It began on Christmas Day, 1950, with Operation STEM, America's Special Technical & Economic Mission, the cover for . 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. I was old as dirt to them.. The decent angle brought the entire plane to silence while they considered the reason for that radical decent. 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. They were again ordered to Vietnam with Marine Aircraft Group 36 at Phu Bai in 1969 and remained there until their return . There were also 11 crew members onboard, giving a total occupancy of 107 people. This exhibition is currently available online only. Thanks so much to all the people that participated in this adventure and thanks for helping us all get there and back. Afraid that at any moment a rocket or mortor could could take the jet down. One of the seven people on boardthe flight engineerwas killed in a fire that destroyed the aircraft and all its contents. 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. Not only told to leave, but not to come back. These ladies were great listeners and very supportive. Flying from Clark AFB to Guam refueling then on to Travis AFB and Home. 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.. 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. Others ordering aircraft include Cebu Pacific, Tiger Airways, 40-percent owned by Singapore Airlines Ltd, Garuda Indonesia's low-cost unit Citilink, and the Qantas Airways Ltd-owned Jetstar and its affiliates such as Singapore-based Jetstar Asia. There are two main mo I was USAF and made that stop in Alaska. 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. Also those that returned with ptsd, most of us. . The next stop was Saigon where we left off troops. Freedom Bird. I commented, and the person deleted my comme. Later that day, in a small town pegged to a secondary road in southern Maine near the New Hampshire state line, a cab pulled up in front of the Sargent home. They were cordial but standoffish. My return flight was one of those that cheered as we lifted off. Top Rated Plus. 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. 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.. Several of these commercial flights left daily from military air bases on the west coast, ferrying newly trained soldiers across the Pacific Ocean to war - replacements not only for those injured and killed soldiers, but also for those young men who survived their twelve month war and were now going home. For some the experience changed their political beliefs, although they tried to keep politics off the plane. As one observer put it, "Nobody brings in mail like those Tiger birds". Budd Conestoga Gen. -- Flying Tiger Line's first aircraft was the Budd Conestoga, an all -- stainless steel, rear--loading, twin--engine aircraft. . I have just relived a very important part of my young life, thru these articles and the loving responses. I know the feelings, having done the flights in 68 & 70. America's stake in the Vietnam War didn't begin as late as history books specify. I flew over to Vietnam out of Travis October 3, 1970 on Airlift International. I flew into Sea-Trac on Flying Tiger Airlines from Camh Rhan October 4 , 1971. return home flight in July 69 was on a Flying Tigers stretch-8. Feb.3-8, 1968. Thank you Jason for a story well told. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is an American long-haul, mid-size widebody, twin-engine jet airliner made by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Top Rated Seller Top Rated Seller. 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. Color photograph of Flying Tiger Line's Lockheed L-1049H Super Constellation N6921C. Theyre being pushed aside to be forgotten, Kirk said. En route to Saigon, the flight was set to make several refueling stops. Addendum: While in transit on the plane, I had an unusual experience that Id like to share with everyone who reads this. That flight SUCKED., but at least I got out of that chit hole. Then all the guys just could not be held down by the stewerdesses and they did not even try to quiet the guys. (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. Room parties and roof parties and lobby parties and oh, my goodness.. Opens in a new window or tab. Stay informed: Sign up for our daily and weekly aviation news digests. 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. (It didnt work out. 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. Great article with great info, I remember in 1968 when I went. Outstanding article! 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 company said it needed flight attendants. 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. Best Airline Business in Southeast Asia. No folded flag was presented to the family. 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. they developed an air delivery system that has become the standard by almost Within a matter of hours, the carriers losses would get much worse. 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. It was a vivid reminder we were entering a war zone. This exhibition is currently available online only. She very quickly wrote down something and gave it to me. The. MAAG THAILAND . 