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 have just relived a very important part of my young life, thru these articles and the loving responses. 15 March 1962: Flying Tiger Line Flight 7815/13 was a chartered flight for the Military Air Transport Service (M.A.T.S. Many flight attendants struggled at first to contain their own emotions. Forums Index - All forums; Portal page; MSFS 2020; FSX - FS2004 and Earlier One of the seven people on boardthe flight engineerwas killed in a fire that destroyed the aircraft and all its contents. Late 1940s PAA Pan American Airways 5 Years of Service Lapel Pin in 10K Gold by Balfour Item: airpi30006b-CON. Apart from Pan Am and Braniff, also Continental, Northwest, TWA, United, World Airways, Flying Tiger, Seaboard World, among others. 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 Station Agana, Guam; and Clark Air Force Base, Luzon, Travel the world, the ad said. Flying at 210 miles per hour, the C-54 carried 20,000 pounds of cargo over a 2,000 -- mile range. I remember one of the attendants wishing my a HAPPY BIRTHDAY. My grandfather had to go pick it up. 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. from Greece Available now to pre-order at Flying Tigers. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Although the fledgling Flying Tiger Line was in a precarious financial situation during its early years, it enjoyed extraordinary growth throughout most of the 60's, and eventually emerged as the industry's foremost all-cargo carrier. 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. Great article with great info, I remember in 1968 when I went. Never again! I about cried having to leave half of what might have been my last meal. Circa 1968-1972 Vietnam War CASI Continental Air Services Inc Shirt Type 1st Officer Wing RARE Item: aircw60001sw. I now have a new group of Vietnam vets to admire and respect. It would be the last radio transmission received from the aircraft. Its a way to look back, said one woman planning to attend, Ann Price Montgomery, who joined Flying Tigers in 1968. (LogOut/ I flew on Trans Carribiean twice from Travis and experienced the feelings described in the piece. I too was older at 25 and remember them well. A total of 141 lives were lost on board the four aircraft and three lives were lost of people on the ground. Such as, I didnt know if I was going to make it back and not wanting to think about that. There was no indication in this message or in any other of difficulties, ICAO said. 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. merging Ocean and Sky. It was acquired by FedEx in 1989, after more than 40 years of flying cargo and passenger . The aircraft that disappeared was around five years old. It flew at 200 miles per hour, carried 13,000 pounds of cargo and had a range of 900 miles. Ardith (Vignati) Willner The company said it needed flight attendants. . 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. /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. Jason Fagone is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. 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. 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 flight attendant standing at the top said see you in a year, Ill be wearing the same dress. They cant be forgotten.. During the "American war," he worked for a CIA contractor, flying unarmed bush planes in Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Margi Falk. 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. Thanks for the ride! Flew out going from Ft. Lewis, Washington 1970, came home through Oakland Par 8th, 1971. Hard to not have an emotional moment while reading. A little over an hour later, it was expected to reach the coordinates of 140N 1350E. Six decades later, and the families of those onboard Flight 739 still dont know what happened. Prices were available within the past 7 days and start at $363 for one-way flights and $690 for round trip, for the period specified. 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. In January 1953 Flying Tiger intended to lease a 049 from Intercontinental . 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. Sargent had already separated once from the service when he was coaxed back in to join the special unit. I was a nurse in Namso I can appreciate their service. The flight went missing while en route to Vietnam. 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. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. 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. Capable of lifting 7,000 pounds over a version of the famed DC-3. I was trying to keep from thinking about that. Pre-Owned. Result Pages: 1 Displaying 1 to 1 (of 1 products) MAAG THAILAND . Developed to supplement the Boeing 727 on short and thin routes, the twinjet retains the 707 fuselage width and six abreast seating with two underwing turbofans. 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. As their deaths did not occur in the Vietnam combat zone, their names were . December 31st, 1968 at the age of 20 we flew from Travis AFB to Anchorage Alaska. Shamu the whale took a first ride on Flying Tigers. 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. A keen amateur photographer, he also recently reached the milestone of flying his 100th sector as a passenger. During the course of the war, thousands of flights crisscrossed the Pacific Ocean. 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. En route to Saigon, the flight was set to make several refueling stops. If not for you, the World would be much worse off. 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! In a review of evidence, investigators later determined that access to flight line and ramp areas in Honolulu, Wake Island, and Guam allowed unchallenged access to anyone desiring entry, including non-military aircraft. . 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.. She has more than 20 years reporting experience, much of it covering aviation and defense issues. Somewhere I know that she wonders if I ever made it back to the States and why I never called. Flying Tiger Line Flight 739 was a Lockheed Super Constellation aircraft, which is pictured here. 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. The aircraft was transporting 93 U.S. soldiers and three South Vietnamese from Travis Air Force Base, California to Saigon, Vietnam. The airliners were not just used to bring the soldiers home, but to fly them into the war zone as well. 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. 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. The Boeing 737 is a narrow-body aircraft produced by Boeing at its Renton Factory in Washington. My return flight in 72 was on Flying Tigers that started out with engine problems on the ramp in Tan Son Nhut. Free shipping for many products! It was obvious the airplane had been used a lot, but it was clean and the attendants were friendly and upbeat. The pilot is believed to have misjudged distance and altitude while making the final approach, a report would later conclude. As Flying Tiger Line flight attendant Andee Wright recalled, There was no special training by the airlines or the military about how to handle it. It would be the first of a list of expected things that wouldnt materialize for the family, according to Kirk. We turned off our running lights to avoid ground fire.. The names of those who gave their lives and who remain missing are inscribed here so that they will be said aloud and their memory will live on.. This exhibition is currently available online only. (LogOut/ Flying Tigers Airlines 24k Cocktail Glass Vtg 1980s VHTF NOS Norma Jean Wright . Established at the end of the Second World War, Flying Tiger Line made history as the first US-based scheduled cargo-carrying airline. It was a move that would make FedEx the worlds largest, full-service cargo airline. a light greenish blue 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 If you've . That motto lasted until the airline was taken over by Federal Express in the late 1980's. Pre-Owned. Addendum: While in transit on the plane, I had an unusual experience that Id like to share with everyone who reads this. Opens in a new window or tab. Flying Tiger Lines Airline Related Artifacts & Collectibles Miscellaneous Airlines: America (US) Artifacts & Collectibles . 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. 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. . Very good article. Opens in a new window or tab. It wasnt delivered, Kirk said. Best Airline Business in Southeast Asia. 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. (1974 -1989). Thank You For Your Service, and It was my honor to help make your trip a little better. return home flight in July 69 was on a Flying Tigers stretch-8. The captain and crew of the S.S. T. L. Lenzen, a Standard Oil Company tanker, reported that at around 1:30 a.m. (1530 GMT) on the morning of March 16, they saw what looked to be a midair explosion near the position and at the time that had been estimated by the aircrafts pilot. Gotoff the jet and was greated by relatives. I think i was numb, both ways. Thank you! Others supported the war, sympathizing with the soldiers and resenting those who scorned their service. 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 next stop was Saigon where we left off troops. The new Flying Tiger airline had its own military role; carrying cargo and troops back and forth to the war in Vietnam. That flight SUCKED., but at least I got out of that chit hole. Not one of us said a word. 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. During the Vietnam years the Flying Tiger Line also worked overtime for the US Postal Service. Many of these people became valuable members of the Flying Tigers family. 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