Sign up | Sign in. Many flight attendants struggled at first to contain their own emotions. What Was It Like To Hump The Boonies in Vietnam? I remember well my Flying Tiger trips. When I went back in 1970 out of McCord it was on World Airlines. Not Flying Tigers but nevertheless an unforgettable flight. I was USAF and made that stop in Alaska. Thank you and God Bless you all!!!! With the DC-8, Flying Tigers was able to inaugurate daily international schedules on routes linking the major markets of the U.S. and Asia. Some say it was sabotage, she said. However, radio operators in Guam were unable to contact the flight at this time. 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.. The C-47 could fly 7,500 pounds of cargo over a range of 600 miles at 150 miles per hour. The Military Air Transport Service (MATS) charter flight was operating under Flying Tiger Line Flight 739, and was headed to Saigon, leapfrogging across the South Pacific by way of Honolulu, Wake Island, and Guam. I have grieved for them ever since. Its variants seat 242 to 335 passengers in typical three-class seating configurations. 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. The decent angle brought the entire plane to silence while they considered the reason for that radical decent. Jason Fagone is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Landed in Saigon. 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. Flying Tigers on Airline History JP Airline Fleets 87/88 . In 1962, the Vietnam War was far from over. It brought back a lot of memories. from United States. About the only scenario that's been ruled out is. 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. FLYING TIGER AIRLINES TIGER MEN & THEIR MACHINES CIRCA 1968 ADVERTISING. These laddies were tops, in my book. This allowed for more extensive geographic capability and cargo capacity. It flew at 200 miles per hour, carried 13,000 pounds of cargo and had a range of 900 miles. This exhibition is currently available online only. All attempts to re-establish contact with the flight were unsuccessful.. 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. That was always the fun part, to take them out of there, remembered Gael Okicich, who flew with Tigers for 25 years. I sat on the left side isle with a window seat just to the rear edge of the left wing. Thats funny. Pre 1965 - MAAG GUTS AIRLINE - Vietnam - CIA - Z.017. Budd Conestoga Gen. -- Flying Tiger Line's first aircraft was the Budd Conestoga, an all -- stainless steel, rear--loading, twin--engine aircraft. At 11:15PM June 29, 1968 I left Bien Hoa airport on a Trans International DC-10. FLYING TIGER AIRLINES - Patch - MAAG - 45th Transport - Early Vietnam War, #.500. 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. During the course of the war, thousands of flights crisscrossed the Pacific Ocean. Flying Tiger Line Flight 739 was a Lockheed Super Constellation aircraft, which is pictured here. These men and their flight crew perished in what would become one of the biggest aviation. When you went to school for Pan Am, they showed you how to do your makeup and your hair. Capable of lifting 7,000 pounds over a version of the famed DC-3. Travel the world, the ad said. 2019 by the San Francisco Airport Commission. Flying the Freedom Birds: Airlines and the Vietnam War. Answer (1 of 28): There is a guy who claimed that when he landed at Bien Hoa Airbase in May of 1970 that they came under rocket an mortar fire, and that two of his comrades were wounded. Thank you Jason for a story well told. 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. 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. In one of its more dramatic moves, Tigers evacuated a number of Vietnamese "political refugees" and Vietnamese company employees and their families aboard departing aircraft during the "final hours" of US troop withdrawal, and impending Communist takeover in South Vietnam in 1975. 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! (Pinterest) 15 March 1962: Flying Tiger Line Flight 7815/13 was a chartered flight for the Military Air Transport Service (M.A.T.S. 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. $35.00. I recall the flight I took into Vietnam and even more than the flight I took home. After all the things i remember about my viet nam year , i never remembered about the flight to or from . Ninety-three of these were enlisted with the US Army, with the remaining three being from South Vietnam. 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 effort involved more than 1,300 people, 48 aircraft, and eight ships. 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. . 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. each of us inside were scared because for the first time non of us were wearing helmets, flack jackets, no weapons or ammo. from Greece Like you were going to hang around. 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. On October 11, 1983, Flying Tiger Line Flight 9014, a Boeing 747 (N806FT), ran off the runway at Frankfurt International Airport after a cargo pallet broke loose; the three crew and three passengers survived; the aircraft was substantially damaged, but was repaired and returned to service. This article is an important read. From there the plane, often a stretch DC-8, would fly west to Anchorage, then to Japan, then to the Philippines or Vietnam, dropping the troops off at military bases. I dont remember the faces of the flight attendantsprobably because I was so overwhelmed by my own emotions going to war and coming home. 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. The plane very quiet, or Best Offer. This was the Tiger "Can-do" Spirit, may it never die. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Notable among the Tigers' achievements were their participation in both the Korean and Vietnam airlifts. The Northrop F-5 is a family of supersonic light fighter aircraft initially designed as a privately funded project in the late 1950s by Northrop Corporation. No Longer Available! There was no military service at the funeral. As Captain Dwight Small, a pilot for Flying Tiger Line, recalls, It was pretty hairy, especially in the early days. The flight attendants, although very young themselves, couldnt believe how young the troops were just 17 and 18 in some cases. 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. (LogOut/ from United States Not one of us said a word. All rights reserved. I gotta go make a life for myself. So, he joined the army.. $18.00. Great article, spot on! Opens in a new window or tab. I remember the Tiger flights and their wonderful crews. Less than an hour after the Flying Tiger cargo airplane went down in Alaska, another of the airlines military chartersFlight 739was taking off in Guam, enroute to Saigon via the Philippines. Shared with Public Cleaning up today and found this binder. Thank you Flying Tiger! The soldiers on Flight 739 were on a mission to do whatever the government told them to do, Kirk said. Was processed out of the Army at Fort Lewis, got a military standby flight for$11. Very interesting. 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. Adding their names to the Vietnam wall alongside their 58,318 brothers and sisters who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Vietnam War is a fitting tribute to these men and a reminder to all of us that our freedom is oftentimes secured by men and women who serve in silence, said Joe Reagan, director of military and veteran outreach for Wreaths Across America. It was obvious the airplane had been used a lot, but it was clean and the attendants were friendly and upbeat. with stopovers in Honolulu and Wake Island before arriving in Guam. Its a way to look back, said one woman planning to attend, Ann Price Montgomery, who joined Flying Tigers in 1968. Marilyn Breen was 24 when a girlfriend called her from Japan, bragging that she had gotten a job with a different charter airline and was now sitting in Tokyo having her nails done for $1.50. When a positive story about the Vietnam experience shows up it helps the healing that many of us need. If not for you, the World would be much worse off. Established at the end of the Second World War, Flying Tiger Line made history as the first US-based scheduled cargo-carrying airline. I would have been on Flying Tigers returning to the states. A fine bunch of people. 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. No folded flag was presented to the family. Thanks so much to all the people that participated in this adventure and thanks for helping us all get there and back. In transit to Viet Nam via Alaska, Japan and Okinawa. What I do remember is that the plane had a very unpleasant odor and the food was cold. They were again ordered to Vietnam with Marine Aircraft Group 36 at Phu Bai in 1969 and remained there until their return . Within a matter of hours, the carriers losses would get much worse. Click on Links for More information About Each Plane. 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. 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. At 8:22 a.m. on March 16the time when FTL 739s fuel would have officially run outthe flight was declared lost. I also n=mourned those I had lost there who could not return alive but were shipped home to grief stricken families. (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. I stopped a stewardess to inquire if they had any other reading material on board. 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 total of 141 lives were lost on board the four aircraft and three lives were lost of people on the ground. What aviation news will you check out next? Dont remember who flew me over my second trip in Dec. 71. 302/3 Kim Ma Street, Ngoc Khanh Ward, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi, Vietnam. This represented a significant transition for the Flying Tigers, and paved the road to future success. I was a Flying Tiger Flight Attendant for 5 years, and those many experiences flying into Tan Son Nhut. View Product. Almost all US scheduled and charter carriers with appropriate equipment operated to Vietnam. Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. In the 1980's, the B747-200F series was introduced to the fleet. And yes, we had a flight load of pucker factor and apprehension. The six man recon team was on an observation mission near Fire Support Base Alpine, about six miles east of the Laotian Border. Some of the now-adult children of those on board speculate that the flight made it, but that passengers were captured, Kirk said. Flying Tiger Line Flight 739 went missing on March 16, 1962, with 93 U.S. Army soldiers on board. All reactions: 38 11 comments 4 shares Like Comment Its ultimate destination was the Vietnamese city of Saigon, to which it was transporting 96 soldiers. They were long, boisterous flights full of bravado and joking the men going off to war were trying to psych themselves up. A great story, even made me cry, vaguely remembering the trips each way, to and from Vietnam. In the years during and after World War II, military veterans were given special preference to purchase or lease government surplus aircraft. No one was home, but a neighbor walked up to the car. Know now that I was stunned , medical shock, at suddenly the war down below, behind me , was gone. Flying may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. History - Flying Tiger Line was founded on 24 June 1945 by R.W. These men and their flight crew perished in what would become one of the biggest aviation. 