Category Archives: passengers

those persons on the aircraft not considered crew

Flying Tiger Memorial Begins at Galley Head

Posted on April 19, 2012 by Fred Caruso

Present-day southwest Ireland was the scene of an historic first on April 17. The “first” was the beginning of the public announcement of the 50-year Memorial to Flying Tiger Flight 923, that crashed 500 miles off of the Irish west … Continue reading →

Posted in passengers, rescue teams, Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Who is in the Photo?

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Fred Caruso

Our friend and fellow Flying Tiger survivor, Sammy Vasquez of Phoenix, Arizona, sent us two group photos taken aboard the Celerina on the final leg of the journey, following the airlift of 17 to Ireland. We have been able to … Continue reading →

Posted in flight crew, new combat troopers, passengers | Tagged | 13 Comments

17 Airlifted to the Emerald Island

Posted on March 28, 2012 by Fred Caruso

The skies were crystal clear, the sun was brilliant, and the ocean winds were calm that day in dramatic contrast to the previous three days of cold, tumultuous seas driven by gale force winds. The Swiss rescue ship Celerena lay … Continue reading →

Posted in new combat troopers, passengers, rescue teams | 2 Comments

One light – One raft – 51 people

Posted on March 18, 2012 by Fred Caruso

“Then I had an inspiration. I went back to the cockpit for a flashlight. By that time  the water in the cabin was waist deep. No one else was in the plane. Again at the back door, I was swept out to … Continue reading →

Posted in flight crew, new combat troopers, passengers | Tagged , | 5 Comments

CAB Report Available for Free Download

Posted on February 26, 2012 by Fred Caruso

Thirty seven pages, single sided, in 1962. How big would this report be today, 50 years later? A complete copy of the “Aircraft Accident Report by the Civil Aeronautics Board,” released September 13, 1963 is available here in Adobe PDF … Continue reading →

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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

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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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

Going Down with FT923

Posted on November 26, 2011 by Fred Caruso

Few details were available in the first days following the crash. One of the first reliable stories was the list of those on the plane, passengers and crew, and those surviving, dead or missing at sea. The following is a list … Continue reading →

Posted in flight crew, new combat troopers, passengers | 18 Comments