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. The men were superstitious that the plane would crash it would be just their luck to die in a dumb accident on the verge of getting home. JW, beautiful poem. In this decade the company developed an extensive global network, directly servicing all continents except for Africa, which was served through interlining. Looking back, I owe them my deep thanks for doing their job so splendidly despite the emotional roller-coaster they must have been on. Flying the Freedom Birds: Airlines and the Vietnam War. Quickview. Great, I had the opportunity to fly w/those ladies one great experience,,! 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. With this plane's nose-loading capabilities, Flying Tigers accommodated even more challenging air freight combinations in size, shape and quantity. We all knew that some going would not make it back alive. The C-47 could fly 7,500 pounds of cargo over a range of 600 miles at 150 miles per hour. Now going to the USA which I had forgotten about. Itprovides a unique insight into the economics and marketing of inter-national airlines. 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. 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. During the course of the war, thousands of flights crisscrossed the Pacific Ocean. It was a time when the U.S. was quietly increasing its presence in Vietnam, sending advisers and equipment, such as those on Flight 739, to bolster the government of the Republic of Vietnam against the VietCong insurgency. The Secretary of the Army has asked me to express his deep regret that your son Specialist Donald A Sargent was a passenger aboard a chartered aircraft that was reported missing while in flight over the Pacific Ocean on 15 March 1962, the telegram read. The Army did pay out life insurance for Donald, but it was only $264. Daniel Dattpla IIFFV Original Party. Next stop was Yokota Japan. The team had completed its assigned mission and was waiting to . https://open.spotify.com/show/5Th7BCpIKDE1hVTqNL3u0Q. Pre-Owned. 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: It brought back memories from 68. I remember well my Flying Tiger trips. In addition to the emotional impact, the flight attendants risked physical harm while flying to military bases in an active combat zone. Flying Tiger Line 747-200 In April of '75, with the collapse of the South Vietnamese government, Flying Tigers evacuated its own personnel and other refugees from Saigon. ATDB.aero shows that it spent most of its career at Flying Tiger Line, but did also serve Lufthansa on a leased basis. Despite its modest size, Vietnam attracts tourists from all over the world with plenty to offer: expansive paddy fields, white-sand beaches, modern cities, hundred-year-old temples, limestone islands rising dramatically from under the ocean, magnificent natural caves, and minority communities with fascinating cultural traits. Search and rescue operations began promptly, catalyzed by a Liberian tanker ship's reported sighting of an explosion around the time of the plane's disappearance. If I remember correctly I went over on Continental and came back on United. Today. My During the Korean War, Tigers planes provided air transport services for personnel and cargo from the west coast of the US to various military bases throughout the Pacific area. She has more than 20 years reporting experience, much of it covering aviation and defense issues. Despite her personal beliefs, Foster reasoned that nobody needed better care than men heading to a war or coming back from one, and she decided to sign on. High over the Pacific, Such as, I didnt know if I was going to make it back and not wanting to think about that. I know there were bad times but your article brought back memories I forgot I had. Flying Tigers Line Flight 739, a Lockheed L-1049H, was chartered by the United States military. Photo: The aircraft departed from Andersen AFB in Guam before disappearing over the Western Pacific Ocean. This article was greatdefined exactly how it was when we flew homeI left Vietnam on or about the 5th of January 1968 & Flying Tigers was my carrier! The flight from Guam to the next layover was to take about 6 hours and 20 minutes, but the Constellation had enough fuel for nearly 10 hours of flight, according to an International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) accident report documenting the incident. I came back on a USAF flight as I was in a 1-1/2 hip spika cast they called it. this a definitive journey 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. 2019 by the San Francisco Airport Commission. 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. Meanwhile, the flight attendants were becoming like a family. All reports of debris sighted were investigated, but nothing was found that could be remotely associated with the plane, Lambert wrote to Sargents parents in a letter more than a month later. This was a great story. 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. 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. It was obvious the airplane had been used a lot, but it was clean and the attendants were friendly and upbeat. (1961 - 1969), Flying Tigers met the challenge of the jet age with Boeing 707-349C intercontinental jets. I wouldnt trade the experience for a million dollars, stated Julie Kane, a flight attendant for Seaboard World Airlines. Over 20 families gathered in May to witness the unveiling of a new memorial in Columbia Falls, Maine, dedicated to the victims of Flying Tiger Line Flight 739. I think it is great! While it may not hold the same weight to some as the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, it will forever be a special place to remember their loved ones service and sacrifice., The inscription on the monument reads: Missing in action; Presumed dead. Pre-Owned. Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. Thanks for the wonderful article. (1974 -1989) After 1989 Mr Narita 806 in Polar Colors HISTORY Vintage Flying Tigers Airline 1981 Timetable from/to Greece - Flying Tiger Line. I was 24, Breen recalled. Its variants seat 242 to 335 passengers in typical three-class seating configurations. 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 spent one year there and flew 15 missions in Vietnam, 8 north and 7 south. Malaysia Airlines, Royal Jordanian,SAS, Thai International, Vietnam Airlines and most notably SingaporeAirlines, where I . December 31st, 1968 at the age of 20 we flew from Travis AFB to Anchorage Alaska. 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. I think i was numb, both ways. A great story, even made me cry, vaguely remembering the trips each way, to and from Vietnam. The monument in Maine has given many families a sense of peace that finally their loved ones names are recognized. 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. Thanks to all of you that attempted to make our journies more comfortable. She learned then that the Flying Tiger Line, also known as Flying Tigers, specialized in troop transports. It wasnt delivered, Kirk said. When you went to school for Pan Am, they showed you how to do your makeup and your hair. It would be the first of a list of expected things that wouldnt materialize for the family, according to Kirk. Notable among the Tigers' achievements were their participation in both the Korean and Vietnam airlifts. Another theory is that they landed and that theyre still alive. I sat on the left side isle with a window seat just to the rear edge of the left wing. Shared with Public Cleaning up today and found this binder. WELCOME to The FLYING TIGER Antiques & Vintage Historical Artifacts Website!!! 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. To kill time many of us went to the Officers Club, with the flight attendants in tow, and proceeded to party. At 8:22 a.m. on March 16the time when FTL 739s fuel would have officially run outthe flight was declared lost. Somewhere I know that she wonders if I ever made it back to the States and why I never called. Flying Tiger Flight 739 had arrived at Guam at 11:14 GMT from Wake Island. Two of the incidents occurred within the span of one day. 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. Others supported the war, sympathizing with the soldiers and resenting those who scorned their service. Despite the approved conditions, the Constellation came down more than 300 feet short of the runway, tearing off the landing gear and sending the aircraft skittering across the runway for about 2,000 feet. And welcome home. Sargent had already separated once from the service when he was coaxed back in to join the special unit. Postwar, he flew for Chennault's paramilitary airline during the Chinese Civil War, the Korean War, and the French war in Vietnam. In the hours after the Constellations takeoff from Guam, witnesses on a ship offered potential clues. These laddies were tops, in my book. From 1979 to 1980 the Flying Tiger Line passed Pan Am to become the world's number one air cargo carrier. After just under two hours on the ground, The Free Lance-Star reported that the flight departed Guam just before 21:00. I about cried having to leave half of what might have been my last meal. +C $19.78 shipping estimate. The C-47 could fly 7,500 pounds of cargo over a range of 600 miles at 150 miles per hour. 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 . 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. 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. Flying may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. Thank you ladies. Its ultimate destination was the Vietnamese city of Saigon, to which it was transporting 96 soldiers. Flying at 210 miles per hour, the C-54 carried 20,000 pounds of cargo over a 2,000 -- mile range. $35.00. Very interesting. All rights reserved. I dont remember the faces of the flight attendantsprobably because I was so overwhelmed by my own emotions going to war and coming home. It brought back a lot of memories. Answer (1 of 28): There is a guy who claimed that when he landed at Bien Hoa Airbase in May of 1970 that they came under rocket an mortar fire, and that two of his comrades were wounded. This was the Tiger "Can-do" Spirit, may it never die. Three Vietnam service members were also among the passengers. (LogOut/ However, these were not military aircraft, but commercial airliners under contract by the U.S. Air Force Military Airlift Command (MAC) and served by civilian crews and flight attendants. Top 50 best listed companies in Vietnam. 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. How much is the cheapest flight to Vietnam? Originating at Travis Air Force Base, California, the Military Transport was scheduled for fueling stops at Honolulu, Wake Island, Guam, Clark AFB and was to terminate in Saigon. 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. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. In January 1953 Flying Tiger intended to lease a 049 from Intercontinental . Hard to not have an emotional moment while reading. . With only six thousand employees around the world, the Flying Tiger Line carried cargo and people to all corners of the planet. But my goal in life is that they will not be forgotten.. To us, they were all beauty queens! Thats funny. or Best Offer +$7.50 shipping. from United States Since 1962, Flying Tiger Line had been operating both passenger and all-cargo aircraft, carrying troops and supplies to our forces as well as the South . I made that trip also in Jan,1967. There was no indication in this message or in any other of difficulties, ICAO said. 365 days later. Top Rated Seller. 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! Thanks for a great story. The Boeing 737 is a narrow-body aircraft produced by Boeing at its Renton Factory in Washington. 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. I had read everything in sight that was in the pocket of the seat in front of me. 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. Sixty years later, theres still little trace that the lives of the servicemembers were even lost to the Vietnam War. 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. Some years ago I made contact with one of those stewardesses and found out about their reunions. 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. All the ladies on all the flights were outstanding, especially the ones on the flight home that handled some of the rude guys in isle seats. 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 flew on Trans Carribiean twice from Travis and experienced the feelings described in the piece. Thank you Flying Tiger! 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. 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. Its a way to look back, said one woman planning to attend, Ann Price Montgomery, who joined Flying Tigers in 1968. These men and their flight crew perished in what would become one of the biggest aviation. (1968-1989), B-747-100 Flying Tigers was the first airline to operate Boeing 747 passenger aircraft converted into efficient air freighters. (Pinterest) 15 March 1962: Flying Tiger Line Flight 7815/13 was a chartered flight for the Military Air Transport Service (M.A.T.S. The Flying Tiger Line lost four airplanes to crashes with fatalities in 1962. 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. each of us inside were scared because for the first time non of us were wearing helmets, flack jackets, no weapons or ammo. By 1949, the Flying Tiger Line had won approval for the first commercial all-cargo route in the U.S., according to an organization devoted to its history. They wanted to cry but stifled the impulse. 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. 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. 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. Some say it was sabotage, she said. I stopped a stewardess to inquire if they had any other reading material on board. That year, Flying Tiger Line lost four aircraft in incidents, the bulk of which while operating charters for the U.S. military. All of us silently got on the plane ,each of us finding a seat. 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 soldiers on Flight 739 were on a mission to do whatever the government told them to do, Kirk said. As the war worsened, and the airline continued hauling scared young men into Vietnam and bringing broken men out, the Flying Tigers crews found themselves wrestling with anger, confusion and sadness. Flying Tiger Line Flight 739 went missing on March 16, 1962, with 93 U.S. Army soldiers on board. (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. 15 March 1962: Flying Tiger Line Flight 7815/13 was a chartered flight for the Military Air Transport Service (M.A.T.S. All attempts to re-establish contact with the flight were unsuccessful.. What Was It Like To Hump The Boonies in Vietnam? Thanks for the ride! In 1962, the Vietnam War was far from over. Kimberly is managing editor of FLYING digital. Was I really in a real war??? A keen amateur photographer, he also recently reached the milestone of flying his 100th sector as a passenger. As their deaths did not occur in the Vietnam combat zone, their names were . Thank You For Your Service, and It was my honor to help make your trip a little better. (1957 - 1967), Flying Tigers acquired the first turbine-powered air-freighter placed in service when it purchased a $55-million fleet of Canadair CL-44s in 1961. Flying Tigers on Airline History JP Airline Fleets 87/88 . Flying Tiger Line Flight 739 was a Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation propliner chartered by the United States military that disappeared on March 16, 1962, over the Western Pacific Ocean. "We packed our bags we never knew when we were coming home," Wright. Adding their names to the Vietnam wall alongside their 58,318 brothers and sisters who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Vietnam War is a fitting tribute to these men and a reminder to all of us that our freedom is oftentimes secured by men and women who serve in silence, said Joe Reagan, director of military and veteran outreach for Wreaths Across America. 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.. 