Flying Tigers

The Flying Tigers pinball machine, produced by Bell Products Company in July 1944, holds a place in pinball history as a wartime-era conversion of Bally's 'Play Ball.' Like many machines of the period, it was created by refitting an existing cabinet rather than building an entirely new game, reflecting the material shortages manufacturers faced during World War II.

Specific gameplay details for Flying Tigers are not well documented. As with all pinball machines of this era, it predates the 1947 invention of the flipper, so play would have relied on bumpers, targets, and skillful nudging rather than player-controlled flippers.

While little is known about the machine's designer or specific design features, its historical context as a wartime conversion makes Flying Tigers an intriguing addition to any serious pinball collection, offering a window into how manufacturers like Bell Products kept producing games amid the constraints of the era.