Thank you and God Bless you all!!!! 1969 A major milestone year. United States. The flight attendant standing at the top said see you in a year, Ill be wearing the same dress. 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. My return flight in 72 was on Flying Tigers that started out with engine problems on the ramp in Tan Son Nhut. After an almost three hour delay, the airplane is back in the air and en-route to our final destination Vietnam. 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. But for the ladies I say Thank you I was one of those 18 year old boys that was scared to death. Breen went from being gung ho about the war to suspecting the government was lying and thinking the war was a mistake. merging Ocean and Sky. It was obvious the airplane had been used a lot, but it was clean and the attendants were friendly and upbeat. Hengi, Midland Publishing, List of defunct airlines of the United States. 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." Really hurt thinking about that after I was out in the field for a couple of weeks on c-rations. Wish I still knew a few of these darlings. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. This page was last edited on 24 March 2023, at 09:54. They saw so much in those soldiers eyes and dealt with some truly emotional issues. WebFind many great new & used options and get the best deals for FLYING TIGERS Douglas DC-8 -Aviation Postcard Airlines-WGA-927 at the best online prices at eBay! WebThe Flying Tiger Line Incorporated. Breen wanted to travel and supported the war she believed then that it was about fighting communism and after she saw a Flying Tigers want ad in The Chronicle, she soon found herself in flight attendant school, wearing the Tigers uniform of a grayish-blue skirt suit with black pumps and white gloves. The years after the Vietnam war saw continued growth for the Flying Tigers. Its ultimate destination was the Vietnamese city of Saigon, to which it was transporting 96 soldiers. Ninety-three of these were enlisted with the US Army, with the remaining three being from South Vietnam. 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. Flying Tiger history began during World War II when the original aircrafts were small fighter planes. 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. In 1965, Flying Tiger Line began operating jet aircraft when on September, 27, Also those that returned with ptsd, most of us. My birthday is January 1st. As Captain Dwight Small, a pilot for Flying Tiger Line, recalls, It was pretty hairy, especially in the early days. Very interesting. I know you dont remember many of our faces, as we no longer remember yours, but we thank you for taking care for us. The return to the States from RVN was like being in a decompression chamber. 2023 CherriesWriter - Vietnam War website. Flying Tiger history began during World War II when the original aircrafts were small fighter planes. According to the Aviation Safety Network, it first flew in 1957, and had amassed a total of 17,224 hours. A mysterious gang, The Black Snake Gang, is rising throughout the world. Indeed, having begun in November 1955, it wouldn't come to an end until almost two decades later, in April 1975. 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. For some the experience changed their political beliefs, although they tried to keep politics off the plane. In 1963, Air Cargo Operations moved back to the Los Angeles International Airport. WebFlying Tiger: With Ron Ng, Lee Pace, Jamie B. Many flight attendants struggled at first to contain their own emotions. What was the worst work detail you pulled in Vietnam? On March 15, 1962, Flying Tiger Line Flight 7816/14, an L-1049H Super Constellation (N6911C), crashed on approach to Adak Island Naval Air Station, Alaska due to pilot error, killing one of eight on board. 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. 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. 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. 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. More on this later). Imitation lets you catch up to the guy ahead, but never lets you pass." As in Korea, these flights carried both cargo as well as military personnel and their dependents. Others supported the war, sympathizing with the soldiers and resenting those who scorned their service. 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. 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! 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. They coped, as always, by leaning on each other. Somewhere I know that she wonders if I ever made it back to the States and why I never called. Flew out going from Ft. Lewis, Washington 1970, came home through Oakland Par 8th, 1971. Gotoff the jet and was greated by relatives. Dont remember who flew me over my second trip in Dec. 71. Flying Tigers continued to fly military troops and cargo into Vietnam during the war years. Based in Norwich, UK. This exhibition, based on extensive interviews with the key participants of the airlift operations, provides insight into their experiences serving aboard the Freedom Birds. She had no idea what the job entailed until she arrived for the interview and a man with the airline asked what she thought of the war. Chambers, Andy Gatenby. I flew on Trans Carribiean twice from Travis and experienced the feelings described in the piece. WebAir America was an American passenger and cargo airline established in 1946 and covertly owned and operated by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) from 1950 to 1976. Thank you! On July 31, 1982, Flying Tigers began regularly scheduled jetfreighter service between the United States and Sao Paulo, Brazil, to become the only all-cargo carrier connecting South America with a service network that stretched thought out Asia, Europe and North America. The plane very quiet, And yes, we had a flight load of pucker