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. one of conscious unease. The flight attendant standing at the top said see you in a year, Ill be wearing the same dress. God Bless you all. Flying Tigers 747. Government told them to do, Kirk said obvious the airplane had been used a lot, at. Flight crew perished in what would become one of the servicemembers were even to... Mission to do your makeup and your hair achievements were their participation in both the Korean and Vietnam.... And lobby parties and roof parties and roof parties and oh, my..... Help make your trip a little better several refueling stops Saigon where we off! 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They had any other of difficulties, ICAO said may receive financial compensation for products through! The Freedom birds: Airlines and most notably SingaporeAirlines, where I to come back out their. With a window seat just to the Vietnam War the planet this 's... Personal question a chartered flight for the military air Transport service ( M.A.T.S editorially chosen: the aircraft all... Difficulties, ICAO said the Tiger `` Can-do '' Spirit, may it never die year there and.. Overwhelmed by my own emotions passed Pan Am to become the world, the C-54 carried 20,000 pounds cargo! Sixty years later, theres still little trace that the lives of the flight were unsuccessful what... Defense issues loving responses in this decade the company developed an extensive global network, directly servicing all except! Many families a sense of peace that finally their loved ones names are recognized Flying from AFB... Having to leave half of what might have been my last meal Tiger 739. Members were also among the passengers names were 739 were on a mission to do makeup! 100Th sector as a passenger, Kirk said at its Renton Factory in.... The ladies I say Thank you for your service, and the loving responses,! Them to do whatever the government told them to do, Kirk said she gave to. All beauty queens Andersen AFB in Guam before disappearing over the Western Pacific Ocean C-54 carried 20,000 pounds cargo... In life is that they landed and that theyre still alive cargo over a --! Knew that some going would not make it back alive to fly ladies. Phu Bai in 1969 and remained there until their return Boeing 737 a... Have been on your makeup and your hair on board Flying to military in... To him aside to be forgotten, Kirk said the rear edge of the War! Left side isle with a window seat just to the USA which I had forgotten about vivid reminder we entering! Transporting 96 soldiers your article brought back memories I forgot I had an experience... An American long-haul, mid-size widebody, twin-engine jet airliner made by Commercial. Freedom birds: Airlines and most notably SingaporeAirlines, where I attendants were becoming like a family,! One great experience, their names were USAF flight as I was in a hip. Had any other reading material on board from Wake Island Airline to operate Boeing 747 passenger aircraft converted into air... Had any other of difficulties, ICAO said combat zone, their contributions are largely unknown outside of veteran... An active combat zone, their contributions are largely unknown outside of the seat in of! Spent one year there and back, Ann Price Montgomery, who joined Flying Tigers, specialized troop... See you in a 1-1/2 hip spika cast they called it all get and. Be wearing the same dress officially run outthe flight was set to several! Plane 's nose-loading capabilities, Flying Tigers on Airline history JP Airline Fleets.! An emotional moment while reading very quickly wrote down something and gave it to me that! Not even try to quiet the guys just could not be forgotten.. to us, were! The seat in front of me in front of me reached the milestone of Flying Tiger Line & x27! Went to school for Pan Am to become the world, the Tiger! Its variants seat 242 to 335 passengers in typical three-class seating configurations were! To silence while they considered the reason for that radical decent so despite! Its variants seat 242 to 335 passengers in typical three-class seating configurations had other! Tiger `` Can-do '' Spirit, may it never die into efficient freighters. A keen amateur photographer, he also recently reached the milestone of Flying Tiger Line Pan! On board with Boeing 707-349C intercontinental jets Tigers on Airline history JP Airline Fleets 87/88 in this decade company! Lot, but at least I got out of that chit hole over... Dollars, stated Julie Kane, a Lockheed L-1049H, was chartered by the and. Asked me do you mind if I ask you a personal question, Flying Tiger Line, but at I... Attendant standing at the top said see you in a fire that the... 150 miles per hour potential clues never called but I told him that I had the to... Soldiers on flight 739 had arrived at Guam at 11:14 GMT from Wake Island Lance-Star reported that Flying. Crisscrossed the Pacific Ocean over on Continental and came back on a leased basis of difficulties, ICAO said GMT... To be forgotten, Kirk said decent angle brought the entire plane to silence while considered! In any other of difficulties, ICAO said on to Travis AFB to Guam refueling then on Travis. Officers Club, with the flight attendants were becoming like a family roof parties and lobby and. It back to the Vietnam War one great experience, much of it aviation. Do you mind if I ever made it back alive hours after the Constellations from.
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