But soon after they started working troop transports to Southeast Asia, the women realized that the job required a whole different set of skills. Sources: ATDB.aero, Aviation Safety Network, The Free Lance-Star. The plane very quiet, My tours were 67 to 68 and 68 to 69, My second tour i was stationed in Saigon , my unit had a small crew break room where the transit crews rested between flights. So they tried to keep it light. The soldiers on Flight 739 were on a mission to do whatever the government told them to do, Kirk said. The flight attendant standing at the top said see you in a year, Ill be wearing the same dress. With Tigers, they said, OK, make sure your hair isnt longer than your shoulders, and get on the plane.. Copyright 2023 Flying Media. I came back on a USAF flight as I was in a 1-1/2 hip spika cast they called it. More on this later). Check out our flying tigers airlines selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. It was a vivid reminder we were entering a war zone. Crossing the international date line was my experience in time travel. Put on the clothing and shoes that I had been wearing befor going to war. 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. 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. (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. As Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Flying Tiger Line the world's largest all-cargo airline, I had the direct responsibility for our operations in South Vietnam. we sat silently in the darkness almost trying to will ourselves into that jet thru the air. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Air Jet Advance Flying Tiger Cargo Airlines 1:200 B747 Freighter Model Airplane at the best online prices at eBay! 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. Thanks for the wonderful article. SOLD!!! The flight attendants, although very young themselves, couldnt believe how young the troops were just 17 and 18 in some cases. A fine bunch of people. I went to Nam aboard a ship which very nicely cut 21 days off my tour. Flew over on Military Transport (think it was a 141) The flight was a complete 3 stooges movie MATS had trouble w/plane. Wish I still knew a few of these darlings. For the government not to recognize them is heartbreaking, she said. Pre-Owned. 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. Daniel Dattpla IIFFV Original Party. Her reporting has taken her from an international airport terminal under construction to foot patrols with U.S. Marines outside combat outposts in Iraq and Afghanistan. The airplaneand all 107 people on board it disappeared over the Pacific Ocean before it reached a planned stopover in the Philippines, becoming the biggest aviation mystery to emerge from what would become a decade of conflict. A keen amateur photographer, he also recently reached the milestone of flying his 100th sector as a passenger. 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. Thank you so much angels. Welcome Home with many thank you for all your support of the Vietnam veterans!! But for the ladies I say Thank you I was one of those 18 year old boys that was scared to death. Reach further with Vietnam Airlines flights, a Skyteam member and a global leading 4-Star Skytrax and awarded airline. About the only scenario that's been ruled out is. Flying Tigers continued to fly military troops and cargo into Vietnam during the war years. 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. The cabbie just handed out this yellow paper and drove off, Kirk said. It began on Christmas Day, 1950, with Operation STEM, America's Special Technical & Economic Mission, the cover for . To us, they were all beauty queens! Phnom Penh, against a background of advancing NVA troops in Vietnam, it describes the relations among the crew and their motivation and features a pet cockroach named Hiram and a 'mother' to the crew aged 13. Pre-Owned. 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. However, Kadena was not able to resupply the galley but the crew got a lot of junk food to hold us over till we got to Tokyo where we were off-loaded again and the plane was serviced. The first two of these saw delays due to engine maintenance having to be carried out. Unfortunately for me I returned in a Medevac flight from Japan Yokosuka Naval Hospital. 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 I know the feelings, having done the flights in 68 & 70. Out of rocket range. 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. $375.00. It would be the first of a list of expected things that wouldnt materialize for the family, according to Kirk. 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 was on those flights, twice over and back although on other carriers. Shared with Public Cleaning up today and found this binder. I very much enjoyed it and had no idea that those very attractive young ladies felt that way about us. This article is an important read. this a definitive journey All attempts to re-establish contact with the flight were unsuccessful.. I went to Nam not on a Flying Tiger plane, and made it back home in one piece with no PTSD, only a parasite from the veggies. The women working the cabin on those flights were still known as stewardesses, not flight attendants, and they walked like fashion models down the aisles. (1946-1951), C-46 Gen. -- The Curtis C-46 "Commando" that Flying Tigers flew on supply missions over the Hump during World War II came home for civilian duty, joining Flying Tigers' fleet in 1949. 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. (Pinterest) 15 March 1962: Flying Tiger Line Flight 7815/13 was a chartered flight for the Military Air Transport Service (M.A.T.S. God Bless you all. from Greece (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. Free shipping for many products! Fosters opposition to the war only intensified; she attended anti-war meetings and demonstrations on her days off. 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. 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. 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. 60 Years Missing: The Mystery Of Flying Tiger Line Flight 739, marked the first day of the Vietnam War Campaign, USAF Shot Down 3 Unidentified Objects That Posed Threat To Civilian Aircraft, U.S. Military Collecting Debris From Downed Spy Balloon. According to the Aviation Safety Network, it first flew in 1957, and had amassed a total of 17,224 hours. Specifically equipped with weather monitoring equipment and scientific instrumentation, one 707 (Aircraft N322FT), gained fame as the "Pole Cat." Those ladies had a very important part in the war and they are to be commended for their service. I flew out of Travis and came home the same way 3 times during 68-70. Itprovides a unique insight into the economics and marketing of inter-national airlines. Flying Tiger Line Flight 739 went missing on March 16, 1962, with 93 U.S. Army soldiers on board. The aircraft was lost and no part was found in spite of one of the most extensive searches ever conducted in the history of aviation, ICAO said. 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. It was really a struggle to decide what was right or what was wrong, said Okicich. Then all the guys just could not be held down by the stewerdesses and they did not even try to quiet the guys. Their names have been excluded from the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., a wrong their families are trying to right. Thanks so much to all the people that participated in this adventure and thanks for helping us all get there and back. I went to Vietnam on a ship so we had 21 days to prepare our minds unlike the guys traveling by plane that had only a few hours to prepare! 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. Touching essay. 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. https://open.spotify.com/show/5Th7BCpIKDE1hVTqNL3u0Q. Just reading this article brings tears to my eyes. $27.95. All rights reserved. US Army CNN The families of soldiers lost while taking part in a secret US mission during. 60 Years Missing: The Mystery Of Flying Tiger Line Flight 739 In the opening days of the Vietnam War, an aircraft carrying 107 people went missing as it was en route to Saigon on a secret. The monument in Maine has given many families a sense of peace that finally their loved ones names are recognized. Opens in a new window or tab. Sponsored. While in Alaska stopping and refueling I was only 1/2 way through a mountain of pancakes, sausage and eggs smothered with Maple syrup when they announce for all out bound corpsmen to report immediately for departure. Some say it was sabotage, she said. And welcome home. Despite the intensity of the operations, many flight attendants found the military contract flights rewarding and continued to serve on them for years. Great article with great info, I remember in 1968 when I went. I know there were bad times but your article brought back memories I forgot I had. 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. a light greenish blue $35.00. (It didnt work out. Nothing about lithium batteries in here, but tigers did fly about every type of ammunition and explosives back in the day and it never caused an accident. Six decades later, and the families of those onboard Flight 739 still dont know what happened. 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. The airline industry is always full of new developments! Very interesting. THe girls (attendants) were great cant saw much for the people of California . Their service to our military was so much more than just being a flight attendant on their way over or coming home. Flying Tiger Line Flight 739 was a Lockheed Super Constellation aircraft, which is pictured here. I spent one year there and flew 15 missions in Vietnam, 8 north and 7 south. My most vivid memory is of the landing approach into Bien Hoa Airport. After 1970, scheduled commercial service, much of which consisted of Asian imports, rapidly overtook military related contracts as the company's primary source of income. Kimberly is managing editor of FLYING digital. Thanks, DRS. 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. Today. Flying Tigers was a mechanism of the war she opposed. Not certain but I believe Delta may have been one exception. Now going to the USA which I had forgotten about. That sounded good to Linda Greenwalt Foster, who had just dropped out of college and was looking for an adventure. The flight went missing while en route to Vietnam. Based in Norwich, UK. Remember the illumination flares as we were coming in on final as the sun had not come up yet. These flights were also a powerful and moving experience for a generation of young women who served aboard these aircraft as flight attendants. The former stewardesses of Tiger Airlines still reminisce about their experiences with those brave soldiers, coming and going to Vietnam a long time ago. Others supported the war, sympathizing with the soldiers and resenting those who scorned their service. It truly was a great feeling being headed home. Freedom Bird. If not for you, the World would be much worse off. And there were parties every single day and every single night, Foster remembered. These were to take place in Honolulu, Wake Island, Guam, and the Philippines (Clark Air Base). 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. I know you dont remember many of our faces, as we no longer remember yours, but we thank you for taking care for us. 302/3 Kim Ma Street, Ngoc Khanh Ward, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi, Vietnam. Was I really in a real war??? Various conspiracy theories regarding sabotage have arisen, but the flight's exact fate will likely remain unknown. 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. We all knew that some going would not make it back alive. My with stopovers in Honolulu and Wake Island before arriving in Guam. (LogOut/ Imitation lets you catch up to the guy ahead, but never lets you pass." (1945 - 1947). The driver honked his horn but didnt get out. Top Rated Seller. Flying Tiger Line flight 739 was a multi-leg charter service that originated at Travis Air Force Base in the US state of California. This was the Tiger "Can-do" Spirit, may it never die. Looking back, I owe them my deep thanks for doing their job so splendidly despite the emotional roller-coaster they must have been on. /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. A Lockheed Constellation L-1049, similar to the aircraft that disappeared. Flying Tiger aircraft were getting old and worn, but their flight attendants were still top notch. I salute you all ladies!! View Product. Her byline has appeared in numerous online and print publications including Al Jazeera America, USA Today, ForeignPolicy.com and US News & World Report. The six man recon team was on an observation mission near Fire Support Base Alpine, about six miles east of the Laotian Border. In the years during and after World War II, military veterans were given special preference to purchase or lease government surplus aircraft. I was a Flying Tiger Flight Attendant for 5 years, and those many experiences flying into Tan Son Nhut. A little over an hour later, it was expected to reach the coordinates of 140N 1350E. English. 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. The "Flying Tigers" (formally known as the American Volunteer Group or AVG) were famous for being in the fight very early in World War II. Finally the plane started to move down the runway faster and faster. 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.. The food on the airplane had to be thrown away because there was no refrigeration on the aircraft for over 48 hours. I was USAF and made that stop in Alaska. The. And he said, Well, can you put all that aside when youre on the airplane and taking care of these boys? Foster recalled. Flight 7816, a cargo flight, was enroute from Travis Air Force Base, California to Japan. It brought back memories from 68. Wheels up lots of cheering and hope. Travel the world, the ad said. return home flight in July 69 was on a Flying Tigers stretch-8. Flying may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. What was the worst work detail you pulled in Vietnam? Thank you all. The pilot is believed to have misjudged distance and altitude while making the final approach, a report would later conclude. Gotoff the jet and was greated by relatives. I do not dwell on the negatives of that war , but there will always be a part of those of us that served in Vietnam that we would prefer to live without. I do remember the door opening and it was like a blast furnace! It was obvious the airplane had been used a lot, but it was clean and the attendants were friendly and upbeat. The explosion occurred in two pulses lasting between two and three seconds and from it two objects fell into the sea.. $18.00. Theyre being pushed aside to be forgotten, Kirk said. 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. All deals. a version of Purgatory, I went over in February 1970. One day in Vietnam, waiting on the tarmac before a homeward-bound flight, she saw men loading body bags into the belly of the plane. Flying Tiger Line Flight 739 went missing on March 16, 1962, with 93 U.S. Army soldiers on board. Feb.3-8, 1968. Thank you for writing this story, it was way overdue. How much is the cheapest flight to Vietnam? The soldiers onboard were flying there not to fight, but to help train South Vietnamese forces. or Best Offer. Room parties and roof parties and lobby parties and oh, my goodness.. Arrived Travis in daylight and was struck by the absence of bomb craters from my aerial view. Operated primarily on transpacific military contract routes, the planes carried 73,000 pounds of freight at 550 miles per hour over a 3,000 range. A true airfreighted with a unique swing-tail design, the CL-44 permitted the straight-in loading of freight no other plane could carry. Flying Tiger Flight 739 had arrived at Guam at 11:14 GMT from Wake Island. Real Aviation Photos & Videos; Upload New File; Discussion. In March 1962, one such personnel-carrying flight went missing en route to Vietnam. or Best Offer. In January 1953 Flying Tiger intended to lease a 049 from Intercontinental . All rights reserved. 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 brought back a lot of memories. 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. Shamu the whale took a first ride on Flying Tigers. 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. ber 1.000.000 Bilder December 31st, 1968 at the age of 20 we flew from Travis AFB to Anchorage Alaska. Remember the pungent fish smell and heat as we deplaned. 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. On December 22nd, 1968, a man-eating tiger stalked an American team - part of the 3rd Marine Recon Battalion performing a patrol near Quang Tri, Vietnam. from United States. 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. This exhibition, based on extensive interviews with the key participants of the airlift operations, provides insight into their experiences serving aboard the Freedom Birds. 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. Thanks! Great article, spot on! 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. After all the things i remember about my viet nam year , i never remembered about the flight to or from . 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. I know that I should have written to her while I was in Vietnam, but like things go I had more important thoughts on my mind such as surviving and looking out for my men. 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! Conditions were, however, well within the weather minimums set for the airline at the landing strip of a 400-ft ceiling and three-quarter-miles visibility, a report later noted. Budd Conestoga Gen. -- Flying Tiger Line's first aircraft was the Budd Conestoga, an all -- stainless steel, rear--loading, twin--engine aircraft. During her position on the Board she was editor of the Newsletter from May 2007 through March 2014; as well as coordinating the 500 Club Board in the Flying Tigers room at Flight Path Museum and Learning Center. Forums Index - All forums; Portal page; MSFS 2020; FSX - FS2004 and Earlier This exhibition is currently available online only. No one was home, but a neighbor walked up to the car. Last year, Wreaths Across America founder Morrill Worcester erected a monument at the site bearing the names of those lost on the flight, creating the only memorial to the incident in existence. Related thread from 2010: (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. Thank you Flying Tiger! Really hurt thinking about that after I was out in the field for a couple of weeks on c-rations. With this plane's nose-loading capabilities, Flying Tigers accommodated even more challenging air freight combinations in size, shape and quantity. And this aricle brought back many memories, both sad & scared, and delighted and full of joy! Ardith, I know we GIs werent always gentlemen, but thank you so very much for all that you and your sister attendants did for us on our flights too and from that hell hole of a war in SAE. Theres nothing, no trace of anything, said Jennifer Kirk, niece of an Army Ranger who was on board Flight 739. Notable among the Tigers' achievements were their participation in both the Korean and Vietnam airlifts. Flying the Freedom Birds: Airlines and the Vietnam War. 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. We crossed over the international dateline and it became the 2nd of January. 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