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. They wanted to cry but stifled the impulse. In accordance with the government directives and in the interest in protecting the health of our visitors, the Aviation Museum & Library is currently closed. Web978 views 8 months ago Andee Wright served as a flight attendant with Flying Tiger Line from 1967 to 1978. Departed Bien Hoa (21 Apr 69)) on Flying Tiger (Stretch 8) with fuel stop in Japan. I was trying to keep from thinking about that. On June 12, 1970, the Peter Prescott Hospital for children in Taiwan was dedicated in honor of the founders son, who had been killed in an aircraft accident in Palm Springs. These were to take place in Honolulu, Wake Island, Guam, and the Philippines (Clark Air Base). In the Vietnam airlift, Flying Tigers provided strategic flights from the US to numerous military bases throughout the Pacific and Southeast Asia geographic region. Did it really happen to me ?????!!! and flew to Portland ,Oregon. A mysterious gang, The Black Snake Gang, is rising throughout the world. My birthday is January 1st. I was a different person. 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. Chambers, Andy Gatenby. I do not dwell on the negatives of that war , but there will always be a part of those of us that served in Vietnam that we would prefer to live without. The airliners were not just used to bring the soldiers home, but to fly them into the war zone as well. thank you. This represented a significant transition for the Flying Tigers, and paved the road to future success. 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. The C-47 could fly 7,500 pounds of cargo over a range of 600 miles at 150 miles per hour. 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. 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. Established at the end of the Second World War, Flying Tiger Line made history as the first US-based scheduled cargo-carrying airline. Free shipping for many products! Not one of us said a word in the dark as we watched the plane sitting there with jet engines idling. I went to Nam aboard a ship which very nicely cut 21 days off my tour. Email:jason.fagone@sfchronicle.comTwitter:@jfagone, Link to the actual article: https://bit.ly/2PbitdY. More on this later). Unfortunately for me I returned in a Medevac flight from Japan Yokosuka Naval Hospital. Large crew bases were situated at Los Angeles, New York City and Lockbourne, Ohio (Rickenbacker International Airport). Hengi, Midland Publishing, List of defunct airlines of the United States. (1974 -1989). "Airlines Remembered" by B.I. 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. In 1984 the DC-8-63s were phased out as a result of Federal noise regulations that went into effect that year. WebThe Flying Tiger Line Incorporated. 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. I flew on Trans Carribiean twice from Travis and experienced the feelings described in the piece. 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. one of conscious unease. Addendum: While in transit on the plane, I had an unusual experience that Id like to share with everyone who reads this. I went and returned on a Flying Tiger plane and remember very well the sensitive and kind treatment from the stewardesses both directions. Ceased operations. Photo: The aircraft departed from Andersen AFB in Guam before disappearing over the Western Pacific Ocean. The company said it needed flight attendants. This is what I wrote when I had set up my home page on geocities which is now archived: During 1949, the C-47s were replaced with the C-46s, which had a higher payload and longer range. Some years ago I made contact with one of those stewardesses and found out about their reunions. Thanks to all of you that attempted to make our journies more comfortable. 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. I was a nurse in Namso I can appreciate their service. Thank you Flying Tiger! 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. In the Vietnam airlift, Flying Tigers provided strategic flights from the US to numerous military bases throughout the Pacific and Southeast Asia geographic region. I remember the silence upon arrival and cheering when wheels went up leaving. Canadair CL-44 The C-46s flew the domestic operation while the C-54s remained in overseas charter service. I went over in February 1970. In the Vietnam airlift, Flying Tigers provided strategic flights from the US to numerous military bases throughout the Pacific and Southeast Asia geographic region. And after the fall of Saigon in 1975, when the war ended, they remained connected. Thank you Jason for a story well told. The flight attendants, although very young themselves, couldnt believe how young the troops were just 17 and 18 in some cases. I dont remember the faces of the flight attendantsprobably because I was so overwhelmed by my own emotions going to war and coming home. While in Alaska stopping and refueling I was only 1/2 way through a mountain of pancakes, sausage and eggs smothered with Maple syrup when they announce for all out bound corpsmen to report immediately for departure. The airline was bought by Federal Express in 1988. 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. 