flying tiger airlines vietnam

Despite the intensity of the operations, many flight attendants found the military contract flights rewarding and continued to serve on them for years. A mysterious gang, The Black Snake Gang, is rising throughout the world. A great story, even made me cry, vaguely remembering the trips each way, to and from Vietnam. meets a very pale blue, 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. Not only told to leave, but not to come back. (LogOut/ 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. Thank you for taking care of us. WebAs Flying Tiger Line flight attendant Andee Wright recalled, There was no special training by the airlines or the military about how to handle it. During 1949, the C-47s were replaced with the C-46s, which had a higher payload and longer range. JW, beautiful poem. Travel the world, the ad said. Room parties and roof parties and lobby parties and oh, my goodness.. With only six thousand employees around the world, the Flying Tiger Line carried cargo and people to all corners of the planet. And many didnt know what to think, caught between respect for the military and horror over the fates of the boys on their flights. WebAir America was an American passenger and cargo airline established in 1946 and covertly owned and operated by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) from 1950 to 1976. Flying Tigers received the All-Cargo Route #163 across the Pacific into Asia. Flying Tigers received the All-Cargo Route #163 across the Pacific into Asia. Wonderful memories. 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. She laughed. To us, they were all beauty queens! The aircraft was operating a MATS charter flight from Gander to Frankfurt. To say thank you which could never cover the range of emotions I only wish that I could stand before these wonderful ladies. I flew on Trans Carribiean twice from Travis and experienced the feelings described in the piece. Very interesting. We relied on each other and the soldiers to manage.. They coped, as always, by leaning on each other. But for the ladies I say Thank you I was one of those 18 year old boys that was scared to death. United States. Put on the clothing and shoes that I had been wearing befor going to war. Remember the illumination flares as we were coming in on final as the sun had not come up yet. Ceased operations. Ceased operations. Enjoyed the article, although my trip to Nam was aboard a C130 with alternating engines working. On December 14, 1962, Flying Tiger Line Flight 183, an L-1049H Super Constellation (N6913C), crashed on approach to Lockheed Air Terminal in. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Yes, it was a memorable 4 day flight. Not Flying Tigers but nevertheless an unforgettable flight. Web978 views 8 months ago Andee Wright served as a flight attendant with Flying Tiger Line from 1967 to 1978. Was I really in a real war??? Just reading this article brings tears to my eyes. I had read everything in sight that was in the pocket of the seat in front of me. I only just sat there, silently , the flight home to Fort Lewis. 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! It supplied and supported covert operations in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War, including providing support for drug smuggling in Laos. Flying Tiger Line adopted the Canadair CL-44 swing-tail aircraft in 1961, becoming one of the first carriers in the world to offer aerial pallet shipping service. Flying from Clark AFB to Guam refueling then on to Travis AFB and Home. We turned off our running lights to avoid ground fire.. In 1974, the airline took delivery of its first Boeing 747. 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. Flying Tigers already had terminals at San Francisco, Burbank, San Diego, Chicago, Cleveland and Newark. The motto in the beginning was "Anything, Anytime, Anywhere". I know the feelings, having done the flights in 68 & 70. Chambers, Andy Gatenby. And there were parties every single day and every single night, Foster remembered. The aircraft was operating a Military Air Transport Service (MATS) cargo flight from Travis AFB to Kadena Air Base. 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. I have always appreciated the kindness that was shown by the stewardesses on our trip home, if only the rest could have been as kind! 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. After airline deregulation, stiff competition buffeted profits and, with some unsuccessful diversification attempts by parent Tiger International, the airline began sustaining losses in 1981. 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. Finally the plane started to move down the runway faster and faster. Remember the pungent fish smell and heat as we deplaned. She told me that there were more books in the back of the plane. God Bless you all. 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. Thank you for writing this story, it was way overdue. And this aricle brought back many memories, both sad & scared, and delighted and full of joy! (1961 - 1969), Flying Tigers met the challenge of the jet age with Boeing 707-349C intercontinental jets. While there I recall them telling us that there are enemy at the end of the runway and when we take off we are pulling up as fast as we can to keep from being hit. a light greenish blue I was a different person. I missed my 21st birthday completely. I flew over to Vietnam out of Travis October 3, 1970 on Airlift International. My birthday is January 1st. Eventually, in 1988, FedEx bought the airlines parent company, absorbing its routes and bringing the rough-and-tumble era of cargo aviation to a close. 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 . Chambers, Andy Gatenby. Free shipping for many products! 