I extended in Vietnam so that I could get out early. We relied on each other and the soldiers to manage.. Flying Tiger Line was ramping up operations in Vietnam, too, and its believed maintenance standards dropped as a result of increased demand. On November 2, 1979, the company received its first Boeing 747-200 freighter. The former stewardesses of Tiger Airlines still reminisce about their experiences with those brave soldiers, coming and going to Vietnam a long time ago. August 7, 1989 was the official merger date of Flying Tiger and Federal Express. 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. United States. The picture below shows a full plane of troops heading to Vietnam on a Flying Tiger Flight. That was not us, recalled Andee Reingold Wright, a San Francisco native who was 21 when she started with Flying Tigers in 1967. They saw so much in those soldiers eyes and dealt with some truly emotional issues. The airline industry is always full of new developments! 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 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. In January 1946, the airline moved to Mines Field (later to become Los Angeles International Airport). But the womens bond outlasted the death of the airline that brought them together. Sometimes, when the wheels pulled up on takeoff, the whole plane would burst out in yells and clapping. between heaven and hell. 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. 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. Aircraft loaders had earlier refused to work at the extreme 30 feet (9m) height necessary for loading freight on the upper deck, so the "supernumerary area" or "hump" was configured with 19 first class seats instead which were used to transport livestock handlers, charter agents and mechanics as well as dead-heading pilots and flight attendants. There were also 11 crew members onboard, giving a total occupancy of 107 people. Many of these people became valuable members of the Flying Tigers family. And this aricle brought back many memories, both sad & scared, and delighted and full of joy! Looking back, I owe them my deep thanks for doing their job so splendidly despite the emotional roller-coaster they must have been on. A mysterious gang, The Black Snake Gang, is rising throughout the world. Various conspiracy theories regarding sabotage have arisen, but the flight's exact fate will likely remain unknown. 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]. With this plane's nose-loading capabilities, Flying Tigers accommodated even more challenging air freight combinations in size, shape and quantity. The Flying Tiger Line founder, Robert (Bob) W. Prescott and other young pilots joined General Claire Chennault and the famed Flying Tigers in China during WWII. However, despite an eight-day search covering hundreds of thousands of square miles of the Pacific Ocean, no trace of the aircraft or its 107 occupants could ever be found. 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. On August 7, 1989, Federal Express merged Flying Tigers into its operations. Free shipping for many products! It brought back memories from 68. 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. Not sure if the change in mood was due to smoked joints and beer, but it sure didnt hurt any. The soldiers onboard were flying there not to fight, but to help train South Vietnamese forces. As a result of certification, new stations were opened in Oakland, Denver, Milwaukee, Toledo, Akron-Canton, Buffalo, Rochester, Philadelphia, Hartford, Providence, and Boston. I flew over to Vietnam out of Travis October 3, 1970 on Airlift International. Just reading this article brings tears to my eyes. The picture below shows a full plane of troops heading to Vietnam on a Flying Tiger Flight. Imitation lets you catch up to the guy ahead, but never lets you pass." Thanks for the wonderful article. The aircraft operating the flight was a Lockheed L-1049H Super Constellation registered as N6921C. "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. Covert flights for the military were not uncommon throughout the airline's history, given its roots in Civil Air Transport (CAT), as with its sister airline Air America, originally owned by General Claire Lee Chennault, commander of the Flying Tigers fighter squadron in Southeast Asia. As in Korea, these flights carried both cargo as well as military personnel and their dependents. Flying Tiger Line flight 739 was a multi-leg charter service that originated at Travis Air Force Base in the US state of California. No lights on the plane in the dark. I for one of many of us flew Tiger Airlines going and coming. I dont remember the faces of the flight attendantsprobably because I was so overwhelmed by my own emotions going to war and coming home. A very vulnerable feeling with out a weapon. 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. 