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. Thank you ladies. (1961 - 1969), Flying Tigers met the challenge of the jet age with Boeing 707-349C intercontinental jets. Free shipping for many products! The first Douglas DC-8-63F registered as N779FT was delivered to the airline on June 26, 1968 and the other eighteen followed until 1972.[6]. Great article with great info, I remember in 1968 when I went. Freedom Bird. I was old as dirt to them.. With Tigers, they said, OK, make sure your hair isnt longer than your shoulders, and get on the plane.. 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. Expansion [3][4] The pilots and two ground crew provided half of the initial investment, with the balance coming from California oil tycoon Samuel B. They coped, as always, by leaning on each other. Many flight attendants struggled at first to contain their own emotions. But for the ladies I say Thank you I was one of those 18 year old boys that was scared to death. 7 Aug 1989. changed me for the better many moons ago. Notable among the Tigers' achievements were their participation in both the Korean and Vietnam airlifts. 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. In 1963, Air Cargo Operations moved back to the Los Angeles International Airport. Contact Thank you to all who came out to join us for our BBQ Fly-in! The company said it needed flight attendants. Flying Tigers continued to fly military troops and cargo into Vietnam during the war years. 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. I was on those flights, twice over and back although on other carriers. After just under two hours on the ground, The Free Lance-Star reported that the flight departed Guam just before 21:00. They were cordial but standoffish. Thanks so much to all the people that participated in this adventure and thanks for helping us all get there and back. 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 food on the airplane had to be thrown away because there was no refrigeration on the aircraft for over 48 hours. She had many stories. God Bless you all. The aircraft that disappeared was around five years old. 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. The aircraft was operating a Military Air Transport Service (MATS) cargo flight from Travis AFB to Kadena Air Base. The former stewardesses of Tiger Airlines still reminisce about their experiences with those brave soldiers, coming and going to Vietnam a long time ago. Very interesting. In the years during and after World War II, military veterans were given special preference to purchase or lease government surplus aircraft. During 1969, the CL-44s and B707s left the fleet as the addition of DC-8s took their place. Not sure if the change in mood was due to smoked joints and beer, but it sure didnt hurt any. In 1965, Flying Tiger Line began operating jet aircraft when on September, 27, I would have been on Flying Tigers returning to the states. On this last leg, the passengers are much more somber and thinking ahead to their landing in the war zone. We all wanted to get home, but wondered if this old crate could get us there. 2023 CherriesWriter - Vietnam War website. It brought back a lot of memories. I flew out of Travis and came home the same way 3 times during 68-70. I believe it helped to constantly stay connected with the world and the amazing young ladies that always had a smile and a kind word for the troops regardless of rank or service branch. This was the Tiger "Can-do" Spirit, may it never die. All rights reserved. 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. Never again! During the last minutes of each flight, the women remember, the cabin would become eerily quiet. 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. 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. (LogOut/ As in Korea, these flights carried both cargo as well as military personnel and their dependents. The new Flying Tiger airline had its own military role; carrying cargo and troops back and forth to the war in Vietnam. /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. A FLY-IN COMMUNITY! Contact Thank you to all who came out to join us for our BBQ Fly-in! Those ladies had a very important part in the war and they are to be commended for their service. Today. This article is an important read. The Flying Tigers Flight Training Center opened in 1968 at the Los Angeles International Airport. I remember well my Flying Tiger trips. 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. The Swingtails were so nicknamed because their tails literally swung away from the aircraft for loading. Tiger's Ad Hoc Charter livestock flights provided airlift for exotic animals. The first direct food and medical supplies from the United States to Phnom Penh was transported by Flying Tigers on Thanksgiving Day, 1979. The company was started by Robert William Prescott. Great, I had the opportunity to fly w/those ladies one great experience,,! The flight went missing while en route to Vietnam. Flew over on Military Transport (think it was a 141) The flight was a complete 3 stooges movie MATS had trouble w/plane. Stay informed: Sign up for our daily and weekly aviation news digests. Flying Tiger Attendant As a result of certification, new stations were opened in Oakland, Denver, Milwaukee, Toledo, Akron-Canton, Buffalo, Rochester, Philadelphia, Hartford, Providence, and Boston. 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.. 