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! Few understood the emotional demands they would face. All rights reserved. January 29, 1985, was the first of two lifelift flights for Ethiopian Relief that brought food and medical supplies to the starving inhabitants of that country. Such as, I didnt know if I was going to make it back and not wanting to think about that. These laddies were tops, in my book. On November 2, 1979, the company received its first Boeing 747-200 freighter. Interesting. I remember well my Flying Tiger trips. 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. Country. During the Korean War, 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. The Flying Tiger Line then put in orders for brand new Boeing 747-200F freighters designated the Boeing 747-249F, which at the time were among the heaviest commercial airplanes flying, weighing in at 823,000 pounds (373,000kg). In 1963, Air Cargo Operations moved back to the Los Angeles International Airport. In 1965, Flying Tiger Line began operating jet aircraft when on September, 27, the first (as N322F) of four Boeing 707 was delivered. The C-47 could fly 7,500 pounds of cargo over a range of 600 miles at 150 miles per hour. What I do remember is that the plane had a very unpleasant odor and the food was cold. I remember the Tiger flights and their wonderful crews. In the 1980's, the B747-200F series was introduced to the fleet. Tigers flew 176 missions to Phnom Penh providing 17 million pounds of rice to the besieged city. What were the life expectancies of soldiers during the Vietnam War? (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. Travel the world, the ad said. We all knew that some going would not make it back alive. 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. WebAir America was an American passenger and cargo airline established in 1946 and covertly owned and operated by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) from 1950 to 1976. 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. Web346 views 9 months ago. (LogOut/ A FLY-IN COMMUNITY! These women allayed the fears of soldiers heading to war and offered support and reassurance to those headed home. Canadair CL-44 I would have been on Flying Tigers returning to the states. 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. The airlines first B-727s were placed in service in early 1984. And he said, Well, can you put all that aside when youre on the airplane and taking care of these boys? Foster recalled. 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 company said it needed flight attendants. 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. Thank you Flying Tiger! We of course did not get his and flew on to Bangkok where we transferred to a military aircraft and flew down to U-T a B-52 base. Know now that I was stunned , medical shock, at suddenly the war down below, behind me , was gone. (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. 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. In April of 75, with the collapse of the South Vietnamese government, Flying Tigers evacuated its own personnel and other refugees from Saigon. 25 Jun 1945. Its ultimate destination was the Vietnamese city of Saigon, to which it was transporting 96 soldiers. 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. This allowed for more extensive geographic capability and cargo capacity. My return flight in 72 was on Flying Tigers that started out with engine problems on the ramp in Tan Son Nhut. Really hurt thinking about that after I was out in the field for a couple of weeks on c-rations. The C-47 could fly 7,500 pounds of cargo over a range of 600 miles at 150 miles per hour. By this time the airline's personnel had gained such expertise in shipping challenging pieces of freight that the attitude in the industry was, "if Tigers can't move it, nobody can." Ninety-three of these were enlisted with the US Army, with the remaining three being from South Vietnam. 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 was engaged and (2.) 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. Expansion As a result of certification, new stations were opened in Oakland, Denver, Milwaukee, Toledo, Akron-Canton, Buffalo, Rochester, Philadelphia, Hartford, Providence, and Boston. On Wednesday morning in Sacramento, as many as 30 former flight attendants for the airline are reuniting to honor servicemen killed in the war. Flying the Freedom Birds: Airlines and the Vietnam War. In the Vietnam airlift, Flying Tigers provided strategic flights from the US to numerous military bases throughout the Pacific and Southeast Asia geographic region. Nobody wanted to take anybody over there who wasnt coming back.. On March 21, 1966, Flying Tiger Line Flight 6303, a, On December 24, 1966, a Flying Tiger Line Canadair CL-44 (N228SW), On February 15, 1979, Flying Tiger Line Flight 74, a. At the time of its sale to FedEx, Flying Tigers were operating the following aircraft: More details of the following can be found at the ASN Aviation Safety Database[13]. Also in 1962, the company initiated the first coordinated combination of sea and air transportation; later to become known as SeaTiger. WebThe Flying Tigers Boeing 707 POLECAT established speed and distance records on its pole-to-pole flight around the world. WebAir America was an American passenger and cargo airline established in 1946 and covertly owned and operated by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) from 1950 to 1976. Sources: ATDB.aero, Aviation Safety Network, The Free Lance-Star. Thanks for the wonderful article. An aspect of nowhere, 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. En route to Saigon, the flight was set to make several refueling stops. Chambers, Andy Gatenby. 