we were never called the "flying tigers". it was just the tigers, i think because the name was taken from the aircraft we flew. we were the last operational squadron with the grumman F-11F-1 TIGER aircraft. because the blue angels also flew them, they were always at our base stealing everything from aircraft to engines. also pilots and ground technicians. not to mention spare parts. there were also times they came in for maintenance and special maintenance such as wing x-rays. we used to be experts at hiding all kinds of things from them whenever that lovely C-121 constellation showed up. BILL RIGNEY SENDS. BT