Families of Flying Tiger Line 1962 Secret Flight 739 A New Hope

Gives the Families of Flying Tiger Line Flight 739 A New Hope

the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C.

COLUMBIA FALLS, ME — November 23, 2021 — Very little is known about what happened to Flying Tiger Line Flight 739, a military mission plane that went missing on March 16, 1962, with 93 US Army Soldiers on board and 11 crew members. Due to the complexities surrounding the mission, the names of all those who have been lost have not yet been added to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. However, This past Saturday, August 21, the families of those lost received the good news that U.S. Senator Gary Peters introduced a bill to allow the American Servicemen onboard Flying Tiger Line Flight (FTLF) 739 to finally have their names placed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C.

The story of the ill-fated flight. https://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/pages/19520/News/447/?relatedId=0

This bill introduction stems from a kind gesture by Wreaths Across America Founder Morrill Worchester. On May 15, 2001, Mr. Worchester donated land from his property known as “The Tip-land” in Columbia Falls, ME. The Tip-land is where balsam trees are sustainably managed and pruned once every three years to make veterans’ remembrance wreaths to be placed on the headstones of our nations heroes on Wreaths Across America Day (December 18^th, 2021.)  On the land he donated, he erected a monument to FTLF 739 and invited all known living family and descendants of the ill-fated flight to attend its unveiling.

 Video: What is a remembrance wreath?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=5_-EW6a_VAs)

This simple gesture became a media sensation, as almost 2000 articles (Radio, TV, Newspaper, and internet) were written, reaching out to over 2 billion people from around the world. This media effort helped connect over 30 new families associated with the history of FTLF 739. Some of these new families shared their history and included such stories as:

• A woman who was married just two weeks before the flight left and awaited her newly wed husband for a honeymoon she never had.
• One of Bob hope’s USO tour Pilots and the inspiration for his granddaughter to become a pilot
• Being credited as the life affirming driving force for 1 Fortune 500 CEO.
• And creating a family healing moment as a family, scattered across the US, tuned into the social media ceremony via conference call, so they could all watch and discuss their families legacy together.

Despite the kindness of the media and the success of this outreach, there are still more families that need to be identified so that they may all take part in the process of the next leg of this journey.

As A. Phillip Waite, Chief, Strategic Engagement, The United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration stated at the unveiling of the FTLF 739 monument on “The Tip-Lands,” “This monument is a first-step, there are many to come.”

A. Phillip Waite, Chief, Strategic Engagement, The United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration stated at the unveiling of the FTLF 739 monument https://www.dropbox.com/s/4n4cx7avpsv4n2v/IMG_0121.MOV?dl=0

For many in attendance at the monument unveiling in May, they were surprised and delighted to hear that this was not the last-leg of they journey. As prior attempts to have families recognized have either been met with failure or stalled on the way to competition such as Senate bill 1891. However, The introduction of this new Senate bill, 2571 gives new hope to the families that their loved ones contributions and sacrifice for our freedoms and that their service will be recognized federally ahead of the 60^th anniversary of this memorable mission commissioned by John F. Kennedy.

Wreaths Across America is the non-profit organization best known for placing wreaths on veteran’s headstones at Arlington National Cemetery. However, in 2020, the organization placed more than 1.7 million sponsored veterans’ wreaths at 2,557 participating locations nationwide.

You can sponsor a veteran’s wreath anytime for $15 at www.wreathacrossamerica.org. Each sponsorship goes toward a live, balsam wreath that will be placed on the headstone of an American hero as we endeavor to honor all veterans laid to rest at noon on Saturday, December 18, 2021, as part of National Wreaths across America Day.

Click here to find a local participating cemetery near you to support go to and type in your town and/or state.

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About Wreaths Across America

Wreaths Across America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery begun by Maine businessman Morrill Worcester in 1992. The organization’s mission – Remember, Honor, Teach – is carried out in part each year by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies in December at Arlington, as well as thousands of veterans’ cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states and beyond. 

For more information watch this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Dy6PE37g2k

or to sponsor a wreath please visit www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.

Wreaths Across America Founder Morrill Worcester

https://www.dropbox.com/s/t9wwavjb1j4mjh6/MorrillTouchesStoneJPG.JPG?dl=0

Wreaths Across America Introduction Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Dy6PE37g2k

What is a Veteran’s Wreath?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_-EW6a_VAs

Wreaths Across America Day

https://www.dropbox.com/home/Race%20Pics%20and%20b-roll?preview=Wreaths+in+Snow+at+Arlinton+National+Cemetery.jpg
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https://www.dropbox.com/home/Race%20Pics%20and%20b-roll?preview=A+gold+Star+mom+Remembering+on+Wreaths+Across+America+Day.jpg

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https://www.dropbox.com/s/kwanhh3b31qy2x5/soldiersalutepplstones_cwzIlRqL.jpg?dl=0

Additional WAA Media Resources Page
https://learn.wreathsacrossamerica.org/mediaresources

FTLF 739 Plane
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FTLF 739 Families in Washington DC
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FTLF 739 Documentation
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FTL Pilots Association in NH
https://www.flyingtigerline.org/

FTLF 739 Pilot
https://www.dropbox.com/s/n6nv7illn7v2kaz/image3%20%281%29.jpeg?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/gz3p35pomiyusck/447f2136-8489-4960-a74a-9d439298c789-pilot_thomas_1.jpg?dl=0

739 Pilot w/ Bob Hope aboard FTLF
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ceo0zg23fy7yvnq/image1%20%282%29.jpeg?dl=0

FTLF 739 Rescue Effort
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FTLF 739 Monument Groundbreaking
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FTLF 739 Monument Unveiling
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FTLF 739 Facebook live groundbreaking of monument in Maine:
https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=201297657982321&ref=search

FTLF 739 Facebook Live Broadcast of monument unveiling on May 15^th
https://www.facebook.com/events/365214864851670/?acontext=%7B%22ref%22%3A%2252%22%2C%22action_history%22%3A%22[%7B%5C%22surface%5C%22%3A%5C%22share_link%5C%22%2C%5C%22mechanism%5C%22%3A%5C%22share_link%5C%22%2C%5C%22extra_data%5C%22%3A%7B%5C%22invite_link_id%5C%22%3A293975075795217%7D%7D]%22%7

FTLF 739 Memorial Video

https://www.dropbox.com/s/1g5xvkkkgim28qf/Flying%20Tiger%20Line%20Flight%20739%20Memorial%20Video.mp4?dl=0

FTLF 739 Family Quote 1:

Jane Wendell East explained “My father, SFC John Wendell (From San Antonio, TX,) was on this plane. The day my Dad volunteered to go he went to my Mom and said, "Mommy, I think I signed my death warrant".  I don't know what the military said in the briefing of this mission, but I have learned that several others said the same thing.

My dad died the day before my parents 10th wedding anniversary and my sister's birthday. I was only 6 years old and my Dad was only 32. It took me 27 years to accept his death. As a child, my mother told me that my Dad was a good swimmer and being a Ranger I knew he had a parachute. I just knew he got out safely.  My Mom purchased a new house with his life insurance, so we would have the security of having a place to live. Shortly after moving in, it was my bedtime.  My Dad came to me. I wasn't dreaming as I hadn't fallen asleep. I could hear his voice in my head but I talked out loud. He came to tell me good-bye. He said he wouldn't be coming home and that God needed him. He told me to be a good girl and to help my Mom. I replied, "No, daddy, I promise to be a good girl. Please don't leave me." Then he was gone. I was crying and screaming for him to come back. I got hysterical. My mom heard me and came to my room. I had told her what had just happened. Years later I was watching the movie "Heart and Souls" with Robert Downey, Jr. There was a scene where this little boy had to say good-bye to ghosts and it was so similar to what happened to me. When I turned 33 there was

Hospice event on how to accept the death of a loved one. It allowed me to let go of the hold I had on my Dad. I realized all those years I prevented him from finding his peace. This epic ended with me about to drive home. The radio was on and a song I had never i had never heard play came on. The title was "Diane", which is my middle name that my Dad gave to me. I could feel his presence and I knew he was happy. There is a line in the song that goes: "I'm in Heaven when I see you smile. Smile for me my Diane". Oddly the next morning on my way to work, the same song played again. I said, "I got your message, Daddy. I love you. Be free".

Another of John Wendell’s daughters Monica Young, Stated, “I was 15 when we lost our dad on this flight.  I don’t mind talking about how our family handled and survived this tragedy!”

FTLF 739 Family Quote 2:

Mary Thorn wrote, “My uncle John “Corky” Jennings (from West Virginia) was on this flight.  I was 2 years old when this happened. But I have numerous pictures and my father, his oldest brother has many memories and stories about John (Corky) Jennings.”

FTLF 739 Crew, Passengers, and Home States: (please be aware that remaining family members are scattered throughout the US.)