User talk:Flyingtigergal

Flying Tiger Line in South Viet Nam
Flying Tigers have an incredible history that doesn't seem to be documented for future generations to see. I learned about some of their greatest contributions when I worked there and sat in the cockpit with the pilots and listened to their amazing stories. I encourage all who have had the same good fortune as me, to keep these stories alive.

In 1972, Saigon fell to the North Viet Cong who wouldn't let ANY aircraft leave the airport at Saigon. The FTL Captain informed the air traffic control tower that they were just a cargo aircrat and since they are incapable of carrying passengers (no seats, no oxygen masks, no safety vests), can they please, just leave?. This sounded like a reasonable request and the ATC cleared them for take-off. Off went the FTL aircraft into the wild blue yonder carrying thousands of FTL's Saigon employees, families & friends. When they finally arrived in California, these people were forever greatful to FTL and most of them were still working for the airlines more than a decade later. They all knew their fate had they been left behind, like too many other unfortunate souls who had no way out of Saigon that day in 1972.

Flyingtigergal (talk) 04:15, 2 January 2009 (UTC)