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. Joe Namath, Jim Otto, and, Marv Fleming on our returning flight after spending time visiting the wounded Vietnam soldiers at several hospitals. Web346 views 9 months ago. A fine bunch of people. Wheels up lots of cheering and hope. Thank you ladies. 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. Read about what they talk about at their reunions. Flying Tiger Attendant Travel the world, the ad said. I remember one of the attendants wishing my a HAPPY BIRTHDAY. Wish I still knew a few of these darlings. 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. Hengi, Midland Publishing, List of defunct airlines of the United States. Did it really happen to me ?????!!! Ardith (Vignati) Willner Marine leaving from Da Nang Jan 31, 1971 to Okinawa Japan, 3 days later back to the World by way of Alaska to Nortin AFB. WebFlying Tiger: With Ron Ng, Lee Pace, Jamie B. I think it is great! Contact Thank you to all who came out to join us for our BBQ Fly-in! Flying Tiger Line was ramping up operations in Vietnam, too, and its believed maintenance standards dropped as a result of increased demand. Ninety-three of these were enlisted with the US Army, with the remaining three being from South Vietnam. Flew over on Military Transport (think it was a 141) The flight was a complete 3 stooges movie MATS had trouble w/plane. She learned then that the Flying Tiger Line, also known as Flying Tigers, specialized in troop transports. With Tigers, they said, OK, make sure your hair isnt longer than your shoulders, and get on the plane.. Ninety-three of these were enlisted with the US Army, with the remaining three being from South Vietnam. 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. I too was older at 25 and remember them well. Web346 views 9 months ago. We all knew that some going would not make it back alive. And after the fall of Saigon in 1975, when the war ended, they remained connected. It was her name, address and telephone number with the instructions that if it didnt work out between me and my fiance after I came back to give her a call because she saw something in me that she had been looking for. I went over in February 1970. Coming home was great while everyone mentions the cheering on wheels up on departure no one mentions the deafening silence as the aircraft started down the runway on departure until wheels up Thanks for the ride! Its ultimate destination was the Vietnamese city of Saigon, to which it was transporting 96 soldiers. 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. 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. The airliners were not just used to bring the soldiers home, but to fly them into the war zone as well. Country. LOTS FOR SALE! I also n=mourned those I had lost there who could not return alive but were shipped home to grief stricken families. 2023 CherriesWriter - Vietnam War website. return home flight in July 69 was on a Flying Tigers stretch-8. After an almost three hour delay, the airplane is back in the air and en-route to our final destination Vietnam. This page was last edited on 24 March 2023, at 09:54. In 1949, the Civil Aeronautics Board awarded Flying Tiger Line the first commercial air cargo route in the U.S., a transcontinental route from Los Angeles and San Francisco, California to Boston, Massachusetts. In accordance with the government directives and in the interest in protecting the health of our visitors, the Aviation Museum & Library is currently closed. (1953-1958), Constellation Gen. -- The Lockheed Super H Constellation, airlifting 43,000 pounds of freight at 300 miles per hour over a 2,500-miles range, helped Flying Tigers revolutionize the marketing map of the United States with the first nonstop, transcontinental airfreight schedules. To kill time many of us went to the Officers Club, with the flight attendants in tow, and proceeded to party. Flying Tiger history began during World War II when the original aircrafts were small fighter planes. In December 1946, Flying Tigers received its first Transpacific Military Contract, flying C-54s to Tokyo and Hawaii. Great article and I do so remember that flight and not having even an idea what was waiting for me .. Flying Tiger Line Flight 739 was a Lockheed Super Constellation aircraft, which is pictured here. [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]. The company said it needed flight attendants. A little over an hour later, it was expected to reach the coordinates of 140N 1350E. It was a vivid reminder we were entering a war zone. Flying Tigers received the All-Cargo Route #163 across the Pacific into Asia. [1] It was headquartered on the grounds of Los Angeles International Airport in Westchester, Los Angeles, California. 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. The young men would leave their patches, their names, their addresses, their rosary beads and ask the crew members to write to them while they were in Vietnam. That flight SUCKED., but at least I got out of that chit hole. 25 Jun 1945. I remember we had trouble on departure from Travis and then landed at Hickham and had to spend the night awaiting a replacement aircraft. It was an effort conceived and accomplished by Flying Tigers employees throughout the companys world-wide system. WebThe Flying Tigers Boeing 707 POLECAT established speed and distance records on its pole-to-pole flight around the world. Not sure if the change in mood was due to smoked joints and beer, but it sure didnt hurt any. 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. During the course of the war, thousands of flights crisscrossed the Pacific Ocean. Great, I had the opportunity to fly w/those ladies one great experience,,! 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. In 1963, Air Cargo Operations moved back to the Los Angeles International Airport. After spending 1968 with 3RD MARDIV, came home aboard a luxurious Braniff 707. 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! McCord was doing maintenance on the runway. 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. In the 1980's, the B747-200F series was introduced to the fleet. 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. Also those that returned with ptsd, most of us. I was trying to keep from thinking about that. What were the life expectancies of soldiers during the Vietnam War? I went and returned on a Flying Tiger plane and remember very well the sensitive and kind treatment from the stewardesses both directions. Carrying 32,000 pounds of cargo at 275 miles per hour with a 2,000 mile range, the DC-6A carried more, cheaper and faster than any other aircraft flying at the time. In April of 75, with the collapse of the South Vietnamese government, Flying Tigers evacuated its own personnel and other refugees from Saigon. The C-47 could fly 7,500 pounds of cargo over a range of 600 miles at 150 miles per hour. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Thank you for writing this story, it was way overdue. WebFlying Tiger: With Ron Ng, Lee Pace, Jamie B. On March 6, 1967, Flying Tigers first DC8-63F aircraft arrived. 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. Flying Tigers continued to fly military troops and cargo into Vietnam during the war years. 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. The merger gave the combined airlines scheduled, all-cargo services world-wide. I went to Nam aboard a ship which very nicely cut 21 days off my tour. She laughed. The airlines first B-727s were placed in service in early 1984. Welcome Home with many thank you for all your support of the Vietnam veterans!! With only six thousand employees around the world, the Flying Tiger Line carried cargo and people to all corners of the planet. Email:jason.fagone@sfchronicle.comTwitter:@jfagone, Link to the actual article: https://bit.ly/2PbitdY. The Statue of Liberty torch flew on Flying Tigers. I have no comment for this person, He/she is beyond help. Its ultimate destination was the Vietnamese city of Saigon, to which it was transporting 96 soldiers. Like you were going to hang around. Today. Why Were Vietnam War Vets Treated Poorly When TheyReturned? I was a different person. Arrived Travis in daylight and was struck by the absence of bomb craters from my aerial view. I very much enjoyed it and had no idea that those very attractive young ladies felt that way about us. WebFlying Tiger Airport: Home Real Estate About Things to do FAQ's FAA Info. Thanks to all of you that attempted to make our journies more comfortable. Contact Thank you to all who came out to join us for our BBQ Fly-in! Sweet Jesus, I was back in the USA ; WebFlying Tiger Airport: Home Real Estate About Things to do FAQ's FAA Info. In this decade the company developed an extensive global network, directly servicing all continents except for Africa, which was served through interlining. I was USAF and made that stop in Alaska. These women allayed the fears of soldiers heading to war and offered support and reassurance to those headed home. It supplied and supported covert operations in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War, including providing support for drug smuggling in Laos. December 31st, 1968 at the age of 20 we flew from Travis AFB to Anchorage Alaska. The jet went faster, higher, finally the landing gear came up into the plane. 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. I flew into Sea-Trac on Flying Tiger Airlines from Camh Rhan October 4 , 1971. 