1969 A major milestone year. As I was sitting down one of my friends who considered himself a ladies man, smarted off to me Oh, you struck out too, didnt you? I told him that I had not asked for her address that she gave it to me. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. At 11:15PM June 29, 1968 I left Bien Hoa airport on a Trans International DC-10. 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. We all knew that some going would not make it back alive. a light greenish blue I flew into Sea-Trac on Flying Tiger Airlines from Camh Rhan October 4 , 1971. 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. I remember we had trouble on departure from Travis and then landed at Hickham and had to spend the night awaiting a replacement aircraft. Thank you! Perhaps, I dont remember them because they were doing such a great job of quietly supporting each of us, letting us deal with our personal feelings in our own way. Flying Tiger history began during World War II when the original aircrafts were small fighter planes. WebThe Flying Tigers Boeing 707 POLECAT established speed and distance records on its pole-to-pole flight around the world. Fosters opposition to the war only intensified; she attended anti-war meetings and demonstrations on her days off. 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. We turned off our running lights to avoid ground fire.. We crossed over the international dateline and it became the 2nd of January. I remember the flights to and from, but what really sticks in my mind was the blast of hot, humid air that swept through the plane when they opened the doors. WebFlying Tiger Line adopted the Canadair CL-44 swing-tail aircraft in 1961, becoming one of the first carriers in the world to offer aerial pallet shipping service. I spent one year there and flew 15 missions in Vietnam, 8 north and 7 south. 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. Touching essay. From the beginning, Prescott had a vision for the company: "We're unique, so let's not imitate. Despite the intensity of the operations, many flight attendants found the military contract flights rewarding and continued to serve on them for years. Flying Tiger was my airline of choice. 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. 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. These women allayed the fears of soldiers heading to war and offered support and reassurance to those headed home. After an almost three hour delay, the airplane is back in the air and en-route to our final destination Vietnam. To kill time many of us went to the Officers Club, with the flight attendants in tow, and proceeded to party. When a positive story about the Vietnam experience shows up it helps the healing that many of us need. 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. Flying Tiger Line was ramping up operations in Vietnam, too, and its believed maintenance standards dropped as a result of increased demand. She learned then that the Flying Tiger Line, also known as Flying Tigers, specialized in troop transports. Leslie Pfeifer served aboard Flying Tiger Line from 1967 to 1970, making 75 return flights to South Vietnam. After I got wounded and my things taken from me in triage, I never saw that slip of paper again. 25 Jun 1945. 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. [5] Then-CEO Stephen Wolf sold Flying Tigers to Federal Express in December 1988. This was a very good and interesting article. Thanks! The company had a contract to fly U.S. servicemen into Vietnam and to bring troops home after their tours were complete. I came back on a USAF flight as I was in a 1-1/2 hip spika cast they called it. In 1982, Flying Tigers flew relief flights to Warsaw, Poland. These aircraft had the powerful "Q" (Pratt & Whitney JT9D-7Q) engines and heavy landing gear and could simultaneously carry both 250,000 pounds (110,000kg) of fuel and 250,000 pounds (110,000kg) of cargo loaded through both the nose door and the side door at the same time. THe girls (attendants) were great cant saw much for the people of California . I also n=mourned those I had lost there who could not return alive but were shipped home to grief stricken families. We of course did not get his and flew on to Bangkok where we transferred to a military aircraft and flew down to U-T a B-52 base. But some homeward-bound passengers were belligerent, unpredictable. On December 16, 1988, Federal Express announced their cash tender offer for the purchase of Flying Tigers. Not sure if the change in mood was due to smoked joints and beer, but it sure didnt hurt any. Very good article. The next stop was Saigon where we left off troops. a version of Purgatory, 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. On March 3, 1986, operations commenced in the new Columbus, Ohio Hub at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base. 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. Wonderful memories. Others slept for hours, exhausted and often traumatized from their experiences in Vietnam. Flying Tigers continued to fly military troops and cargo into Vietnam during the war years. Just reading this article brings tears to my eyes. 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! Leslie Pfeifer served aboard Flying Tiger Line from 1967 to 1970, making 75 return flights to South Vietnam. We relied on each other and the soldiers to manage.. 