Author Archives: Fred Caruso

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About Fred Caruso

Survivor of the crash of Flying Tiger 923. at night, at sea, 500 miles off the west coast of Ireland, with 28 deaths and 48 survivors, September 23, 1962.

Raul Acevedo: Trooper tells of crash aftermath, writes to John F. Kennedy

Posted on February 11, 2012 by Fred Caruso

“My CO ignored my requests for a medical leave. I asked a number of times because I had to prove to my parents that I was really alive and well. So, I stopped asking my CO and wrote a registered, … Continue reading →

Posted in new combat troopers | Tagged | 2 Comments

Carmen Figueroa: Saved by man named Toby

Posted on January 28, 2012 by Fred Caruso

“What is your name?” . . . “They call me Toby,” he said. She thanked him as he swam off into the darkness, and that was the last my mother saw of him. My Parents Survived Flying Tiger 923 By … Continue reading →

Posted in passengers | Tagged | 7 Comments

Richard and Lois Elander: “A fond farewell”

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Fred Caruso

Major C.R. Elander and his wife Lois, both 31 years old and the parents of three children, were living at the time at West Point, New York. Lois was suffering with a broken spine and dislocated shoulder as a result … Continue reading →

Posted in passengers | 3 Comments

Harold Lesane: A dream fulfilled

Posted on January 21, 2012 by Fred Caruso

“The flight was the climax of a lifelong dream.” Pvt. Harold Lesane, 18, of Philadelphia, was one of 11 children. The son of Mrs. Mabel Lesane, also of Philadelphia, he quit school in March of 1962 in order to join … Continue reading →

Posted in new combat troopers | 2 Comments

Books Tell Of Crash Drama

Posted on January 19, 2012 by Fred Caruso

Three books discuss the ditching of the Flying Tiger. Cleared for Disaster: Ireland’s Most Horrific Air Crashes and In the Event of Water Landing devote one chapter each to the Flying Tiger disaster. A third, Born Again Irish, is totally … Continue reading →

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Joseph Lewis and Michael Burnett: AF C-118 were eyes and ears of rescue

Posted on January 18, 2012 by Fred Caruso

“We’re trying to start engine three.” And then a few seconds later, “We’ve lost another engine. We’re going to ditch.” For hours, the crew of an Air Force C-118 Globe Master were the only eyes and ears for the rescue … Continue reading →

Posted in rescue teams | 3 Comments

Rachael Hoopii: Hawaiian mother, daughters vanish into raging sea

Posted on January 18, 2012 by Fred Caruso

“I saw a child being thrown out a window by a man after the plane hit the Atlantic. The child was never seen again. The other child also vanished.” Rachael K. Hoopii, 32, of Waimanolo, Hawaii was on her way … Continue reading →

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James Garrett: Flight Engineer pulls the switch

Posted on January 11, 2012 by Fred Caruso

Flight Engineer James Garrett, Jr., of Brentwood, Long Island, NY, had been flying most of his adult life, according to his parents, Mr. & Mrs. James Garrett, of South Norfolk, VA. It was Monday, September 24, 1962 when they were … Continue reading →

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Capt. Juan Figueroa-Longo, MD

Posted on January 4, 2012 by Fred Caruso

Air Force Capt. Juan G. Figueroa-Longo, MD, and his wife, Carmen, started out on a vacation in Europe and wound up as two of the lucky survivors of the tragic North Atlantic ditching of the Flying Tiger.  The Captain also wound … Continue reading →

Posted in passengers | Tagged | 3 Comments

Carol Ann Gould: Flight attendant on her day off

Posted on December 13, 2011 by Fred Caruso

It was supposed to be a day off for Flying Tiger Stewardess Carol Ann Gould. But the Flying Tiger Lines needed another flight attendant to accompany the 68 servicemen and their families to Frankfort, Germany. The appropriate officials of her … Continue reading →

Posted in flight crew | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments