Put on the clothing and shoes that I had been wearing befor going to war. We were goin up and up , the war down below, falling away now far behind us. Offering cheap & budget flights to multiple destinations at Scoot. Flying Tigers Line Flight 739, a Lockheed L-1049H, was chartered by the United States military. 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. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Patch , 45th TRANSPORTATION Company FLYING TIGER AIRLINES Vietnam War Patch , s4 at the best online prices at eBay! The aircraft was lost and no part was found in spite of one of the most extensive searches ever conducted in the history of aviation, ICAO said. The first two of these saw delays due to engine maintenance having to be carried out. Available to pre-order at Flying Tigers. 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. Thats funny. Thank you! All rights reserved. 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. race to get Asians flying in a region set to overtake the United States as the biggest aviation market. Nothing about lithium batteries in here, but tigers did fly about every type of ammunition and explosives back in the day and it never caused an accident. Mel Beers ret first sergeant . 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 I do remember is that the plane had a very unpleasant odor and the food was cold. Some say it was sabotage, she said. I know you dont remember many of our faces, as we no longer remember yours, but we thank you for taking care for us. If I remember correctly I went over on Continental and came back on United. The Flying Tigers were reactivated as the Marine Corps' second CH-53A squadron and re-designated Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 361 at New River North Carolina as part of Marine Aircraft Group 26, 2d Marine Aircraft Wing. The decent angle brought the entire plane to silence while they considered the reason for that radical decent. Others slept for hours, exhausted and often traumatized from their experiences in Vietnam. 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. In March 1962, one such personnel-carrying flight went missing en route to Vietnam. Wheels up lots of cheering and hope. Sweet Jesus, I was back in the USA ; Asia Pacific Low Cost Airline of the Year 2019. I flew on Trans Carribiean twice from Travis and experienced the feelings described in the piece. this a definitive journey We were there to take care of our passengers, Foster said, and have the best time we could. As it turned out, they excelled at both. I was a different person. Sixty years ago, as the U.S. was becoming more involved in the opening salvo of the Vietnam War, a Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation was making its way west. +C $19.78 shipping estimate. 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. Thanks for the ride! Few understood the emotional demands they would face. If the flights to Vietnam were emotional, the flights back home could be tense in a different way. Patch , 45th TRANSPORTATION Company FLYING TIGER AIRLINES Vietnam War Patch , s4 | Collectibles, Militaria, Militaria (Date Unknown) | eBay! Curtis Smith served to disbandment and afterward returned to the U.S. Marines. The flight attendants, although very young themselves, couldnt believe how young the troops were just 17 and 18 in some cases. 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. I dont remember the faces of the flight attendantsprobably because I was so overwhelmed by my own emotions going to war and coming home. 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. AU $157.06. 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. As Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Flying Tiger Line the world's largest all-cargo airline, I had the direct responsibility for our operations in South Vietnam. The flight attendants were as depicted in this article, both going and coming home. Top Rated Seller. I commented, and the person deleted my comme. It was really a struggle to decide what was right or what was wrong, said Okicich. 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. View Product. My birthday is January 1st. Each of the awesome giants flies more than 200,000 pounds of cargo at 575 miles per hour over a 3,500-mile range. I flew into Sea-Trac on Flying Tiger Airlines from Camh Rhan October 4 , 1971. In the years following World War II, a group of 10 American mercenary pilots who flew in China as part of the American Volunteer Groupbetter known as the Flying Tigersbanded together to start a transcontinental airline. 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. But the flight attendants realized that many were understandably scared. As their deaths did not occur in the Vietnam combat zone, their names were . The aircraft operating the flight was a Lockheed L-1049H Super Constellation registered as N6921C. Flying around the world over the North and South Poles, the Pole Cat set eight speed and distance records. 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. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. The Northrop F-5 is a family of supersonic light fighter aircraft initially designed as a privately funded project in the late 1950s by Northrop Corporation. When a positive story about the Vietnam experience shows up it helps the healing that many of us need. The pilot is believed to have misjudged distance and altitude while making the final approach, a report would later conclude. . They were recruited to fly for the Republic of China with the quiet approval of the United States government. As the vapor trail passed behind a cloud, there occurred an explosion, described as intensely luminous, with a white nucleus surrounded by a reddish-orange periphery with radial lines of identically coloured light. Opens in a new window or tab. 