A Lockheed Constellation L-1049, similar to the aircraft that disappeared. [Credit: Ruth As]
Key Takeaways:
On March 15, 1962, Flying Tiger Line Flight 739, a secret military charter carrying 107 personnel (predominantly U.S. Army soldiers), disappeared over the Pacific while en route to Vietnam, leaving no trace and becoming a major aviation mystery.
Despite an extensive search operation and a witness report of a mid-air explosion, no wreckage or definitive cause for the aircraft's loss has ever been found, adding to the enduring mystery.
The 93 U.S. Army soldiers on board are not listed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, prompting their families to actively campaign for official recognition and establish private memorials to honor their unacknowledged sacrifice.
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.
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.
CREATE A FREE ACCOUNT
Sign up to keep reading
Create a free account to continue. Already a member? Sign in below.
