The pilot of the stolen ICCS Huey had been told to ditch off the port quarter of the ship, but seemed reluctant to do so, flying around the ship to the starboard bow he jumped from his helicopter at a height of 40 feet (12m). [6] Originally codenamed "Talon Vise", the operation was renamed "Frequent Wind" when the original codename was compromised. [10], "Alpha" command group, two rifle companies, and the 81mm mortar platoon were deployed around the DAO headquarters building (the Alamo) and its adjacent landing zones. Moments later a RVNAF UH-1H attempted to land on the helipad, locked rotors with the Air America Bell, almost pushing it overboard. Cookie policy. By 22 April, 20 C-141 and 20 C-130s flights a day were flying evacuees out of Tan Son Nhut to Clark Air Base,[6] some 1,000 miles away in the Philippines. [20]:2728 The scene was famously captured on film by Hubert van Es. [21]:8. The Pacific crossing was extraordinarily calm and peaceful. The Marines on the rooftop had sealed the doors and were using Mace to discourage the crowd from trying to break through. The Pittman Building was not an approved LZ, but when the agreed pickup point at the Lee Hotel at 6 Chien Si Circle was declared unusable, CIA Station Chief Tom Polgar asked Oren B. Harnage, Deputy Chief of the Embassy's Air Branch to change the pickup to the Pittman Building, which was the home of the Assistant Station Chief and had an elevator shaft believed capable of supporting the weight of a Huey. [20] A stolen Air America Bell 204 landed on Kirk, from where US Navy pilots flew it to Okinawa. [6] On 4 April, a C-5A aircraft carrying 250 Vietnamese orphans and their escorts suffered explosive decompression over the sea near Vng Tu and made a crash-landing while attempting to return to Tan Son Nhut; 153 people on board died in the crash. I, the copyright holder of this work, hereby publish it under the following license: Operation Frequent Wind ship disposition 1975 - Recreated map.svg, (SVG file, nominally 744 850 pixels, file size: 105 KB), http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/deed.en, Creative Commons Zero, Public Domain Dedication, Operation Frequent Wind ship disposition 1975.JPG, Fleet deployment for Operation Frequent Wind.jpg, CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication, copyrighted, dedicated to the public domain by copyright holder, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Operation_Frequent_Wind_ship_disposition_1975_-_Recreated_map.svg&oldid=522731238, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, The person who associated a work with this deed has dedicated the work to the. [10]:201, During the demolition of the embassy, the metal staircase leading from the rooftop to the helipad was removed and sent back to the United States, where it is now on display at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum. Integer malesuada metus nec metus lacinia pellentesque. In addition, a flotilla of Military Sealift Command (MSC) ships were assembled and these carried out seaborne evacuations from Saigon Port, this fleet comprised: On 28 April at 18:06, three A-37 Dragonflies piloted by former RVNAF pilots, who had defected to the Vietnamese People's Air Force at the fall of Da Nang, dropped six Mk81 250lb bombs on Tan Son Nhut Air Base destroying several aircraft. [29] Nixon's pledge of Peace with Honor in Vietnam had become a humiliating defeat, which together with Watergate contributed to the crisis of confidence that affected America throughout the 1970s. [10], At 19:30 General Carey directed that the remaining elements guarding the Annex be withdrawn to DAO headquarters (the Alamo) where the last of the evacuees would await their flight. In addition, Air America helicopters and RVNAF aircraft brought additional evacuees to the TF76 ships. The Air America pilot shut down his helicopter and left it. [6]:2021 In late March, two or three of these MAC aircraft were arriving each day and were used to evacuate civilians and Vietnamese orphans. By and large, [t]he refugees were in pretty good shape. [20], At 14:06 two UH-1E Huey helicopters carrying General Carey and Colonel Alfred M. Gray Jr. (commander of Regimental Landing Team 4 (RLT4)) landed at the DAO Compound. During the fixed-wing evacuation 50,493 people (including 2,678 Vietnamese orphans) were evacuated from Tan Son Nhut. When Lady Ace 09 transmitted "Tiger is out", those helicopter crews still flying thought the mission was complete, and delayed evacuating the Marines from the embassy rooftop. [6], At dawn the RVNAF began to haphazardly depart Tan Son Nhut Air Base as A-37s, F-5s, C-7s, C-119s and C-130s departed for Thailand while UH-1s took off in search of the ships of TF-76. Air America helicopters continued to make rooftop pickups until after nightfall by which time navigation became increasingly difficult. They quickly established an austere command post in preparation for the arrival of the Marine CH-53s and the ground security force. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. [10] At 04:30 with the 19 lift limit already exceeded, Major Kean went to the rooftop LZ and spoke over a helicopter radio with General Carey who advised that President Ford had ordered that the airlift be limited to US personnel. As the U.S. fleet steamed away from Vietnam, the Kirk was tagged with a mysterious order to return. Despite receiving sporadic PAVN AAA fire, USAF and USN aircraft made no attacks on AAA or SAM sites during the evacuation. The two enlisted crewmen survived, but the bodies of the pilots were not recovered. The U.S. Navy Medical Department believes there were 30,000. Company G occupied the eastern section of the Annex, while Company H assumed control of the western section. USAF F-4s, F-111s and A-7s provided air cover during daylight, being replaced by AC-130s from the 16th Special Operations Squadron at night. "Bravo" command group, consisting of two rifle companies and the 106mm recoilless rifle platoon, assumed responsibility for security of the DAO Annex and its adjoining landing zones. These altitudes were also high enough to avoid small arms and artillery fire. [16] Japanese journalists, concerned that they would not recognize the tune, had to get someone to sing it to them. [21] At the same time, General Carey met Admiral Whitmire to convince him to resume flights to the embassy despite pilot fatigue and poor visibility caused by darkness, fires and bad weather. Find ratings and reviews for the newest movie and TV shows. Evacuation plans already existed as a standard procedure for American embassies. It's a laundry ship". [20]:2425 A stolen Air America Bell 204 landed on Kirk, from where US Navy pilots flew it to Okinawa. Martin told them that he would not tolerate any outward signs that the United States intended to abandon South Vietnam. This will be followed by the playing of I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas. On 29 April, with North Vietnamese forces entering Saigon, U.S. Hancock then took part in Operation Eagle Pull, the evacuation of Phnom Penh on 12 April 1975 and Operation Frequent Wind, the evacuation of Saigon on 2930 April 1975. [10]:189, The first wave of 12 CH-53s from HMH-462 loaded with BLT 2/4's command groups "Alpha" and "Bravo", and Company F and reinforced Company H arrived in the DAO Compound at 15:06 and the marines quickly moved to reinforce the perimeter defenses. Operation Frequent Wind was the final phase in the evacuation of American civilians and "at-risk" Vietnamese from Saigon, South Vietnam, before the takeover of the city by the North Vietnamese People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) in the Fall of Saigon. During the fixed-wing evacuation 50,493 people (including 2,678 Vietnamese orphans) were evacuated from Tan Son Nhut. Get personalized recommendations, and learn where to watch across hundreds of [39], The second act of the stage musical Miss Saigon depicts events leading up to, and during Operation Frequent Wind, with the main protagonists (Chris and Kim) becoming separated as a result of the evacuation. Operation Frequent Wind was the final phase in the evacuation of American civilians and "at-risk" Vietnamese from Saigon, South Vietnam, before the takeover of the city by the North Vietnamese People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) in the Fall of Saigon. [3]:86, The two major evacuation points chosen for Operation Frequent Wind were the DAO Compound next to Tan Son Nhut Airport for American and Vietnamese civilian evacuees, and the U.S. Embassy, Saigon for embassy staff. The Kirk joined the remainder of the other seven ships of the escort force. In addition, two CH-46s would provide medical evacuation capabilities while AH-1J SeaCobras would fly cover for the transport helicopters and for any ground units who requested support. See also: Operation New Life, Operation Babylift and Operation New Arrivals. [6]:111 However, one USAF report states that an F-4C Wild Weasel and an F-4D of the 388th Fighter Wing, was patrolling between Tan Son Nhut and Bien Hoa about 16:00 when the Wild Weasel detected SAM radar emissions to the north. The Kirk was one of 46 Knox-class destroyer escorts. When U.S. President Gerald Ford met with the National Security Council on 9 April 1975 he was told by Henry Kissinger that a maximum of 1.7 million people had been identified as possible evacuees and that these included: American citizens and their relatives, the diplomatic corps, the International Commission of Control and Supervision (ICCS), third-country nationals under contract by the U.S. government and the employees of the U.S. and their dependents (estimated at about 200,000 people). Major Kean advised that the LZ would be well lit and had vehicles moved around the parking lot LZ with their engines running and headlights on to illuminate the LZ. [33], The Cessna O-1 Bird Dog that Major Buang landed on USS Midway is now on display at the National Museum of Naval Aviation at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. In the spring of 1975, two years after the Paris Peace Accords ended U.S. military involvement in Vietnam, the North Vietnamese Army began moving toward Saigon. [6], The evacuation proceeded without interference from the PAVN. Harnage leaned out of the Huey and helped approximately 15 evacuees board the Huey from the narrow helipad. During Operation Frequent Wind, 71 helicopters flew over 650 sorties between Saigon and elements of the Seventh Fleet off shore. [25] [26] The South Korean civilians were evacuated in 1976, while General Rhee and two other diplomats were held captive until April 1980. The Marines on the rooftop had sealed the doors and were using Mace to discourage the crowd from trying to break through. All Air America flights had ceased by 21:00. [21] At 03:27 President Gerald Ford ordered that no more than 19 additional lifts would be allowed to complete the evacuation. [6]:44 Finally, on 19 April, a simple procedure was implemented that cleared up the paperwork jam and the number of evacuees dramatically increased. . [20]:20, At 11:00 the security situation at the Air America compound was deteriorating as General Carey did not wish to risk his Marines by