In Memoriam
May 12, 1942 - January 30, 2025
We received the sad news on Thursday, January 30th, that Captain John Shields, 82, flew west in Germantown, TN after a long illness. He was hired by Tigers in April 1966 and was a B747 Captain on T-Day. He leaves behind a son and his daughter who wrote to us with the following sentiment:
I want to share that Flying Tigers was a large part of his life. (And family) What an amazing adventure he had! I am proud of my Dad for what he has achieved at Flying Tigers. I wish I had asked more about his stories and recorded them. I have a love for airplanes too, especially 747s. In Dec 2023, My Dad and I watched the FedEx fleet (40+ planes) take off out of MEM. A memory that I will never forget.
Dad will be missed by many. It helps to know that he is free to fly wherever he wants now. ❤️
Kate Shields - Daughter
Following is John's obituary.
John Edward Shields, age 82, passed away peacefully on January 30, 2025 in Collierville, Tennessee, surrounded by his children. John was born on May 12, 1942 in Queens, New York, the son of John and Elizabeth Shields and grandson of Michael and Mary Anne Shields. He is survived by his sister, Mary Shields; his children, Kathleen and Patrick Shields; in addition to many close relatives from the Shields, Tate, O’Rourke, and Clark families whom he loved. John was a retired pilot (Captain) for both FedEx and Flying Tigers with a combined 36 years of flying. He flew cargo in CL-44, DC-8, Boeing-747, 707, and MD-11 planes to locations all over the world. John also served in the Naval Reserve for six years including as a radio operator on a P-3 aircraft. John retired from FedEx in 2002, making his final landing in Memphis through a waterfall of fire hoses from firetrucks lined up to celebrate his last flight. John loved to travel and had an appreciation for historical sites and unique experiences. Among his favorite travel memories were a trip with his cousin Judy to Egypt and a trip to Naknek, Alaska for a commercial fishing adventure with his good friends Kim and Roger, and adventures with his sweetheart, Susan. John was known and appreciated for his intellect, infectious laugh and generosity. John is deeply loved and will be remembered by many. A visitation will be held at 2pm on February 12, 2025 at Brent Taylor Funeral Home in Collierville, TN, followed by a service at 4pm. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Lt. Michael P. Murphy Memorial Foundation.
Most don't know that John also had a short stint at Seaboard World Airlines, hired while on furlough in 1969. At right is a picture of him at the 2010 Seaboard Reunion.
Anyone else wishing to contribute to this page with archived pictures or testimonials is encouraged to contact us at email@flyingtigerline.org