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! With Tigers, they said, OK, make sure your hair isnt longer than your shoulders, and get on 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.. Landed in Saigon. No one was home, but a neighbor walked up to the car. It brought back memories from 68. Flying Tiger Line Country United States of America Operator Image Crash of a Douglas DC-8-63AF off Naha: 4 killed Date & Time: Jul 27, 1970 at 1136 LT Type of aircraft: Douglas DC-8 Operator: Registration: N785FT Flight Phase: Landing (descent or approach) Flight Type: Cargo Survivors: No Site: Lake, Sea, Ocean, River Schedule: The new Flying Tiger airline had its own military role; carrying cargo and troops back and forth to the war in Vietnam. The Military Air Transport Service (MATS) charter flight was operating under Flying Tiger Line Flight 739, and was headed to Saigon, leapfrogging across the South Pacific by way of Honolulu, Wake Island, and Guam. The years after the Vietnam war saw continued growth for the Flying Tigers. Ninety-three of these were enlisted with the US Army, with the remaining three being from South Vietnam. They coped, as always, by leaning on each other. Hard to not have an emotional moment while reading. Change). Not Flying Tigers but nevertheless an unforgettable flight. When I went back in 1970 out of McCord it was on World Airlines. However, radio operators in Guam were unable to contact the flight at this time. I had read everything in sight that was in the pocket of the seat in front of me. 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. And he said, Well, can you put all that aside when youre on the airplane and taking care of these boys? Foster recalled. Free shipping for many products! 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. All reactions: 38 11 comments 4 shares Like Comment Flying Tiger Lines Airline Related Artifacts & Collectibles Miscellaneous Airlines: America (US) Artifacts & Collectibles . A group of ex-AVG and CNAC pilots, some still flying in China, took advantage of this opportunity, and on June 25, 1945 started an airfreight company that in less than two years would formally adopt the name the Flying Tiger Line. An aspect of nowhere, a version of Purgatory, These men and their flight crew perished in what would become one of the biggest aviation mysteries out of the Vietnam War era. It truly was a great feeling being headed home. one of conscious unease. That year, Flying Tiger Line lost four aircraft in incidents, the bulk of which while operating charters for the U.S. military. . These flights were also a powerful and moving experience for a generation of young women who served aboard these aircraft as flight attendants. Nearly two hours into the flight, the pilot radioed Guam with the aircrafts position, notifying air traffic control that it was on track to land in the Philippines shortly after 3 a.m. Based in Norwich, UK. Not one of us said a word in the dark as we watched the plane sitting there with jet engines idling. Flying Tiger Line flight 739 was a multi-leg charter service that originated at Travis Air Force Base in the US state of California. In the 1980's, the B747-200F series was introduced to the fleet. 365 days later. There were also 11 crew members onboard, giving a total occupancy of 107 people. In one of the seats was Army Specialist Donald Sargent, who had joined the Army and became a Ranger as a way to escape a life of near certain poverty in his hometown of Cornish, Maine. Onboard were 107 people, all of whom remain missing as the aircraft was never found after its disappearance. Circa 1968-1972 Vietnam War CASI Continental Air Services Inc Shirt Type 1st Officer Wing RARE Item: aircw60001sw. Sellers with highest buyer ratings; The picture below shows a full plane of troops heading to Vietnam on a Flying Tiger Flight. The CVR for Flying Tiger Line flight 66, with added subtitles.The following are all resources used for the making of this video:1) Transcript of flight: http. Unfortunately for me I returned in a Medevac flight from Japan Yokosuka Naval Hospital. Imitation lets you catch up to the guy ahead, but never lets you pass." A little over an hour later, it was expected to reach the coordinates of 140N 1350E. I only wish that I could stand before these wonderful ladies. One of the seven people on boardthe flight engineerwas killed in a fire that destroyed the aircraft and all its contents. Flew out going from Ft. Lewis, Washington 1970, came home through Oakland Par 8th, 1971. Flying Tiger aircraft were getting old and worn, but their flight attendants were still top notch. Thank you for writing this story, it was way overdue. $18.00. Flying Tiger Line flight 739 was a multi-leg charter service that originated at Travis Air Force Base in the US state of California. I very much enjoyed it and had no idea that those very attractive young ladies felt that way about us. Theyre being pushed aside to be forgotten, Kirk said. Reply 29th Aug 2010, 11:32 Flying Tiger Based on the observations of civilians on a nearby tanker, the plane was between Guam and the Philippines when there was a flash and a vapor trail, indicating a midair explosion.. Did it really happen to me ?????!!! I went and returned on a Flying Tiger plane and remember very well the sensitive and kind treatment from the stewardesses both directions. I was trying to keep from thinking about that. To kill time many of us went to the Officers Club, with the flight attendants in tow, and proceeded to party. Many airlines operated the flights, the most obvious being the Braniff, Continental, Pan Am, United, Seabord World etc 707s and DC-8s, as well as the smaller charter airlines like Universal I also understand the approaches into the airport there could at times be comparable to emergency descents - very rapid! Thank you Flight Attendants! It flew at 200 miles per hour, carried 13,000 pounds of cargo and had a range of 900 miles. On Wednesday morning in Sacramento, as many as 30 former flight attendants for the airline are reuniting to honor servicemen killed in the war. Related thread from 2010: Flying at 210 miles per hour, the C-54 carried 20,000 pounds of cargo over a 2,000 -- mile range. The aircraft was transporting 93 U.S. soldiers and three South Vietnamese from Travis Air Force Base, California to Saigon, Vietnam. Vintage Flying Tigers Airline 1981 Timetable from/to Greece - Flying Tiger Line. Stay informed: Sign up for our daily and weekly aviation news digests. Pre-Owned. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. I also n=mourned those I had lost there who could not return alive but were shipped home to grief stricken families. Jason Fagone is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. (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. AU $196.32 20% off + AU $5.80 postage. It would be the last radio transmission received from the aircraft. Great article with great info, I remember in 1968 when I went. 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