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. She told me that there were more books in the back of the plane. According to the Aviation Safety Network, it first flew in 1957, and had amassed a total of 17,224 hours. Early that morning Thomas was piloting Flying Tiger Line Flight 739, a military-chartered transport plane that disappeared over the Pacific Ocean with 107 people aboard, including 93 American. Meanwhile, the flight attendants were becoming like a family. My birthday is January 1st. Flying Tiger Attendant Imitation lets you catch up to the guy ahead, but never lets you pass." 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. Interesting. Remember the pungent fish smell and heat as we deplaned. 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. (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. MAAG THAILAND . In March 1962, one such personnel-carrying flight went missing en route to Vietnam. But for the ladies I say Thank you I was one of those 18 year old boys that was scared to death. Feb.3-8, 1968. Patch , 45th TRANSPORTATION Company FLYING TIGER AIRLINES Vietnam War Patch , s4 | Collectibles, Militaria, Militaria (Date Unknown) | eBay! No folded flag was presented to the family. one of conscious unease. I know the feelings, having done the flights in 68 & 70. On Wednesday morning in Sacramento, as many as 30 former flight attendants for the airline are reuniting to honor servicemen killed in the war. Im still trying to figure out how to coordinate one of our own with one of theirs. 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. In the 1980's, the B747-200F series was introduced to the fleet. 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. En route to Saigon, the flight was set to make several refueling stops. He graduated high school and he could have gone to work in the woods, or he could have joined the military, Kirk, his niece, told FLYING. I know you dont remember many of our faces, as we no longer remember yours, but we thank you for taking care for us. The flight attendants were as depicted in this article, both going and coming home. Its variants seat 242 to 335 passengers in typical three-class seating configurations. Tigers suddenly needed bodies to work those long overseas flights, and when it put out calls for flight attendants, adventurous women answered. thanks for the ride over and putting up with some of us. 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. I missed my 21st birthday completely. After just under two hours on the ground, The Free Lance-Star reported that the flight departed Guam just before 21:00. (1974 -1989). Six decades later, and the families of those onboard Flight 739 still dont know what happened. It brought back a lot of memories. No such thing happened, as I was at that location in May of 1970. Onboard were 107 people, all of whom remain missing as the aircraft was never found after its disappearance. race to get Asians flying in a region set to overtake the United States as the biggest aviation market. Arrived Travis in daylight and was struck by the absence of bomb craters from my aerial view. . US Army CNN The families of soldiers lost while taking part in a secret US mission during. 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. I do remember the door opening and it was like a blast furnace! Flying around the world over the North and South Poles, the Pole Cat set eight speed and distance records. I went over in February 1970. A Lockheed Constellation L-1049, similar to the aircraft that disappeared. +C $19.78 shipping estimate. I just stood there in my bedroom looking out the window for a very long time,saying to myself Did that really happen??? Some say it was sabotage, she said. 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. Flugzeugfotos und Luftfahrtfotos - Fotos ansehen, suchen oder hochladen! Opens in a new window or tab. FLYING TIGER AIRLINES TIGER MEN & THEIR MACHINES CIRCA 1968 ADVERTISING. Thank you ladies. 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. If not for you, the World would be much worse off. 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. The Douglas DC-8-63AF N783FT (msn 46003) they flew is, remarkably, still . But my goal in life is that they will not be forgotten.. As the Constellation approached the runway at about 3 a.m., visibility was about 3 miles, the ceiling was at 1,000 feet and a light drizzle and fog hovered over the runway as the pilot attempted to make the approach. 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. Pre 1965 - MAAG GUTS AIRLINE - Vietnam - CIA - Z.017. 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. Now going to the USA which I had forgotten about. Unfortunately for me I returned in a Medevac flight from Japan Yokosuka Naval Hospital. Thanks for the ride! March 15, 1962, marked the first day of the Vietnam War Campaign, according to U.S. Army historians. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. From 1945 to 1989 Flying Tigers management, mechanics, office staff, flight attendants, pilots and crew members worked together to build an airline that became a legend. I think i was numb, both ways. The C-47 could fly 7,500 pounds of cargo over a range of 600 miles at 150 miles per hour. Three Vietnam service members were also among the passengers. Some of the now-adult children of those on board speculate that the flight made it, but that passengers were captured, Kirk said. Thanks! To kill time many of us went to the Officers Club, with the flight attendants in tow, and proceeded to party. He wouldnt believe me until I showed him the slip of paper. 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. By all accounts, the predawn hours of March 15, 1962, were dreary at Adak Naval Air Station in Alaska as a Flying Tiger pilot attempted to make a refueling stop. The flight attendant standing at the top said see you in a year, Ill be wearing the same dress. Reply 29th Aug 2010, 11:32 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! Each of the awesome giants flies more than 200,000 pounds of cargo at 575 miles per hour over a 3,500-mile range. The team had completed its assigned mission and was waiting to . On board the Constellation were 11 crew members and 96 passengers, 93 of whom were U.S. Army soldiers specialized in electronics, communications, and sharpshooting. In accordance with the government directives and in the interest in protecting the health of our visitors, the Aviation Museum & Library is currently closed. 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. He was pulled back in on a special mission, handpicked by [President] John F. Kennedy, Kirk said. Its ultimate destination was the Vietnamese city of Saigon, to which it was transporting 96 soldiers. between heaven and hell. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. JW, beautiful poem. 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. 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. It brought back memories from 68. 15 March 1962: Flying Tiger Line Flight 7815/13 was a chartered flight for the Military Air Transport Service (M.A.T.S. Margi has been a Member of the Flying Tigers Club Board of Directors, and served as Club Secretary since May 2007. The next stop was Saigon where we left off troops. No lights on the plane in the dark. With only six thousand employees around the world, the Flying Tiger Line carried cargo and people to all corners of the planet. Late 1940s PAA Pan American Airways 5 Years of Service Lapel Pin in 10K Gold by Balfour Item: airpi30006b-CON. I know there were bad times but your article brought back memories I forgot I had. 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. As one observer put it, "Nobody brings in mail like those Tiger birds". Great article with great info, I remember in 1968 when I went. The pilot is believed to have misjudged distance and altitude while making the final approach, a report would later conclude. The decent angle brought the entire plane to silence while they considered the reason for that radical decent. I flew into Sea-Trac on Flying Tiger Airlines from Camh Rhan October 4 , 1971. All reactions: 38 11 comments 4 shares Like Comment As their deaths did not occur in the Vietnam combat zone, their names were . My return flight was one of those that cheered as we lifted off. Wheels up lots of cheering and hope. Pre-Owned. we sat silently in the darkness almost trying to will ourselves into that jet thru the air. The flight went missing while en route to Vietnam. 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. 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