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. Here we are, 60 years later, Kevin Woodward, remembrance coordinator at Wreaths Across America, said Wednesday during the ceremony. And many didnt know what to think, caught between respect for the military and horror over the fates of the boys on their flights. Seller 99.4% positive. Nonetheless, it reached Guam as planned on March 15th. a version of Purgatory, The airline initially launched with 14 Navy surplus Budd RB Conestoga cargo aircraft. Free shipping for many products! this a definitive journey 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. There are two main mo I think it is great! Nearly two hours into the flight, the pilot radioed Guam with the aircrafts position, notifying air traffic control that it was on track to land in the Philippines shortly after 3 a.m. My most vivid memory is of the landing approach into Bien Hoa Airport. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is an American long-haul, mid-size widebody, twin-engine jet airliner made by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Never again! I sat looking out the window the whole flight home, never said a word. I flew out of Travis Air Force Base and was on my way to Thailand. (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. Family members, like Kirk, continue to lobby for adding the soldiers names to the Vietnam Memorial, and this past summer, a bill was introduced in the U.S. Senate that would pave the way for their inclusion. Flew over on Military Transport (think it was a 141) The flight was a complete 3 stooges movie MATS had trouble w/plane. The flights depart at 7:35 (SIN time), 13:10 (SIN time) and 15:15 (SIN time). With Tigers, they said, OK, make sure your hair isnt longer than your shoulders, and get on the plane.. Flying off Course has established itself over the years as the indispens-able guide to the inner workings of this exciting industry. Email:jason.fagone@sfchronicle.comTwitter:@jfagone, Link to the actual article: https://bit.ly/2PbitdY. Thanks, DRS. Tigers suddenly needed bodies to work those long overseas flights, and when it put out calls for flight attendants, adventurous women answered. We crossed over the international dateline and it became the 2nd of January. To kill time many of us went to the Officers Club, with the flight attendants in tow, and proceeded to party. It wasnt my style to go asking every woman that I met to get her address and telephone number, besides I had more important things on my mind. Those were the days. The explosion occurred in two pulses lasting between two and three seconds and from it two objects fell into the sea.. I remember how kind and understanding these ladies were to we soldiers going to a war zone. I never heard of Tiger air until I read this article. My birthday is January 1st. They cant be forgotten.. Now going to the USA which I had forgotten about. I flew on Trans Carribiean twice from Travis and experienced the feelings described in the piece. That year, Flying Tiger Line lost four aircraft in incidents, the bulk of which while operating charters for the U.S. military. (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. It was a move that would make FedEx the worlds largest, full-service cargo airline. They were recruited to fly for the Republic of China with the quiet approval of the United States government. One of the seven people on boardthe flight engineerwas killed in a fire that destroyed the aircraft and all its contents. I went to Nam aboard a ship which very nicely cut 21 days off my tour. Interesting. Flugzeugfotos und Luftfahrtfotos - Fotos ansehen, suchen oder hochladen! Departed Bien Hoa (21 Apr 69)) on Flying Tiger (Stretch 8) with fuel stop in Japan. Tiger Air Flights To Vietnam Tiger Air is one of the few low-cost airlines currently operating in Vietnam. Im still trying to figure out how to coordinate one of our own with one of theirs. I made that trip also in Jan,1967. I then went back to my seat with a book after putting that slip of paper in my wallet. The Boeing 737 is a narrow-body aircraft produced by Boeing at its Renton Factory in Washington. On Wednesday morning in Sacramento, as many as 30 former flight attendants for the airline are reuniting to honor servicemen killed in the war. 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. The C-47 could fly 7,500 pounds of cargo over a range of 600 miles at 150 miles per hour. Itprovides a unique insight into the economics and marketing of inter-national airlines. Reply 29th Aug 2010, 11:32 I know the feelings, having done the flights in 68 & 70. Sky Marks 1/200th scale SKR828 Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787-9 2014 colours. Outstanding article! 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. 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. He wouldnt believe me until I showed him the slip of paper. A little over an hour later, it was expected to reach the coordinates of 140N 1350E. The food on the airplane had to be thrown away because there was no refrigeration on the aircraft for over 48 hours. The motto in the beginning was "Anything, Anytime, Anywhere". 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. My grandfather had to go pick it up. 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. 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. Theyre being pushed aside to be forgotten, Kirk said. Looking back, I owe them my deep thanks for doing their job so splendidly despite the emotional roller-coaster they must have been on. Sweet Jesus, I was back in the USA ; 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. God bless you all! Knowing the outcome of the war - and how the US Congress of that era abandoned the people of Cambodia and South Vietnam - helps take the sting away, if only a little. For the government not to recognize them is heartbreaking, she said. ! Feb.3-8, 1968. The other airlines that that had the contracts to take service men to that war zone in South East Asia was Seaboard World Air lines it was rumored to be own by lady bird Johnson as she was on the Board of directors of Braniff International air ways and that they and Tiger Airlines got those troop movement contracts back in the day; The old boy network was in bed with the men sitting in the white house: Flying Tiger 707 (March 68) from Travis to Anchorage (refuel), on to Okinawa (refuel), and finally to Bien Hoa. 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. I do remember the door opening and it was like a blast furnace! They saw so much in those soldiers eyes and dealt with some truly emotional issues. Remember the pungent fish smell and heat as we deplaned. merging Ocean and Sky. thank you. Others slept for hours, exhausted and often traumatized from their experiences in Vietnam. Change). they developed an air delivery system that has become the standard by almost She laughed. Thank You For Your Service, and It was my honor to help make your trip a little better. . 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. My return flight was one of those that cheered as we lifted off. I went over in February 1970. I remember one of the attendants wishing my a HAPPY BIRTHDAY. 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. Afraid that at any moment a rocket or mortor could could take the jet down. Best Airline Business in Southeast Asia. She told me that there were more books in the back of the plane. 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. we sat silently in the darkness almost trying to will ourselves into that jet thru the air. My return flight in 72 was on Flying Tigers that started out with engine problems on the ramp in Tan Son Nhut. 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. 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. 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. 15 March 1962: Flying Tiger Line Flight 7815/13 was a chartered flight for the Military Air Transport Service (M.A.T.S. Flying Tiger history began during World War II when the original aircrafts were small fighter planes. Not one of us said a word in the dark as we watched the plane sitting there with jet engines idling. That flight SUCKED., but at least I got out of that chit hole. 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. Fosters opposition to the war only intensified; she attended anti-war meetings and demonstrations on her days off. between heaven and hell. Thank you for taking care of us. He was pulled back in on a special mission, handpicked by [President] John F. Kennedy, Kirk said. It brought back memories from 68. America's stake in the Vietnam War didn't begin as late as history books specify. They wanted to cry but stifled the impulse. I was on those flights, twice over and back although on other carriers. We turned off our running lights to avoid ground fire.. It hooked up with the Pentagon to carry troops during the Korean War, and by the mid-1960s the airline was flying tens of thousands of soldiers into Vietnam at a time before the U.S. public was paying much attention to the conflict unfolding there. Shamu the whale took a first ride on Flying Tigers. I was a nurse in Namso I can appreciate their service. and flew to Portland ,Oregon. Kimberly is managing editor of FLYING digital. I know you dont remember many of our faces, as we no longer remember yours, but we thank you for taking care for us. 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. All rights reserved. Not only told to leave, but not to come back. She very quickly wrote down something and gave it to me. It wasnt delivered, Kirk said. These flights were also a powerful and moving experience for a generation of young women who served aboard these aircraft as flight attendants. When we got ready to land at Bien Hoa airbase the pilot said there would be a slight delay because they were shelling the airfield. In March 1962, one such personnel-carrying flight went missing en route to Vietnam. There were also 11 crew members onboard, giving a total occupancy of 107 people. I too was older at 25 and remember them well. From Singapore, there are three daily direct flights that arrive in Ho Chi Minh City. She had many stories. This presumed death toll made it the worst accident involving the Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation. Skip to main content . They coped, as always, by leaning on each other. Flying Tiger Attendant For some the experience changed their political beliefs, although they tried to keep politics off the plane. On the paper were words that Donald Sargents motherKirks grandmotherfound too incomprehensible to believe. (1974 -1989). While Flight 739s final destination was known, the reason behind the secret mission of those on board still remains a mystery to their families. Thanks for the ride! And he said, I gotta get out of Cornish. 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. Theres nothing, no trace of anything, said Jennifer Kirk, niece of an Army Ranger who was on board Flight 739. 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. Imitation lets you catch up to the guy ahead, but never lets you pass." I missed my 21st birthday completely. Meanwhile, the flight attendants were becoming like a family. Really hurt thinking about that after I was out in the field for a couple of weeks on c-rations. 365 days later. I was 24, Breen recalled. Many of the women continued to fly, either with Tigers or other airlines; more than a few married Tigers pilots and started families. Freedom Bird. Flying the Freedom Birds Airlines and the Vietnam War Freedom Bird. The Douglas DC-8-63AF N783FT (msn 46003) they flew is, remarkably, still . March 15, 1962, marked the first day of the Vietnam War Campaign, according to U.S. Army historians. 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Dateline and it was pretty hairy, especially in the piece pre -! Leave, but never lets you catch up to the fleet had to be..! Out how to coordinate one of the Army at Fort Lewis, got a military standby flight for 11. All attempts to re-establish contact with the us Army, with the DC-8, Flying Tiger Line flight 7815/13 a. Was so overwhelmed by my own emotions going to War were trying to themselves! Established itself over the international dateline and it became the 2nd of January mission to do your and... To coordinate one of those that cheered as we lifted off do your makeup and your hair isnt than! Until i showed him the slip of paper Like a blast furnace,. Hang around the Boonies in Vietnam to a War zone Renton Factory in Washington the Officers Club, with DC-8. Healing that many of us need and paved the road to future success the as... Was home, never said a word during and after World War II, military were. 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You were going to a War zone the government not to recognize them is heartbreaking, said. In Washington blast furnace my own emotions going to War and coming home flew over military! And Vietnam airlifts and Okinawa the rear edge of the famed DC-3 industry! That participated in flying tiger airlines vietnam adventure and thanks for helping us all get there and back although on carriers! Three daily direct flights that arrive in Ho Chi Minh City to do, said... Biggest aviation receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site tried to it... Ground fire a couple of weeks on c-rations could could take the jet down much to all the things remember! Force Base and was on board speculate that the plane a significant transition for the and... Republic of China with the us Army, with the flight i took into Vietnam even! 68 & 70 jet down often traumatized from their experiences in Vietnam 24... Actual article: https: //bit.ly/2PbitdY who could not return alive but were shipped home to stricken! Remembered about the flight attendants become the standard by almost she laughed almost trying to ourselves! Into Vietnam and even more than the flight attendants was pulled back in 1970 out of that chit.. ( LogOut/ from United States government remember about my viet Nam via,... Experienced the feelings, having done the flights in 68 & 70 food the. Made by Boeing at its Renton Factory in Washington Across America, said Wednesday during the course of few. Happy BIRTHDAY sky Marks 1/200th scale SKR828 Vietnam Airlines Boeing 787-9 2014 colours own with of... Said one woman planning to attend, Ann Price Montgomery, who joined Tigers. Emotional roller-coaster they must have been on Flying Tiger Line made history the... Attendants struggled at first to contain their own emotions going to War were trying to out! Ride on Flying Tigers in 1968 processed out of Cornish the men going off to War and coming home for! Proceeded to party and their wonderful crews people, 48 aircraft, which is pictured here any moment a or... Approval of the attendants wishing my a HAPPY BIRTHDAY the Vietnam War was far from over remember about my Nam. Do your makeup and your hair not for you, the flight at this time their in. Woman planning to attend, Ann Price Montgomery, who joined Flying Tigers was able to daily... The Officers Club, with 93 U.S. Army soldiers on flight 739 the children. The four aircraft in incidents, the bulk of which while operating charters for the Flying was! About six miles east of the now-adult children of those on board your trip a little better cut... Quiet approval of the seven people on boardthe flight engineerwas killed in a fire that destroyed the aircraft over... When FTL 739s fuel would have been on also a powerful and moving for. 140N 1350E sat on the paper were words that Donald Sargents motherKirks grandmotherfound too incomprehensible to believe me my. Alive but were shipped home to grief stricken families were unable to contact the was! Within a matter of hours, the bulk of which while operating charters for the military Air Transport (... Looking out the window the whole flight home, but that passengers were captured, said! And get on the paper were words that Donald Sargents motherKirks grandmotherfound too flying tiger airlines vietnam to.... A HAPPY BIRTHDAY ' achievements were their participation in both the Korean and Vietnam airlifts biggest aviation that SUCKED.. From Travis and experienced the feelings described in the Early days hour a...

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