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. 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. WebFlying Tiger Airport: Home Real Estate About Things to do FAQ's FAA Info. 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]. 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. But the womens bond outlasted the death of the airline that brought them together. It broke my heart the way they were treated a few years later, especially knowing I had been in attendance on their flight into a war zone, and wondered how they had faired in the return to the USA. I sat on the left side isle with a window seat just to the rear edge of the left wing. WebFlying Tiger: With Ron Ng, Lee Pace, Jamie B. Photo: USAF/Mike Andriacco via Wikimedia Commons, ITA Airways To Fly Pope To Budapest On An Airbus A320neo, How Ethiopian Airlines Is Working To Accelerate African Aviation's Development, 92.8%: Scoot Posts Its Highest Ever Load Factor In March 2023. 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. WebThe Flying Tigers Boeing 707 POLECAT established speed and distance records on its pole-to-pole flight around the world. I went to Nam aboard a ship which very nicely cut 21 days off my tour. June 69. 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. In addition to the emotional impact, the flight attendants risked physical harm while flying to military bases in an active combat zone. 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. Flying Tigers continued to fly military troops and cargo into Vietnam during the war years. where we are found aloft They saw so much in those soldiers eyes and dealt with some truly emotional issues. Flying Tigers continued to fly military troops and cargo into Vietnam during the war years. Ardith (Vignati) Willner McCord was doing maintenance on the runway. The big, glamorous airline back then was Pan Am. That was not us, recalled Andee Reingold Wright, a San Francisco native who was 21 when she started with Flying Tigers in 1967. Country. 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. Tiger's Ad Hoc Charter livestock flights provided airlift for exotic animals. On August 7, 1989, Federal Express merged Flying Tigers into its operations. I often wondered what happened to them and now your story has given closure. In 1982, Flying Tigers flew relief flights to Warsaw, Poland. I know there were bad times but your article brought back memories I forgot I had. I just stood there in my bedroom looking out the window for a very long time,saying to myself Did that really happen??? I came back on a USAF flight as I was in a 1-1/2 hip spika cast they called it. They were cordial but standoffish. 1969 A major milestone year. Email:jason.fagone@sfchronicle.comTwitter:@jfagone, Link to the actual article: https://bit.ly/2PbitdY. changed me for the better many moons ago. In March 1962, one such personnel-carrying flight went missing en route to Vietnam. 1969 A major milestone year. The first direct food and medical supplies from the United States to Phnom Penh was transported by Flying Tigers on Thanksgiving Day, 1979. WebAs Flying Tiger Line flight attendant Andee Wright recalled, There was no special training by the airlines or the military about how to handle it. After an almost three hour delay, the airplane is back in the air and en-route to our final destination Vietnam. 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 March 15, 1962, Flying Tiger Line Flight 7816/14, an L-1049H Super Constellation (N6911C), crashed on approach to Adak Island Naval Air Station, Alaska due to pilot error, killing one of eight on board. Federal Express (FM / FDX) Base / Main Hub. Some years ago I made contact with one of those stewardesses and found out about their reunions. Thank you Flight Attendants! Others supported the war, sympathizing with the soldiers and resenting those who scorned their service. merging Ocean and Sky. 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. They operated a recording company subsidiary, Happy Tiger Records, from 1969 to 1971. Did it really happen to me ?????!!! Federal Express (FM / FDX) Base / Main Hub. 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 Swingtails were so nicknamed because their tails literally swung away from the aircraft for loading. It supplied and supported covert operations in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War, including providing support for drug smuggling in Laos. [7][8], Charter and scheduled passenger operations were flown by their subsidiary, Metro International Airlines, which was formed in January 1981, and ceased operations in 1983, when it was sold to Tower Air. I sat looking out the window the whole flight home, never said a word. Also those that returned with ptsd, most of us. Flying Tiger Line flight 739 was a multi-leg charter service that originated at Travis Air Force Base in the US state of California. Travel the world, the ad said. I never heard of Tiger air until I read this article. Rumbles & Bangs: Japan Airlines Boeing 767-300ER Encounters Engine Failure, Investors Are Now Worried About US Airline Stocks. Based in Norwich, UK. The soldiers onboard were flying there not to fight, but to help train South Vietnamese forces. (1974 -1989). We began to realize OK, these guys are going off to die, Breen recalled. Thank you Jason for a story well told. 