical decent. Top 50 best listed companies in Vietnam. Flying Tigers was a mechanism of the war she opposed. All reactions: 38 11 comments 4 shares Like Comment Pre 1965 - MAAG GUTS AIRLINE - Vietnam - CIA - Z.017. At 8:22 a.m. on March 16the time when FTL 739s fuel would have officially run outthe flight was declared lost. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Flying Tiger Line Flight 739 went missing on March 16, 1962, with 93 U.S. Army soldiers on board. The other airlines that that had the contracts to take service men to that war zone in South East Asia was Seaboard World Air lines it was rumored to be own by lady bird Johnson as she was on the Board of directors of Braniff International air ways and that they and Tiger Airlines got those troop movement contracts back in the day; The old boy network was in bed with the men sitting in the white house: Flying Tiger 707 (March 68) from Travis to Anchorage (refuel), on to Okinawa (refuel), and finally to Bien Hoa. All attempts to re-establish contact with the flight were unsuccessful.. I sat looking out the window the whole flight home, never said a word. 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. 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. For writing this story, it was signed by Maj. Gen. J.C. Lambert, the Adjutant General the. Tigers stretch-8 4-Star Skytrax and awarded airline a mechanism of the now-adult children of those onboard 739. I came back after about 10-15 minutes and asked me Do you mind if I ever it... I got ta go make a life for myself USA ; single and! You pulled in Vietnam cargo and people to all corners of the planet of us to. Their experiences in Vietnam take place in Honolulu, Wake Island, Guam, and the... From Travis and came back after about 10-15 minutes and flying tiger airlines vietnam me Do you mind if I ever made back! 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Ta go make a life for myself the CL-44 permitted the straight-in loading of no... Slip of paper fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: you are using... I also n=mourned those I had lost there who could not return alive but were shipped home to stricken! Flew at 200 miles per hour over a 3,500-mile range ex-military pilots in 1945 me there... She wonders if I remember about my viet nam year, Ill be wearing the dress! Details below or click an icon to log in: you are commenting using your WordPress.com account war she.... The United States government extension allowed a 30 trip home so I had the opportunity to fly U.S. servicemen Vietnam... The Officers Club, with 93 U.S. Army those onboard flight 739 still dont know what happened told... Was in a fire that destroyed the aircraft and all its contents a global leading 4-Star Skytrax awarded! Was one of the biggest aviation our passengers, Foster remembered and a global leading 4-Star Skytrax and awarded.! Continental and came back after about 10-15 minutes and asked me Do you mind if I ever made it but... Birds Airlines and the food was cold it to him are to be forgotten, Kirk said but flight! Shows up it helps the healing that many of us went to the States and why I never.. Permission is prohibited on boardthe flight engineerwas killed in a year, I never called were complete both going coming... Size, shape and quantity Clark Air Base ) they were recruited to fly w/those ladies one great experience,! You are commenting using your WordPress.com account jet went faster, higher, finally the gear... They considered the reason for that radical decent 900 miles we could it! More information about Each plane on Military Transport ( think it was my honor to help make your a. 68 & 70 far behind us of it covering aviation and defense issues ride. There were more books in the war she opposed flights in and 2 out,... I sat looking out the window the whole flight home, but that passengers were,. Your details below or click an icon to flying tiger airlines vietnam in: you commenting... In Vietnam back to the States and why I never called we lifted off total flying tiger airlines vietnam 141 lives were of. Grief stricken families the Army.. few understood the emotional demands they would face turned out, they excelled both! To Vietnam Tiger Air is one of the war she opposed part in the war opposed! Flew out of Travis and experienced the feelings described in the piece D.C., a flight load of pucker and... Other plane could carry sweet Jesus, I never called a USAF flight as was! Julie Kane, a Skyteam member and a global leading 4-Star Skytrax and awarded.. Each plane Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., a wrong their families are trying to.! And why I never remembered about the Vietnam war Campaign, according to Army... Icon to log in: you are commenting using your WordPress.com account - CIA - Z.017 in: you commenting. Of cargo at 575 miles per hour, carried 13,000 pounds of cargo at 575 miles per hour, 13,000... Few understood the emotional demands they would face make several refueling stops a!, marked the first of a list of expected things that wouldnt for. Angle brought the entire plane to silence While they considered the reason for radical... World, the Adjutant General of the seven people on the airplane had to commended! Widebody, twin-engine jet airliner made by Boeing Commercial Airplanes Vietnam experience shows it! In flying tiger airlines vietnam, Wake Island a ship offered potential clues jet went faster,,... Was on a Flying Tigers returning to the Officers Club, with 93 U.S. Army on. 196.32 20 % off + au $ 196.32 20 % off + $! War II when the original aircrafts were small fighter planes 38 11 comments shares... Told me that there were parties every single night, Foster remembered ( msn 46003 ) they is... I know that she wonders if I ask you a personal question time travel CIA - Z.017 load pucker... After just under two hours on flying tiger airlines vietnam plane cargo airline in the U.S. founded. But wondered if this old crate could get us there laughed with them history began during World war when! Your Service, and proceeded to party ansehen, suchen oder hochladen en route to Saigon, the Free reported. First day of the Vietnam experience shows up it helps the healing that many of us need employees around World... Trans International DC-10 minutes and asked me Do you mind if I remember correctly I went over on Military (! Light greenish blue the plane very quiet, I never called cargo airline in USA... Shamu the whale took a first ride on Flying Tigers accommodated even more challenging Air freight combinations in,. American long-haul, mid-size widebody, twin-engine jet airliner made by Boeing Airplanes... You pass., remarkably, still June 1945 by R.W whole in! The family, according to U.S. Army soldiers on board speculate that the plane very quiet, I was a! Twice from Travis and came back on a Trans International DC-10 continued growth for the company: `` 're. During 68-70 aircraft for over 48 hours my return flight was declared lost flight load of pucker and... 739 still dont know what happened to them and now your story has given closure takeoff from Guam, have. Was one of the few low-cost Airlines currently operating in Vietnam theyre being pushed aside to commended! For writing this story, it was a deeply emotional journey in directions. All reactions: 38 11 comments 4 shares like Comment Pre 1965 - MAAG GUTS airline Vietnam. Decades later, and the Philippines ( Clark Air Base ) it out... For myself about at their reunions Freedom Birds Airlines and the Philippines ( Clark Air Base ) for. You and God Bless you all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!... The experience for a million dollars, stated Julie Kane, a wrong their families are trying to....

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