David Corcoran, Flying Tigers Founder

WATERVILLE VALLEY, N.H. - David Corcoran, a founder of the Flying Tigers during World War II and a director of the Waterville Valley ski area, died Thursday in his sleep. He was 86.

Corcoran began his international business career in 1928 with the Tokyo office of General Motors.

Five years later, he became president of the newly formed international division of Sterling Drug Inc. At the end of his 40 years with the company, Sterling employed more than 11,000 people in 136 countries.

Corcoran became part-time president of a lend-lease operation, China Defense Supplies, providing military supplies to the Chinese in their war against Japan.

In the late 1930s, he helped organize the American Volunteer Group that became known as the Flying Tigers. The group fought under Gen. Claire Chennault against the Japanese in Burma and China.

After the war, Corcoran helped establish Chennault's Asiatic airline, Civil Air Transport.

Since 1965, Corcoran was a director of the Waterville Co. Inc., which owns and operates the Waterville Valley ski area and resort in New Hampshire's White Mountains.