Category Archives: new combat troopers

Fifty seven years and counting . . . . .

Posted on September 2, 2020 by Fred Caruso

FLASH FACTS on the demise of Flying Tiger 923 September 23, 1962 Nearly fifty eight years after the crash of Flying Tiger 923, it is still astonishing to see how little was known by the survivors of the event that … Continue reading →

Posted in flight crew, new combat troopers, passengers, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Friendship Postcard Reaches its Target After 55 years in Safekeeping

Posted on October 13, 2018 by Fred Caruso

Paul Stewart was a young Army private from Ardmore, Oklahoma and a very recent graduate of parachute training program on the night of September 23, 1962, the date of the fatal mid-sea ditching of the Flying Tiger 923. He was … Continue reading →

Posted in new combat troopers, Other Gems, rescue teams | 3 Comments

Where did all of the life rafts go? There were supposed to be five. Right?

Posted on November 1, 2014 by Fred Caruso

After nearly three years of research and reporting, this writer has pretty well described what happened and who was involved in the incident in addition to passengers and crew. In the process of all of this research, questions were raised … Continue reading →

Posted in flight crew, new combat troopers, passengers, rescue teams | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Those on board Flying Tiger 923 on the night of September 23, 1962

Posted on October 18, 2014 by Fred Caruso

Few details were available on survivors and deceased during the first days following the crash of Flying Tiger 923. One of the first stories was from the New York Times.  That story consisted of a list of those on the … Continue reading →

Posted in flight crew, new combat troopers, passengers | Tagged , , | 16 Comments

Survivor says little about the harrowing experience

Posted on September 5, 2014 by Fred Caruso

“It has been almost 52 years since the plane ditched in the North Atlantic and you (the FT923 site editor) are the first one I have talked to about that night since I left Germany and the men that shared … Continue reading →

Posted in new combat troopers | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Epilogue to mother’s scrap book by Gordon Thornsberry

Posted on August 20, 2014 by Fred Caruso

Epilogue On Sunday, September 23, my mother cooked lunch for a large group of relatives. After lunch, the men were watching a football game when a news bulletin came across the television. A plane crashed in the North Atlantic ocean … Continue reading →

Posted in new combat troopers | 1 Comment

Gordon Thornsberry: Mother’s scrapbook provides details of North Atlantic crash

Posted on August 4, 2014 by Fred Caruso

Written and submitted by Gordon Thornsberry, Russellville, Arkansas Prologue My mother had a scrapbook on the crash which I inherited when she passed away. The scrapbook included telegrams, newspaper clippings, photos and a letter I wrote to my family detailing … Continue reading →

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Reader comments generate new leads and information.

Posted on June 1, 2014 by Fred Caruso

RE Post: About this site. By Ken Skelton Two survivors, Frank Ruffalo and Sam Vasquez, reunited at my home in Arizona today (May 11). Would you like a photo of them? [Editor’s Note: “Yes, certainly!”] *     *   … Continue reading →

Posted in flight crew, new combat troopers, passengers | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Paul R. Stewart – Lifted off rescue ship at Antwerp, Belgium

Posted on May 6, 2014 by Fred Caruso

Pvt. Paul R. Stewart of Ardmore, Oklahoma, was one of the youngest paratroopers on board Flying Tiger 923 when it ditched in the frigid north Atlantic some 500 miles off the west coast of Ireland. It was a Sunday night, … Continue reading →

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Skip Davidson: I knew it was swim or die.

Posted on January 17, 2014 by Fred Caruso

Pvt. Larry E. “Skip” Davidson, 19, of Manchester, Maryland, joined the Army in early April of 1962. He undertook the rigorous training in combat arms and then the techniques and methods of paratroopers who get into battle from the air. … Continue reading →

Posted in new combat troopers | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments