flying tiger airlines vietnam
Thank you stewardesses. (LogOut/ That sounded good to Linda Greenwalt Foster, who had just dropped out of college and was looking for an adventure. On March 6, 1967, Flying Tigers first DC8-63F aircraft arrived. After spending 1968 with 3RD MARDIV, came home aboard a luxurious Braniff 707. She had no idea what the job entailed until she arrived for the interview and a man with the airline asked what she thought of the war. Jason Fagone is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. I flew out of Travis and came home the same way 3 times during 68-70. I flew on Trans Carribiean twice from Travis and experienced the feelings described in the piece. The flight attendant standing at the top said see you in a year, Ill be wearing the same dress. As in Korea, these flights carried both cargo as well as military personnel and their dependents. The training had little to do with hospitality, focusing instead on emergency procedures, like how to ditch a plane after a crash or what to do if the plane drew gunfire. And he said, Well, can you put all that aside when youre on the airplane and taking care of these boys? Foster recalled. 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. 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]. Their service to our military was so much more than just being a flight attendant on their way over or coming home. It supplied and supported covert operations in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War, including providing support for drug smuggling in Laos. Travel the world, the ad said. These were to take place in Honolulu, Wake Island, Guam, and the Philippines (Clark Air Base). I would have been on Flying Tigers returning to the states. Flying Tiger Line Flight 739 was a Lockheed Super Constellation aircraft, which is pictured here. I have no comment for this person, He/she is beyond help. Canadair CL-44 War touches more people than the veterans who fought in it. 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 . 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! Flying Tiger was my airline of choice. During the Vietnam years the Flying Tiger Line also worked overtime for the US Postal Service. Journalist - A graduate in German, Jake has a passion for aviation history, and enjoys sampling new carriers and aircraft even if doing so demands an unorthodox itinerary. The C-46s flew the domestic operation while the C-54s remained in overseas charter service. Tiger's Ad Hoc Charter livestock flights provided airlift for exotic animals. Flying Tiger Line flight 739 was a multi-leg charter service that originated at Travis Air Force Base in the US state of California. God Bless you all. 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. I remember we had trouble on departure from Travis and then landed at Hickham and had to spend the night awaiting a replacement aircraft. Specifically equipped with weather monitoring equipment and scientific instrumentation, one 707 (Aircraft N322FT), gained fame as the "Pole Cat." It was really a struggle to decide what was right or what was wrong, said Okicich. This presumed death toll made it the worst accident involving the Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation. All the ladies on all the flights were outstanding, especially the ones on the flight home that handled some of the rude guys in isle seats. Various conspiracy theories regarding sabotage have arisen, but the flight's exact fate will likely remain unknown. Contact Thank you to all who came out to join us for our BBQ Fly-in! The aircraft was operating a Military Air Transport Service (MATS) cargo flight from Travis AFB to Kadena Air Base. Also in 1946, Flying Tigers moved from Mines Field to the Lockheed Air Terminal in Burbank, California. On September 3, 1983, Flying Tigers inaugurated scheduled B-747 service to Australia. The plane very quiet, Was I really in a real war??? Leslie Pfeifer served aboard Flying Tiger Line from 1967 to 1970, making 75 return flights to South Vietnam. The companys participation in the Peruvian Airlift aided earthquake victims in the quake devastated country. Airline Founded. Federal Express (FM / FDX) Base / Main Hub. Sources: ATDB.aero, Aviation Safety Network, The Free Lance-Star. It was a vivid reminder we were entering a war zone. On this last leg, the passengers are much more somber and thinking ahead to their landing in the war zone. 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. So they tried to keep it light. 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. 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. Hard to not have an emotional moment while reading. 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. Early in 1961, the first of the Canadair CL-44 all-cargo aircraft joined the flying Tiger Fleet. On August 7, 1989, Federal Express merged Flying Tigers into its operations. [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. Expansion THe girls (attendants) were great cant saw much for the people of California . I about cried having to leave half of what might have been my last meal. Now going to the USA which I had forgotten about. It was an effort conceived and accomplished by Flying Tigers employees throughout the companys world-wide system. I came back on a USAF flight as I was in a 1-1/2 hip spika cast they called it. Crossing the international date line was my experience in time travel. This represented a significant transition for the Flying Tigers, and paved the road to future success. In 1965, Flying Tiger Line began operating jet aircraft when on September, 27, On September 9, 1958, a Flying Tiger Line. Ceased operations. I was on those flights, twice over and back although on other carriers. My return flight in 72 was on Flying Tigers that started out with engine problems on the ramp in Tan Son Nhut. In December 1946, Flying Tigers received its first Transpacific Military Contract, flying C-54s to Tokyo and Hawaii. In 1965, Flying Tiger Line began operating jet aircraft when on September, 27, Not sure if the change in mood was due to smoked joints and beer, but it sure didnt hurt any. [1] It was headquartered on the grounds of Los Angeles International Airport in Westchester, Los Angeles, California. The former stewardesses of Tiger Airlines still reminisce about their experiences with those brave soldiers, coming and going to Vietnam a long time ago. 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. 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! Hengi, Midland Publishing, List of defunct airlines of the United States. Meanwhile, the flight attendants were becoming like a family. ATDB.aero shows that it spent most of its career at Flying Tiger Line, but did also serve Lufthansa on a leased basis. In the Vietnam airlift, Flying Tigers provided strategic flights from the US to numerous military bases throughout the Pacific and Southeast Asia geographic region. We all wanted to get home, but wondered if this old crate could get us there. When I went back in 1970 out of McCord it was on World Airlines. On March 6, 1967, Flying Tigers first DC8-63F aircraft arrived. In 1963, Air Cargo Operations moved back to the Los Angeles International Airport. The company said it needed flight attendants. 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 On June 12, 1970, the Peter Prescott Hospital for children in Taiwan was dedicated in honor of the founders son, who had been killed in an aircraft accident in Palm Springs. Country. Joe Namath, Jim Otto, and, Marv Fleming on our returning flight after spending time visiting the wounded Vietnam soldiers at several hospitals. A true airfreighted with a unique swing-tail design, the CL-44 permitted the straight-in loading of freight no other plane could carry. The airline industry is always full of new developments! Sweet Jesus, I was back in the USA ; My The company said it needed flight attendants. They coped, as always, by leaning on each other. The big, glamorous airline back then was Pan Am. Stay informed: Sign up for our daily and weekly aviation news digests. Addendum: While in transit on the plane, I had an unusual experience that Id like to share with everyone who reads this. a light greenish blue This page was last edited on 24 March 2023, at 09:54. 1969 A major milestone year. What's The Latest With Delta's Ex-LATAM Airbus A350s? WebThe Flying Tiger Line Incorporated. I went to Nam aboard a ship which very nicely cut 21 days off my tour. (1974 -1989). 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. Not Flying Tigers but nevertheless an unforgettable flight. 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. Contact Thank you to all who came out to join us for our BBQ Fly-in! Established at the end of the Second World War, Flying Tiger Line made history as the first US-based scheduled cargo-carrying airline. The women say its what helped them keep their sanity, a support network that allowed them to face the heartbreak of the job as the true cost of the war emerged. 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. In 1982, Flying Tigers flew relief flights to Warsaw, Poland. The first full shipment consisted of grapes flown from Bakersfield, California to Atlanta, Georgia. Thank you Flying Tiger! 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. Contact Thank you to all who came out to join us for our BBQ Fly-in! Thank you and God Bless you all!!!! Nonetheless, it reached Guam as planned on March 15th. On October 1, 1980 Flying Tigers merged with Seaboard World linking the United States with Europe and the Middle East. But some homeward-bound passengers were belligerent, unpredictable. In 1965, Flying Tiger Line began operating jet aircraft when on September, 27, the first (as N322F) of four Boeing 707 was delivered. 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. Thank you all. This exhibition is currently available online only. Flying Tigers received the All-Cargo Route #163 across the Pacific into Asia. Flying at 210 miles per hour, the C-54 carried 20,000 pounds of cargo over a 2,000 -- mile range. )I was engaged and (2.) Flying Tigers also made livestock carriers for airplanes, some comparable in external size and shape to the standard AMJ container used in the FedEx flight operations. I recall the flight I took into Vietnam and even more than the flight I took home. Thanks to all of you that attempted to make our journies more comfortable. Wonderful article and I went to Vietnam on Flying Tiger Airlines in 1966. This was a very good and interesting article. What was the worst work detail you pulled in Vietnam? 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. Others slept for hours, exhausted and often traumatized from their experiences in Vietnam. There were also 11 crew members onboard, giving a total occupancy of 107 people. Airline Founded. The Swingtails were so nicknamed because their tails literally swung away from the aircraft for loading. 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. In 1962 Flying Tigers received its first Permanent Certificate from the CAB (Civil Aeronautics Board). Those ladies had a very important part in the war and they are to be commended for their service. 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. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. That flight SUCKED., but at least I got out of that chit hole. Perhaps, I dont remember them because they were doing such a great job of quietly supporting each of us, letting us deal with our personal feelings in our own way. WebFlying Tiger: With Ron Ng, Lee Pace, Jamie B. Many of these people became valuable members of the Flying Tigers family. 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. 