Air America

[michaelmaltby]

Air America vets may finally get their fair due

 

[chipieal]

Since I am on this site to learn - What is or (was) Air America?

 

[ODonovan]

Air America was the CIA's secret "air force," during the Vietnam War. It operated outside normal military conventions, much of the time in neutral territory, where "official" American forces could not. They flew transport, intelligence, and supply missions.



-Irish

 

[SaparotRob]

Was there a "United States Airlines"? When taking airport shuttle trains to JFK I would see a 757 with that name or a very similar one. The logo was a stylized US flag. An American airline with no advertising. Name similar to Air America. Gotta be a spook airline.

 

[Gnomey]

Good to hear!

 

[glennasher]

Flying Tiger Airlines, post Vietnam, was also a CIA front outfit, that also did "normal" air freight operations around the world, to keep it's "cover" intact.

Even the AVG (American Volunteer Group) could have been considered a CIA outfit, had the CIA been in existence then. They were basically a mercenary unit fighting for the Chinese, while gathering intelligence for the US military. "Flying Tiger Airlines" got their name from them, just as it sounds.

 

[vikingBerserker]

About dam time!

 

[FLYBOYJ]

Don't forget these guys. Southern Air Transport. Hung out with a few loadmasters in Panama. Photo from RuthAS

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Flying Tiger Airlines, post Vietnam, was also a CIA front outfit, that also did "normal" air freight operations around the world, to keep it's "cover" intact.

Even the AVG (American Volunteer Group) could have been considered a CIA outfit, had the CIA been in existence then. They were basically a mercenary unit fighting for the Chinese, while gathering intelligence for the US military. "Flying Tiger Airlines" got their name from them, just as it sounds.

My family and I flew on Flying Tigers Airline when we flew back to Germany when my father was in the Army. The whole flight was military and family members. Flew from Charleston to Gander to Frankfurt.

 

[GrauGeist]

Flying Tigers had a commercial account at my Texaco back in the early 80's - their trucks were red with a stylized white tiger silhouette on it.
Also had an upstart delivery outfit that had a commercial account with us, their drivers wore uniforms that resembled commercial flight crew (down to the rank epaulettes) and the name was Federal Express

My station was at Grand and Dyer in Santa Ana, just north of Orange County airport (SNA).

 

[SaparotRob]

Hello Federal.