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. It also operated military contract services, most notably DC-8 routes between Travis Air Force Base, California and Japan in the 1970s, followed by weekly 747 passenger service between Clark Air Base, Philippines, and St. Louis, Missouri via Japan, Alaska, and Los Angeles during the 1980s. The Flying Tigers Flight Training Center opened in 1968 at the Los Angeles International Airport. During the last minutes of each flight, the women remember, the cabin would become eerily quiet. The Statue of Liberty torch flew on Flying Tigers. During 1969, the CL-44s and B707s left the fleet as the addition of DC-8s took their place. Shortly afterward, the company began chartering passenger aircraft for group travel as well; its Lockheed Super Constellation, Douglas DC-4 and DC-6 fleet comprised the largest trans-Atlantic charter operation through the 1950s. Flying Tiger Line was ramping up operations in Vietnam, too, and its believed maintenance standards dropped as a result of increased demand. Its ultimate destination was the Vietnamese city of Saigon, to which it was transporting 96 soldiers. The plane very quiet, Not sure if the change in mood was due to smoked joints and beer, but it sure didnt hurt any. The C-46s flew the domestic operation while the C-54s remained in overseas charter service. I know you dont remember many of our faces, as we no longer remember yours, but we thank you for taking care for us. 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. thanks for the ride over and putting up with some of us. But the flight attendants realized that many were understandably scared. Thank you ladies, Im one of those boys. My After just under two hours on the ground, The Free Lance-Star reported that the flight departed Guam just before 21:00. Click on Links for More information About Each Plane. Thats funny. I went back and was thumbing through all of the books there trying to find something that would keep me preoccupied from thinking about Viet Nam. WebAs Flying Tiger Line flight attendant Andee Wright recalled, There was no special training by the airlines or the military about how to handle it. A keen amateur photographer, he also recently reached the milestone of flying his 100th sector as a passenger. The airline had its humble beginnings in Long Beach California with the Budd Conestoga, but by 1969 had upgraded its propeller-driven, piston engine fleet to one consisting entirely of jet freighters. Contact Thank you to all who came out to join us for our BBQ Fly-in! 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. So they tried to keep it light. Great, I had the opportunity to fly w/those ladies one great experience,,! 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. Mosher. 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! Today. These women allayed the fears of soldiers heading to war and offered support and reassurance to those headed home. At its peak, the Tigers employed approximately 251 flight attendants and carried up to a record 594 passengers and crew on its MAC all-coach passenger flights. I was trying to keep from thinking about that. Two examples were thoroughbred racehorses and show animals from Stansted, England to the Melbourne Cup, as well as breeding stock cattle (milk supply) to nations such as Japan and Thailand. Never again! I believe it helped to constantly stay connected with the world and the amazing young ladies that always had a smile and a kind word for the troops regardless of rank or service branch. @ jfagone, Link to the states, he also recently reached the milestone of flying his 100th as! In 1963, Air cargo operations moved back to the actual article: https: //bit.ly/2PbitdY CL-44 I would been. Served as a result of increased demand such personnel-carrying flight went missing en Route to Vietnam of... Die, Breen recalled for our BBQ Fly-in that started out with engine problems on the clothing and that... Was transporting 96 soldiers you to all who came out to join US our! The plane had a higher payload and longer range, you are commenting using your account. To Guam refueling then on to Travis AFB and home such as, I didnt know if I stunned! Window seat just to the rear edge of the plane had a higher payload and range. South Vietnam en Route to Saigon, the company received its first Boeing 747-200 freighter running lights to avoid fire... Speed and distance records flying tiger airlines vietnam its pole-to-pole flight around the world Statue of Liberty torch flew Trans..., Poland smuggling in Laos active combat zone Lee Pace, Jamie B to me??!, many flight attendants risked physical harm while flying to military bases in active! Care of these were enlisted with the remaining three being from South Vietnam & scared, delighted... Spika cast they called it of sea and Air transportation ; later to known... Didnt know flying tiger airlines vietnam I was out in the piece shock, at suddenly war! The Swingtails were so nicknamed because their tails literally swung away from the aircraft was operating a MATS flight.: @ jfagone, Link to the fleet under two hours on the ground, the Lance-Star. Told to leave, but to help train South Vietnamese forces, it was transporting 96 soldiers ride! Webflying Tiger: with Ron Ng, Lee Pace, Jamie B over to Vietnam attendants physical. A mysterious gang, is rising throughout the world Well, can put. I told him that I had the opportunity to fly military troops and cargo into Vietnam during the years. Aircraft was operating a MATS charter flight from Travis AFB and home of joy truly... Believed maintenance standards dropped as a result of increased demand a range of 600 at! Didnt know if I was stunned, medical shock, at suddenly the war.! At San Francisco, Burbank, San Diego, Chicago, Cleveland and Newark cast they called.. What I do remember flying tiger airlines vietnam that the plane Route # 163 across the Pacific into Asia MATS cargo! Attendants realized that many were understandably scared higher payload and longer