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. Nobody wanted to take anybody over there who wasnt coming back.. 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 spent one year there and flew 15 missions in Vietnam, 8 north and 7 south. The Flying Tigers Flight Training Center opened in 1968 at the Los Angeles International Airport. A FLY-IN COMMUNITY! In the Vietnam airlift, Flying Tigers provided strategic flights from the US to numerous military bases throughout the Pacific and Southeast Asia geographic region. She had many stories. Room parties and roof parties and lobby parties and oh, my goodness.. Flying Tiger Line flight 739 was a multi-leg charter service that originated at Travis Air Force Base in the US state of California. No lights on the plane in the dark. When a positive story about the Vietnam experience shows up it helps the healing that many of us need. Web346 views 9 months ago. Photo: The aircraft departed from Andersen AFB in Guam before disappearing over the Western Pacific Ocean. Never again! I often wondered what happened to them and now your story has given closure. However, these were not military aircraft, but commercial airliners under contract by the U.S. Air Force Military Airlift Command (MAC) and served by civilian crews and flight attendants. The company said it needed flight attendants. As in Korea, these flights carried both cargo as well as military personnel and their dependents. The food on the airplane had to be thrown away because there was no refrigeration on the aircraft for over 48 hours. "Airlines Remembered" by B.I. 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. 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. 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 received the All-Cargo Route #163 across the Pacific into Asia. The airline was bought by Federal Express in 1988. This exhibition, based on extensive interviews with the key participants of the airlift operations, provides insight into their experiences serving aboard the Freedom Birds. I was USAF and made that stop in Alaska. In addition to the emotional impact, the flight attendants risked physical harm while flying to military bases in an active combat zone. On December 15, 1965, Flying Tiger Line Flight 914, an L-1049H Super Constellation (N6914C), struck California Peak after the pilot became disorientated in IFR conditions, killing the three crew. They saw so much in those soldiers eyes and dealt with some truly emotional issues. If the flights to Vietnam were emotional, the flights back home could be tense in a different way. where we are found aloft 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. 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. I then went back to my seat with a book after putting that slip of paper in my wallet. These women allayed the fears of soldiers heading to war and offered support and reassurance to those headed home. (1968-1989), B-747-100 Flying Tigers was the first airline to operate Boeing 747 passenger aircraft converted into efficient air freighters. 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. Flew over on Military Transport (think it was a 141) The flight was a complete 3 stooges movie MATS had trouble w/plane. Touching essay. I flew into Sea-Trac on Flying Tiger Airlines from Camh Rhan October 4 , 1971. Stay tuned for more upcoming Fly-in Events New River Estates Worthington Springs, FL. To say thank you which could never cover the range of emotions The Flying Tiger Line founder, Robert (Bob) W. Prescott and other young pilots joined General Claire Chennault and the famed Flying Tigers in China during WWII. Leslie Pfeifer served aboard Flying Tiger Line from 1967 to 1970, making 75 return flights to South Vietnam. And after the fall of Saigon in 1975, when the war ended, they remained connected. Its ultimate destination was the Vietnamese city of Saigon, to which it was transporting 96 soldiers. We were goin up and up , the war down below, falling away now far behind us. It supplied and supported covert operations in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War, including providing support for drug smuggling in Laos. I remember how kind and understanding these ladies were to we soldiers going to a war zone. 365 days later. If not for you, the World would be much worse off. Flying around the world over the North and South Poles, the Pole Cat set eight speed and distance records. 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. Free shipping for many products! By the mid-1980s, Flying Tigers operated scheduled cargo service to six continents and served 58 countries. thank you. 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. 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. In 1974, the airline took delivery of its first Boeing 747. we sat silently in the darkness almost trying to will ourselves into that jet thru the air. The flight went missing while en route to Vietnam. I was one of those Men that you brought back to the World. Vietnam-era airline crews carry memories of the men they flew to, fromwar, Videos, Film, Music, and Movies about VN War, Author interview War & Life: Discussions with a Veteran, A Chat Between Three Veterans [live video with author], Lest We Forget Meet the Authors & Book Signing April 4th: Cherries and Donut Dolly, Interview with author John Podlaski in Examiner Magazine, American Heroes Radio interviews author of Cherries A Vietnam War Novel, Cherries Author Interviewed on British Website, U.K. Blogspot posts interviews author, John Podlaski, More Book Reviews and author interviews about Cherries, Southern Californian Remembers Life as a Pan Am Stewardess in Vietnam CherriesWriter Vietnam War website, Southern Californian Remembers Life as a Pan Am Stewardess inVietnam. thanks for the ride over and putting up with some of us. Airline Founded. In June 1946, the Budd Conestogas were replaced by C-47s. 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! between heaven and hell. Thank you so much angels. 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. 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. High over the Pacific, Free shipping for many products! Theyd usually start at Travis Air Force Base outside of San Francisco or McChord Field in Washington, picking up more than 200 fresh-faced, uniformed servicemen from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. Ninety-three of these were enlisted with the US Army, with the remaining three being from South Vietnam. The years after the Vietnam war saw continued growth for the Flying Tigers. WebThe Flying Tigers Boeing 707 POLECAT established speed and distance records on its pole-to-pole flight around the world. Email:jason.fagone@sfchronicle.comTwitter:@jfagone, Link to the actual article: https://bit.ly/2PbitdY. It brought back a lot of memories. Carrying 50% more cargo than the DC-4 and carrying it 70 miles per hour faster, the company's gross revenues quickly reached the $25-million mark in 1953. 25 Jun 1945. Thanks for a great story. A mysterious gang, The Black Snake Gang, is rising throughout 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. Great article; Thanks. Fosters opposition to the war only intensified; she attended anti-war meetings and demonstrations on her days off. She laughed. Aircraft loaders had earlier refused to work at the extreme 30 feet (9m) height necessary for loading freight on the upper deck, so the "supernumerary area" or "hump" was configured with 19 first class seats instead which were used to transport livestock handlers, charter agents and mechanics as well as dead-heading pilots and flight attendants. In August 87, the newly re-engined DC8-73DF freighter came online with the Tiger fleet of B-747s and B-727s. What were the life expectancies of soldiers during the Vietnam War? (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. Mel Beers ret first sergeant . Flying Tiger Line flight 739 was a multi-leg charter service that originated at Travis Air Force Base in the US state of California. 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. December 31st, 1968 at the age of 20 we flew from Travis AFB to Anchorage Alaska. Travel the world, the ad said. Country. Thank you Jason for a story well told. LOTS FOR SALE! Unfortunately for me I returned in a Medevac flight from Japan Yokosuka Naval Hospital. [9][10][2] The scheduled Boeing 747 passenger service route was New York City JFK Airport - Brussels - Tel Aviv operated several days a week.[11]. I remember well my Flying Tiger trips. 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. 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. Despite the intensity of the operations, many flight attendants found the military contract flights rewarding and continued to serve on them for years. En route to Saigon, the flight was set to make several refueling stops. Flying Tiger Attendant We relied on each other and the soldiers to manage. These women allayed the fears of soldiers heading to war and offered support and reassurance to those headed home. WebHis 93 U.S. military passengers, three South Vietnamese soldiers and the 11 civilian crew members aboard Flying Tiger Line Flight 739 disappeared on their way from Guam to the Philippines. From Tokyo we flew to Anchorage where we were grounded another 18 to 20 hours due to a snow storm and for some reason, Anchorage did not have deicing capability. Somewhere I know that she wonders if I ever made it back to the States and why I never called. In the Vietnam airlift, Flying Tigers provided strategic flights from the US to numerous military bases throughout the Pacific and Southeast Asia geographic region. She very quickly wrote down something and gave it to me. Ceased operations. 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. 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. 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. Then all the guys just could not be held down by the stewerdesses and they did not even try to quiet the guys. 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! I only wish that I could stand before these wonderful ladies. To this day, I send emails to friends who are Vets, and the young people in the airports who are recognizable by their uniforms and sincerely Thank them for thier Service. 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. WebHis 93 U.S. military passengers, three South Vietnamese soldiers and the 11 civilian crew members aboard Flying Tiger Line Flight 739 disappeared on their way from Guam to the Philippines. Tigers flew 176 missions to Phnom Penh providing 17 million pounds of rice to the besieged city. This Marine Was The American Sniper Of The Vietnam War, https://open.spotify.com/show/5Th7BCpIKDE1hVTqNL3u0Q. Training Center opened in 1968 at the end of the operations, many flight attendants were becoming like a.... South Poles, the flight 's exact fate will likely remain unknown of,! Goin up and up, the first full shipment consisted of grapes flown Bakersfield. Is rising throughout the World smuggling in Laos military was so much in those soldiers eyes dealt... Worst accident involving the Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation aircraft, which is pictured here, to which it a... In time travel to a war zone wonderful article and i went to Nam aboard a Braniff... Has given closure were replaced by C-47s all who came out to join us for our BBQ!... Ultimate destination was the Vietnamese city of Saigon, the C-54 carried 20,000 pounds of cargo a. Of us during the Vietnam years the Flying Tigers flight Training Center opened in 1968 at the age 20... On a USAF flight as i was in a real war?????. Force Base in the piece and lobby parties and roof parties and roof parties and oh, goodness! 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