Flying Tigers AVG Reunion Photos, April 2004

Webmaster note: While I was in Florida supporting our FAA booth at the Lakeland Sun 'n Fun Fly-in, driving back and forth from my hotel in Orlando, I saw an interesting sign that caught my eye as I was driving to Lakeland. That evening I drove by to check it out.

This was on a Wednesday (14 April 2004), and on that Friday the Flying Tigers American Volunteer Group (AVG) Association was having a reunion at the "Fantasy of Flight" museum, which is just off I-4 between Orlando and Lakeland (exit 44). Some of you may remember where it is, as they have a static display of a C-47 (DC-3) just off the Interstate that is nose in the dirt with it's tail in the air. It has the pilot (a manikin) hanging from the tail wheel in his parachute rigging. It's visible from I-4 on the north side. They were having a "Meet the Flying Tigers" from 2pm - 5pm that Friday.

I decided to attend. I also contacted Mike Banek, who lives in Florida, and he drove up to attend it also.

Well I made it, and I took quite a few photos of this event. Mike also made it, and he brought his leather flight jacket with the Flying Tigers "blood chit" sewn into it. He wanted to get a Flying Tiger or two to sign it. Unfortunately, Mike had to leave early for a business meeting. So, I kept his jacket while he went to his meeting to see if I could get it signed. We met later that evening for dinner.

There were 12 AVG Flying Tigers at the reunion who were signing autographs, and I got ALL TWELVE to sign Mike Banek's jacket. I'm really sorry it was warm in Florida and I left MY jacket in Virginia.

They had a moderator and a forum, and for about an hour they entertained the sizable crowd with daring-do war stories. They were great! I'll have all know that after their discussion and rehashing of some great stories, during the question and answer session with well over 200 visitors in attendance (I didn't count them), I made some comments in the name of the 174th. I identified myself as a member of the 174th Assault Helicopter Company, who served in Vietnam, and that our helicopter unit had written the Flying Tiger Association and received specific permission to adorn our Huey Shark gunships with the "Tigers Teeth," and that we proudly carried on the Flying Tiger tradition throughout the war in Vietnam. I gave them Major Dick Overhamm's regards and regrets for being unable to attend.

From the podium, two of the Flying Tigers expressed their appreciation for and admiration of the helicopter pilots who flew in Vietnam. I later chatted with each of the Flying Tigers as I got them to sign Mike's jacket.

Great bunch of guys who, sadly, will not be with us much longer. In talking with George Bailey, one of the Flying Tiger crew chiefs who knows Dick Overhamm well, I told George of our annual 174th reunions at Ft. Walton Beach in October, and he expressed a sincere interest in attending the one this year. He gave me his card and told me to be sure and call him with the specifics. What a BONUS that would be, huh? He and his lovely wife send their warm regards to Dick Overhamm.

Below are some of the photos I took. I've captioned many of them. All photos below are thumbnails. Click on the thumbnail to see an enlargement of the photo. On the close-up photo of the blood chit, I added the name of each Flying Tiger who signed near his signature. It was difficult to get a smooth surface for them to write on (the chit was sewn inside the jacket), and some of the handwriting is getting quite shaky (actually, one of the guys is blind and I had to place his hand on the right spot on the chit to sign. Is almost illegible, but it's THERE!)

As a bonus, I got a copy of the new book "Tex Hill: Flying Tiger" and Tex autographed it to me personally. I'll treasure that. His Grandson, a Major in the USAF, co-authored it with him.

Jim McDaniel
174th Webmaster