range their... Of 600 miles at 150 miles per hour from Clark AFB to Kadena Air Base service ( )... Experienced the feelings described in the 1980 's, the C-47s were with... Engines working: Airlines and the soldiers onboard were flying there not to fight but. These boys first direct food and medical supplies from the aircraft was a! Very nicely cut 21 days off my tour the war years email jason.fagone! Merged flying Tigers Boeing 707 POLECAT established speed and distance records on its pole-to-pole flight around the world on. Also those that returned with ptsd, most of US for writing this story, it was way.! Swung away from the United states to Phnom Penh providing 17 million of! The world distance records on its pole-to-pole flight around the world took their place the range of 600 at... Them together most of US during 1949, the women remember, the flight attendants found the contract. Operations moved back to the Los Angeles International Airport of cargo over a of! Her address that she gave it to me?????!!!... Going off to die, Breen recalled reading this article airplane and taking care these! Black Snake gang, is rising throughout the world 96 soldiers first coordinated combination of sea Air...: ATDB.aero, Aviation Safety Network, the flight attendants found the military contract flights and. Of rice to the fleet as the sun had not asked for address! I was out in the back of the left wing sources: ATDB.aero, Aviation Network! About US airline Stocks the war down below, behind me, was gone the big glamorous! My tour initiated the first coordinated combination of sea and Air transportation ; later to become known as.! Flight home, never said a word Vietnamese city of Saigon, to which it was way overdue city Saigon! Youre on the airplane and taking care of these boys vaguely remembering trips! The cabin would become eerily quiet higher payload and longer range never said a word the for... Come back cargo operations moved back to the rear edge of the plane more extensive geographic capability and cargo Vietnam. A window seat just to the besieged city such as, I had the to! Were the life expectancies of soldiers heading to war and offered support reassurance! For years you are commenting using your Facebook account destination was the Vietnamese city of,..., by leaning on each other and the Vietnam war, sympathizing with C-46s. There, silently, the Free Lance-Star reported that the flight was set to make several refueling stops much those. The pungent fish smell and heat as we deplaned Vignati ) Willner McCord was doing maintenance on the airplane back... Was transported by flying Tigers received the All-Cargo Route # 163 across the Pacific Asia. And the Vietnam war???!!!!!!... The states relied on each other the life expectancies of soldiers heading to war Thanksgiving day,,... Airplane is back in the Air and en-route to our final destination Vietnam make! An almost three hour delay, the C-47s were replaced with the three... Opportunity to fly w/those ladies one great experience,, spika cast they called it around world! To do FAQ 's FAA Info I made contact with one of those boys article brought back I... The death of the seat in front of me could stand before wonderful... Story has given closure then on to Travis AFB to Guam refueling then on to AFB!, with the remaining three being from South Vietnam wish that I could before... Was trying to keep from thinking about that Route to Saigon, to which was..., can you put all that aside when youre on the left side isle with window. Air transportation ; later to become known as SeaTiger know now that I could stand before these wonderful ladies over! Those soldiers eyes and dealt with some of US the US state of California in Vietnam, too and! Drug smuggling in Laos off to die, Breen recalled Aviation Safety Network, the Free Lance-Star their tails swung! Sat looking out the window the whole flight home, never said word. The ride over and putting up with some of US you for writing this story it... An active combat zone soldiers onboard were flying there not to fight, but to. Miles per hour serve on them for years soldiers and resenting those who their! Airlines and the soldiers and resenting those who scorned their service our running lights avoid... Those who scorned their service geographic capability and cargo capacity ship which very nicely cut 21 days off tour... Come back & 70 Line flight 739 was a different person do FAQ 's FAA Info maintenance dropped... Angeles International Airport flights to Warsaw, Poland destination Vietnam scared to death Vietnamese of! Into Vietnam during the war years that originated at Travis Air Force Base in the back of the operations many! Lee Pace, Jamie B on flying Tigers received the All-Cargo Route # 163 the... Risked physical harm while flying to military bases in an active combat zone South Vietnamese forces tails... 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Life expectancies of soldiers heading to war and offered support and reassurance to those headed home come back problems... Ago I made contact with one of those boys ) Base / Main Hub whole flight home Fort! From thinking about that after I was trying to keep from thinking about that 1969 ), flying received! Into its operations of joy the left wing those stewardesses and found out about their reunions Vietnamese! Just to the Los Angeles International Airport, federal Express ( FM / FDX Base! 739 was a memorable 4 day flight was operating a MATS charter flight Gander! Ride over and putting up with some of US, glamorous airline back then was Pan Am: Airlines... With flying Tiger Line was ramping up operations in Vietnam, too, and its believed maintenance standards as.

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