I had read everything in sight that was in the pocket of the seat in front of me. On March 3, 1986, operations commenced in the new Columbus, Ohio Hub at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base. 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. 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. where we are found aloft Capable of lifting 7,000 pounds over a version of the famed DC-3. On October 25, 1983, Flying Tiger Line Flight 2468, a Douglas DC-8 (N797FT), ran off the runway at NAS Norfolk due to crew and ATC errors; all five on board survived; the aircraft was substantially damaged but was repaired and returned to service. 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. 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. Indeed, having begun in November 1955, it wouldn't come to an end until almost two decades later, in April 1975. 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. I only wish that I could stand before these wonderful ladies. (LogOut/ Leslie Pfeifer served aboard Flying Tiger Line from 1967 to 1970, making 75 return flights to South Vietnam. Contact Thank you to all who came out to join us for our BBQ Fly-in! Hengi, Midland Publishing, List of defunct airlines of the United States. This is what I wrote when I had set up my home page on geocities which is now archived: Sweet Jesus, I was back in the USA ; 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. I wouldnt trade the experience for a million dollars, stated Julie Kane, a flight attendant for Seaboard World Airlines. this a definitive journey Chambers, Andy Gatenby. Also in 1946, Flying Tigers moved from Mines Field to the Lockheed Air Terminal in Burbank, California. Because they were young and energetic, they could work a 5-hour flight from Japan to Vietnam, spend an hour on the ground, turn around and fly 5 hours back to Japan, then take a quick shower and then go out dancing at a go-go club. I remember well my Flying Tiger trips. Thank you stewardesses. I spent one year there and flew 15 missions in Vietnam, 8 north and 7 south. 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. During the last minutes of each flight, the women remember, the cabin would become eerily quiet. I was Infantry so I knew I had reason to be worried, but these ladies put us all at ease, as much as was possible .. one of the truly great memories Im thankful to have .. We went out to the airstripvery early in the morning in a vehicle. This article is an important read. First time over in July 68 I was a 29 year old Warrant Officer pilot and flew on a Seaboard World stretch-8 (DC-8-50) that was only a couple of years old but what I remember about the flight was that the plane was dirty and worn and the flight attendants were older than me. (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. Enjoyed the article, although my trip to Nam was aboard a C130 with alternating engines working. Very good article. 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. 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. A fine bunch of people. WebFlying Tiger: With Ron Ng, Lee Pace, Jamie B. Ceased operations. The company said it needed flight attendants. )I was engaged and (2.) The big, glamorous airline back then was Pan Am. Rumbles & Bangs: Japan Airlines Boeing 767-300ER Encounters Engine Failure, Investors Are Now Worried About US Airline Stocks. On this last leg, the passengers are much more somber and thinking ahead to their landing in the war zone. 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! 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. Never again! 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. I flew over on Continental..We had a flight attendant come to one of our VVA Chapter meeting and tell us about her time. The airline was bought by Federal Express in 1988. In the Vietnam airlift, Flying Tigers provided strategic flights from the US to numerous military bases throughout the Pacific and Southeast Asia geographic region. Flew over on Military Transport (think it was a 141) The flight was a complete 3 stooges movie MATS had trouble w/plane. If I remember correctly I went over on Continental and came back on United. [3][4] The pilots and two ground crew provided half of the initial investment, with the balance coming from California oil tycoon Samuel B. Flying Tigers received the All-Cargo Route #163 across the Pacific into Asia. 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. A FLY-IN COMMUNITY! 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. In the 1980's, the B747-200F series was introduced to the fleet. That motto lasted until the airline was taken over by Federal Express in the late 1980's. August 7, 1989 was the official merger date of Flying Tiger and Federal Express. Not one of us said a word. In 1962, the Vietnam War was far from over. 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. That was always the fun part, to take them out of there, remembered Gael Okicich, who flew with Tigers for 25 years. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. The airliners were not just used to bring the soldiers home, but to fly them into the war zone as well. And after the fall of Saigon in 1975, when the war ended, they remained connected. changed me for the better many moons ago. 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. To kill time many of us went to the Officers Club, with the flight attendants in tow, and proceeded to party. [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. Very interesting. I didnt use Flying Tigers going to and from my two tours in Vietnam, but I DID fly with them in 1963 going home from a two-year stint in Korea. 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. WebFlying Tiger: With Ron Ng, Lee Pace, Jamie B. That flight SUCKED., but at least I got out of that chit hole. During the Vietnam years the Flying Tiger Line also worked overtime for the US Postal Service. It surpassed Pan American World Airways in 1980 as the world's largest air cargo carrier after acquiring its rival cargo airline Seaboard World Airlines on 1 October 1980. Such as, I didnt know if I was going to make it back and not wanting to think about that. I never heard of Tiger air until I read this article. 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. And this aricle brought back many memories, both sad & scared, and delighted and full of joy! Know now that I was stunned , medical shock, at suddenly the war down below, behind me , was gone. It brought back a lot of memories. Many flight attendants struggled at first to contain their own emotions. Flying Tigers sponsored the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia and transported equipment for the games. With Tigers, they said, OK, make sure your hair isnt longer than your shoulders, and get on the plane.. (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. Flying Tiger history began during World War II when the original aircrafts were small fighter planes. Medical suplies and staples were aboard the first airlift of relief supplies to reach Poland since the imposition of martial law in November of the previous year. The aircraft carried additional fuel in two additional tanks installed in the main cabin.[12]. With this plane's nose-loading capabilities, Flying Tigers accommodated even more challenging air freight combinations in size, shape and quantity. Thank you so much angels. They coped, as always, by leaning on each other. As one observer put it, "Nobody brings in mail like those Tiger birds". A mysterious gang, The Black Snake Gang, is rising throughout the world. I do remember the door opening and it was like a blast furnace! A little over an hour later, it was expected to reach the coordinates of 140N 1350E. I extended in Vietnam so that I could get out early. It supplied and supported covert operations in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War, including providing support for drug smuggling in Laos. 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. Crossing the international date line was my experience in time travel. In April of 1949, after a four-year battle, the company was awarded CAB (Civil Aeronautics Board now FAA) certification and established the FIRST ALL-CARGO Scheduled Route 100 from Los Angeles to Boston with points in between. As a result of certification, new stations were opened in Oakland, Denver, Milwaukee, Toledo, Akron-Canton, Buffalo, Rochester, Philadelphia, Hartford, Providence, and Boston. What aviation news will you check out next? Thank You For Your Service, and It was my honor to help make your trip a little better. During 1969, the CL-44s and B707s left the fleet as the addition of DC-8s took their place. After spending 1968 with 3RD MARDIV, came home aboard a luxurious Braniff 707. We all knew that some going would not make it back alive. 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. Today. I have no comment for this person, He/she is beyond help. As in Korea, these flights carried both cargo as well as military personnel and their dependents. Ninety-three of these were enlisted with the US Army, with the remaining three being from South Vietnam. By the mid-1980s, Flying Tigers operated scheduled cargo service to six continents and served 58 countries. 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. There was more to this exciting excursion. A true airfreighted with a unique swing-tail design, the CL-44 permitted the straight-in loading of freight no other plane could carry. 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. Others slept for hours, exhausted and often traumatized from their experiences in Vietnam. Free shipping for many products! Excellent Article. Until now, I mostly ignored the efforts of these people (especially the attendants they saw, heard & felt all of it). /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. 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. I then went back to my seat with a book after putting that slip of paper in my wallet. In the years during and after World War II, military veterans were given special preference to purchase or lease government surplus aircraft. 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. From the beginning, Prescott had a vision for the company: "We're unique, so let's not imitate. For military personnel, it was a deeply emotional journey in both directions. With the Boeing 707s supplemented by Canadair CL-44s, Flying Tigers supplied U.S. military forces and became the largest carrier of cargo in the Pacific. Expansion WebFlying 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. I was so wrapped up in my own personal trauma that I thought they were being so nice because they were paid to, not because they wanted to. On September 9, 1958, a Flying Tiger Line. The new Flying Tiger airline had its own military role; carrying cargo and troops back and forth to the war in Vietnam. The new Flying Tiger airline had its own military role; carrying cargo and troops back and forth to the war in Vietnam. I too was older at 25 and remember them well. Federal Express (FM / FDX) Base / Main Hub. Travel the world, the ad said. I have just relived a very important part of my young life, thru these articles and the loving responses. 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 Tiger Line was ramping up operations in Vietnam, too, and its believed maintenance standards dropped as a result of increased demand. God Bless those women who helped me on those hours headed home to start to feel like I might still have some humanity left in me. 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. High over the Pacific, These flights were also a powerful and moving experience for a generation of young women who served aboard these aircraft as flight attendants. Each of the awesome giants flies more than 200,000 pounds of cargo at 575 miles per hour over a 3,500-mile range. In August 87, the newly re-engined DC8-73DF freighter came online with the Tiger fleet of B-747s and B-727s. (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. Thank you Jason for a story well told. Was processed out of the Army at Fort Lewis, got a military standby flight for$11. 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. Remember the illumination flares as we were coming in on final as the sun had not come up yet. Mosher. 7 Aug 1989. Thanks for the wonderful article. (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. Touching essay. Great, I had the opportunity to fly w/those ladies one great experience,,! From 1979 to 1980 the Flying Tiger Line passed Pan Am to become the world's number one air cargo carrier. I would have been on Flying Tigers returning to the states. As in Korea, these flights carried both cargo as well as military personnel and their dependents. Its ultimate destination was the Vietnamese city of Saigon, to which it was transporting 96 soldiers. A FLY-IN COMMUNITY! Hard to not have an emotional moment while reading. Thanks so much to all the people that participated in this adventure and thanks for helping us all get there and back. 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