factor and apprehension. The Flying Tigers Flight Training Center opened in 1968 at the Los Angeles International Airport. In December 1946, Flying Tigers received its first Transpacific Military Contract, flying C-54s to Tokyo and Hawaii. WebFlying Tiger Airport: Home Real Estate About Things to do FAQ's FAA Info. They operated a recording company subsidiary, Happy Tiger Records, from 1969 to 1971. In the Vietnam airlift, Flying Tigers provided strategic flights from the US to numerous military bases throughout the Pacific and Southeast Asia geographic region. But the womens bond outlasted the death of the airline that brought them together. Flying Tiger history began during World War II when the original aircrafts were small fighter planes. Leslie Pfeifer served aboard Flying Tiger Line from 1967 to 1970, making 75 return flights to South Vietnam. Country. thank you. Web978 views 8 months ago Andee Wright served as a flight attendant with Flying Tiger Line from 1967 to 1978. [2], The airline was named after the Flying Tigers fighter unit of World War II, officially the 1st American Volunteer Group. During the last minutes of each flight, the women remember, the cabin would become eerily quiet. The airline industry is always full of new developments! 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. (1961 - 1969), Flying Tigers met the challenge of the jet age with Boeing 707-349C intercontinental jets. 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! Why Were Vietnam War Vets Treated Poorly When TheyReturned? This exhibition is currently available online only. The airliners were not just used to bring the soldiers home, but to fly them into the war zone as well. For military personnel, it was a deeply emotional journey in both directions. I wouldnt trade the experience for a million dollars, stated Julie Kane, a flight attendant for Seaboard World Airlines. The C-47 could fly 7,500 pounds of cargo over a range of 600 miles at 150 miles per hour. Two examples were thoroughbred racehorses and show animals from Stansted, England to the Melbourne Cup, as well as breeding stock cattle (milk supply) to nations such as Japan and Thailand. A FLY-IN COMMUNITY! At the time of its sale to FedEx, Flying Tigers were operating the following aircraft: More details of the following can be found at the ASN Aviation Safety Database[13]. When I went back in 1970 out of McCord it was on World Airlines. WebFlying Tiger: With Ron Ng, Lee Pace, Jamie B. 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. On March 3, 1986, operations commenced in the new Columbus, Ohio Hub at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base. I was 24, Breen recalled. It truly was a great feeling being headed home. The flight went missing while en route to Vietnam. It was the first time I was truly surrounded around military men, and I was overwhelmed by their commitment and belief in their mission. The first direct food and medical supplies from the United States to Phnom Penh was transported by Flying Tigers on Thanksgiving Day, 1979. thanks for the ride over and putting up with some of us. That motto lasted until the airline was taken over by Federal Express in the late 1980's. Remember the pungent fish smell and heat as we deplaned. On March 21, 1966, Flying Tiger Line Flight 6303, a, On December 24, 1966, a Flying Tiger Line Canadair CL-44 (N228SW), On February 15, 1979, Flying Tiger Line Flight 74, a. And after the fall of Saigon in 1975, when the war ended, they remained connected. In the 1980's, the B747-200F series was introduced to the fleet. I stopped a stewardess to inquire if they had any other reading material on board. Tigers suddenly needed bodies to work those long overseas flights, and when it put out calls for flight attendants, adventurous women answered. 1969 A major milestone year. I about cried having to leave half of what might have been my last meal. (LogOut/ On September 9, 1958, a Flying Tiger Line. Feb.3-8, 1968. In 1965, Flying Tiger Line began operating jet aircraft when on September, 27, the first (as N322F) of four Boeing 707 was delivered. The Statue of Liberty torch flew on Flying Tigers. In 1975, the airline published the Airfreight Guide for Hazardous Materials, and quickly became a leader in the education and transportation of dangerous goods throughout the world. Flying Tigers continued to fly military troops and cargo into Vietnam during the war years. In the Vietnam airlift, Flying Tigers provided strategic flights from the US to numerous military bases throughout the Pacific and Southeast Asia geographic region. In March 1962, one such personnel-carrying flight went missing en route to Vietnam. On November 9, 1977, President Carter signed into law the legislation which deregulated airfreight in the U.S. On March 3, 1978, one month after Flying Tigers was named the largest airfreight carrier in the free world, the airlines founder, Robert W. Prescott, died. WebAs Flying Tiger Line flight attendant Andee Wright recalled, There was no special training by the airlines or the military about how to handle it. Airline Founded. A little over an hour later, it was expected to reach the coordinates of 140N 1350E. (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. Travel the world, the ad said. Thanks for the wonderful article. Thats funny. 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. 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. In accordance with the government directives and in the interest in protecting the health of our visitors, the Aviation Museum & Library is currently closed. Freedom Bird. I know the feelings, having done the flights in 68 & 70. 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. My return flight was one of those that cheered as we lifted off. 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. Wheels up lots of cheering and hope. For the Vietnam generation of U.S. military veterans, this phrase meant only one thing; the aircraft that brought them home at the end of their tours. Web346 views 9 months ago. [7][8], Charter and scheduled passenger operations were flown by their subsidiary, Metro International Airlines, which was formed in January 1981, and ceased operations in 1983, when it was sold to Tower Air. I would have been on Flying Tigers returning to the states. These flights were also a powerful and moving experience for a generation of young women who served aboard these aircraft as flight attendants. 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. On October 1, 1980 Flying Tigers merged with Seaboard World linking the United States with Europe and the Middle East. 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. What aviation news will you check out next? Others slept for hours, exhausted and often traumatized from their experiences in Vietnam. After the aircraft failed to arrive at Clark Air Base in the Philippines, the flight was declared as having gone missing on the morning of March 16th, 1962. With only six thousand employees around the world, the Flying Tiger Line carried cargo and people to all corners of the planet. [1] It was headquartered on the grounds of Los Angeles International Airport in Westchester, Los Angeles, California. It was never seen or heard from again, despite an extensive search operation. As Flying Tiger Line flight attendant Andee Wright recalled, There was no special training by the airlines or the military about how to handle it. After just under two hours on the ground, The Free Lance-Star reported that the flight departed Guam just before 21:00. Im still trying to figure out how to coordinate one of our own with one of theirs. 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. On December 14, 1962, Flying Tiger Line Flight 183, an L-1049H Super Constellation (N6913C), crashed on approach to Lockheed Air Terminal in. Thanks, DRS. The picture below shows a full plane of troops heading to Vietnam on a Flying Tiger Flight. Flying Tiger Attendant Ninety-three of these were enlisted with the US Army, with the remaining three being from South Vietnam. 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. This was the Tiger "Can-do" Spirit, may it never die. Meanwhile, the flight attendants were becoming like a family. Not one of us said a word. 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. The airlines first B-727s were placed in service in early 1984. Out of rocket range. I was a Flying Tiger Flight Attendant for 5 years, and those many experiences flying into Tan Son Nhut. In addition to the emotional impact, the flight attendants risked physical harm while flying to military bases in an active combat zone. The former stewardesses of Tiger Airlines still reminisce about their experiences with those brave soldiers, coming and going to Vietnam a long time ago. 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. Just reading this article brings tears to my eyes. Fosters opposition to the war only intensified; she attended anti-war meetings and demonstrations on her days off. a light greenish blue Country. The first full shipment consisted of grapes flown from Bakersfield, California to Atlanta, Georgia. Interesting. I was old as dirt to them.. It was an effort conceived and accomplished by Flying Tigers employees throughout the companys world-wide system. I had read everything in sight that was in the pocket of the seat in front of me. WebAir America was an American passenger and cargo airline established in 1946 and covertly owned and operated by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) from 1950 to 1976. 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. On October 11, 1983, Flying Tiger Line Flight 9014, a Boeing 747 (N806FT), ran off the runway at Frankfurt International Airport after a cargo pallet broke loose; the three crew and three passengers survived; the aircraft was substantially damaged, but was repaired and returned to service. So they tried to keep it light. Sweet Jesus, I was back in the USA ; I was on those flights, twice over and back although on other carriers. Afraid that at any moment a rocket or mortor could could take the jet down. 7 Aug 1989. I remember we had trouble on departure from Travis and then landed at Hickham and had to spend the night awaiting a replacement aircraft. I now have a new group of Vietnam vets to admire and respect. In transit to Viet Nam via Alaska, Japan and Okinawa. WebThe Flying Tigers Boeing 707 POLECAT established speed and distance records on its pole-to-pole flight around the world. Specifically equipped with weather monitoring equipment and scientific instrumentation, one 707 (Aircraft N322FT), gained fame as the "Pole Cat." between heaven and hell. Early in 1961, the first of the Canadair CL-44 all-cargo aircraft joined the flying Tiger Fleet. "Trucking Anywhere By Air", November 1945, "Interview with Ray Ruff & Donnie Brooks", http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/ft3.htm, http://www.departedflights.com/BRU83intro.html, "How Pan Am Flight 50 flew from pole to pole", https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR7210.pdf, Flying Tiger Line accidents and incidents, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Flying_Tiger_Line&oldid=1146348566, All articles with bare URLs for citations, Articles with bare URLs for citations from March 2022, Articles with PDF format bare URLs for citations, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, On January 7, 1953, Flying Tiger Line Flight 841, a. Flying Tiger Line Flight 739 was a Lockheed Super Constellation aircraft, which is pictured here. Flying Tigers continued to fly military troops and cargo into Vietnam during the war years. Free shipping for many products! Excellent Article. This allowed for more extensive geographic capability and cargo capacity.

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