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 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.. Approximately 998 pilots worked for the airline based throughout the US. As in Korea, these flights carried both cargo as well as military personnel and their dependents. These were to take place in Honolulu, Wake Island, Guam, and the Philippines (Clark Air Base). We were goin up and up , the war down below, falling away now far behind us. We were eventually invited to leave the club and told to not come back Welcome Home from the USAF in Kadena. And yes, we had a flight load of pucker factor and apprehension. By the mid-1980s, Flying Tigers operated scheduled cargo service to six continents and served 58 countries. The part Ill always remember is the wonderful round eyes that tolerated us nervous troops as we headed for the unknown going both over to Vietnam and returning to the US. The C-46s flew the domestic operation while the C-54s remained in overseas charter service. Others supported the war, sympathizing with the soldiers and resenting those who scorned their service. It supplied and supported covert operations in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War, including providing support for drug smuggling in Laos. Im still trying to figure out how to coordinate one of our own with one of theirs. I was 24, Breen recalled. Theyd usually start at Travis Air Force Base outside of San Francisco or McChord Field in Washington, picking up more than 200 fresh-faced, uniformed servicemen from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. I made that trip also in Jan,1967. Tigers suddenly needed bodies to work those long overseas flights, and when it put out calls for flight attendants, adventurous women answered. They wanted to cry but stifled the impulse. 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. Country. The first two of these saw delays due to engine maintenance having to be carried out. That was always the fun part, to take them out of there, remembered Gael Okicich, who flew with Tigers for 25 years. Touching essay. Federal Express (FM / FDX) Base / Main Hub. 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. 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. 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. It was obvious the airplane had been used a lot, but it was clean and the attendants were friendly and upbeat. Yes, it was a memorable 4 day flight. They operated a recording company subsidiary, Happy Tiger Records, from 1969 to 1971. Not one of us said a word. I recall the flight I took into Vietnam and even more than the flight I took home. I sat on the left side isle with a window seat just to the rear edge of the left wing. Ceased operations. (it was the only one on the tarmac) Leaving Bien Hoa at 9:00 P.M on June 25th 1969 and arriving in Oakland CA on June 25th at 9:30 P.M. Addendum: While in transit on the plane, I had an unusual experience that Id like to share with everyone who reads this. Flying Tigers also made livestock carriers for airplanes, some comparable in external size and shape to the standard AMJ container used in the FedEx flight operations. 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. We turned off our running lights to avoid ground fire.. )I was engaged and (2.) And many didnt know what to think, caught between respect for the military and horror over the fates of the boys on their flights. (1946-1951), C-46 Gen. -- The Curtis C-46 "Commando" that Flying Tigers flew on supply missions over the Hump during World War II came home for civilian duty, joining Flying Tigers' fleet in 1949. 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. My 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. 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 Flying Tigers Flight Training Center opened in 1968 at the Los Angeles International Airport. Excellent Article. Some years ago I made contact with one of those stewardesses and found out about their reunions. Thanks, DRS. Remember the illumination flares as we were coming in on final as the sun had not come up yet. WebThe Flying Tiger Line Incorporated. Remember the pungent fish smell and heat as we deplaned. Feb.3-8, 1968. I now have a new group of Vietnam vets to admire and respect. I would have been on Flying Tigers returning to the states. 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. I have just relived a very important part of my young life, thru these articles and the loving responses. The Boeing 707 remained in the fleet only few years, and later sold, upon arrival of the higher-payload Douglas DC-8, the largest civilian airliner until the Boeing 747 entered service. 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. 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 years after the Vietnam war saw continued growth for the Flying Tigers. [5] Then-CEO Stephen Wolf sold Flying Tigers to Federal Express in December 1988. 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. 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. Aboard a luxurious Braniff 707 with a window seat just to the States into Sea-Trac on Tiger. Airport: home Real Estate about Things to do FAQ 's FAA Info due to engine having. One of many of us flew Tiger airlines going and coming home talk about at reunions. 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