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. I recall the flight I took into Vietnam and even more than the flight I took home. WebThe Flying Tiger Line Incorporated. Web346 views 9 months ago. WebFlying Tiger: With Ron Ng, Lee Pace, Jamie B. Flying Tiger Line, also known as Flying Tigers, was the first scheduled cargo airline in the United States and a major military charter operator during the Cold War era for both cargo and personnel (the latter with leased aircraft). The estimated duration of its westbound flight to the Philippines was reportedly around eight hours, although the aircraft had enough fuel onboard to fly for another hour on top of that. 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 . From Tokyo we flew to Anchorage where we were grounded another 18 to 20 hours due to a snow storm and for some reason, Anchorage did not have deicing capability. The picture below shows a full plane of troops heading to Vietnam on a Flying Tiger Flight. In March 1962, one such personnel-carrying flight went missing en route to Vietnam. Web346 views 9 months ago. But the flight attendants realized that many were understandably scared. Many of the women continued to fly, either with Tigers or other airlines; more than a few married Tigers pilots and started families. Flying around the world over the North and South Poles, the Pole Cat set eight speed and distance records. JW, beautiful poem. After an almost three hour delay, the airplane is back in the air and en-route to our final destination Vietnam. 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. Flew out going from Ft. Lewis, Washington 1970, came home through Oakland Par 8th, 1971. In addition to the emotional impact, the flight attendants risked physical harm while flying to military bases in an active combat zone. Hard to not have an emotional moment while reading. 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. On March 6, 1967, Flying Tigers first DC8-63F aircraft arrived. I wouldnt trade the experience for a million dollars, stated Julie Kane, a flight attendant for Seaboard World Airlines. Until now, I mostly ignored the efforts of these people (especially the attendants they saw, heard & felt all of it). Thank you ladies, Im one of those boys. With this plane's nose-loading capabilities, Flying Tigers accommodated even more challenging air freight combinations in size, shape and quantity. Afraid that at any moment a rocket or mortor could could take the jet down. I about cried having to leave half of what might have been my last meal. 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. Eleven members of the AVE joined Prescott and formed the National Skyways Freight Corp. They played cards with the guys, laughed with them. On September 24, 1955, Flying Tiger Line Flight 7413/23, a Douglas C-54 (N90433), ditched in the Pacific after three engines failed, killing three of five crew. A true airfreighted with a unique swing-tail design, the CL-44 permitted the straight-in loading of freight no other plane could carry. The plane very quiet, Flying Tigers received the All-Cargo Route #163 across the Pacific into Asia. Very nice ,brings back feeling that are mostly good ones.Thank you ladies.I flew into DANANG twice the 2nd fight was with the Flying Tigars and a year later they flew me back to the states. In February 1947, the airline legally changed its name to The Flying Tiger Line, Inc. Elsie the Cow was one of the airlines first celebrities when the Borden Company chartered a plane especially equipped for the bovine for a one-month tour. Ninety-three of these were enlisted with the US Army, with the remaining three being from South Vietnam. 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. 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. This Marine Was The American Sniper Of The Vietnam War, https://open.spotify.com/show/5Th7BCpIKDE1hVTqNL3u0Q. Each of the awesome giants flies more than 200,000 pounds of cargo at 575 miles per hour over a 3,500-mile range. By the mid-1980s, Flying Tigers operated scheduled cargo service to six continents and served 58 countries. 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. Really hurt thinking about that after I was out in the field for a couple of weeks on c-rations. With four Rolls Royce engines that developed 5,700 horsepower, it cruised at 375 miles per hour, carrying up to 60,000 pounds of cargo over a range of 3,000 miles. No lights on the plane in the dark. On March 18, 1956, a Flying Tiger Line Curtiss C-46 (N9995F), crashed at Pelly Bay, Canada after the left wing struck terrain while on a VFR approach, both pilots and the passenger survived, but the aircraft was written off. Flying Tigers received the All-Cargo Route #163 across the Pacific into Asia. In 1974, the airline took delivery of its first Boeing 747. All of us silently got on the plane ,each of us finding a seat. December 31st, 1968 at the age of 20 we flew from Travis AFB to Anchorage Alaska. The first full shipment consisted of grapes flown from Bakersfield, California to Atlanta, Georgia. Thanks for the wonderful article. On September 3, 1983, Flying Tigers inaugurated scheduled B-747 service to Australia. Had a vision for the company had a very important part in the Flying. 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