extending his perimeter to cover the Air America compound (LZ 40), so all Air America helicopters from this time operated out of the tennis courts in the DAO Annex (LZ 35). [10], In the event that the PAVN or ARVN shot down a helicopter or a mechanical malfunction forced one to make an emergency landing in hostile territory, two orbiting CH-46s of MAG-39 each carrying 15-man, quick-reaction "Sparrow Hawk" teams of Marines from 1st Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, from USS Blue Ridge, were ready to land and provide security enabling a search and rescue helicopter to pick up the crew. Twenty-six ships of Task Force 76, including the Kirk, converged on the South China Sea for Operation Frequent Windthe evacuation of Saigon. Taken with other categories of Vietnamese, the number quickly passed 200,000. One AC-119 gunship had spent the night of 28/29 April dropping flares and firing on the approaching PAVN. All planning would have to be conducted with the utmost discretion. Many vessels were in bad shape. [21] Air America UH-1s began ferrying evacuees from other smaller assembly points throughout the city and dropping them on the Embassy's rooftop LZ. But most of all, I will always remember their human decency and the deep compassion., Armitage said he envied the officers and men of the Kirk. Next month (June) we'll pull it into the yard and drop the transmission back on, and also put the blades back on. Confiscating literally thousands of small arms from the ships took a full day. [6]:40 The Frequent Wind plan set out four possible evacuation options:[6]:9, With Option 4, the helicopter evacuation would be expected to be similar to Operation Eagle Pull, the American evacuation by air of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on 12 April 1975. [6], On 27 April, PAVN rockets hit Saigon and Cholon for the first time since the 1973 ceasefire. [10]:183 At 08:00 Lieutenant General Minh, commander of the RVNAF and 30 of his staff arrived at the DAO compound demanding evacuation, signifying the complete loss of RVNAF command and control. [10], On 25 April, 40 Marines from the 9th MAB on USS Hancock were flown in by Air America helicopters in civilian clothes to the DAO compound to augment the 18 Marine Security Guards assigned to defend the embassy; an additional six Marines were assigned to protect Ambassador Martin. [6]:38[10]:178179, By late March, the embassy began to reduce the number of U.S. citizens in Vietnam by encouraging dependents and non-essential personnel to leave the country by commercial flights and on Military Airlift Command (MAC) C-141 and C-5 aircraft, which were still bringing in emergency military supplies. Midways commanding officer, Captain L.C. One, a Boeing CH-47 Chinook, was too large to land on the destroyer escort. [14], At 03:58, C-130E, #72-1297, flown by a crew from the 776th Tactical Airlift Squadron, was destroyed by a 122mm rocket while taxiing to pick up refugees after offloading a BLU-82 at Tan Son Nhut Air Base. AP Photo Option Four is code for Operation Frequent Wind, planned to be the biggest such evacuation in history, moving people to American navy ships off the coast. The Kirk and her 45 sisters of the Knox class had relatively short service lives with the U.S. Navy, with none serving more than 23 years. [10] The evacuation from the DAO Compound was completed by about 19:00 after which all helicopters would be routed to the embassy; Major Kean was informed that operations would cease at dark. The staff of 9th MAB prescribed altitudes, routes, and checkpoints for flight safety for the operation. [6]:92, The evacuation proceeded without interference from the PAVN. Major Kean saw Ambassador Martin to request that he contact the Oval Office to ensure that the airlift continued. U.S. officials decided to stop using the less maneuverable C-141s, which had been loaded with up to 316 evacuees, and use only C-130s, which had been taking off with more than 240. And if we dont get them or any part of them, theyre all probably going to be killed.. [3] The evacuation took place primarily from the Defense Attach Office compound, beginning around 14:00 on the afternoon of 29 April, and ending that night with only limited small arms damage to the helicopters. [40], In The Simpsons at the end of Episode 16 of Season 6, "Bart vs. Australia", the Simpsons are evacuated from the American Embassy as angry Australians gather outside in a scene reminiscent of Hubert van Es's famous photo. In addition, a flotilla of Military Sealift Command (MSC) ships were assembled and these carried out seaborne evacuations from Saigon Port, this fleet comprised: On 28 April at 18:06, three A-37 Dragonflies piloted by former RVNAF pilots, who had defected to the Vietnamese People's Air Force at the fall of Da Nang, dropped six Mk81 250lb bombs on Tan Son Nhut Air Base destroying several aircraft. [6]:37 President Ford, in an address to the American public on 11 April, promised to evacuate Vietnamese civilians of various categories. Harnage boarded an Air America Huey from the Embassy's rooftop heliport and flew the short distance to the Pittman Building. [6] Also on 1 April, Plan Alamo was implemented to defend the DAO compound and its annex so it could serve as a holding area for 1,500 evacuees for five days. Many of the Vietnamese evacuees were allowed to enter the United States under the Indochina Migration and Refugee Assistance Act. The weather conditions deteriorated as the operation continued. Vestibulum in bibendum neque. [20]:20, So many RVNAF helicopters landed on the TF76 ships that some 45 UH-1 Hueys and at least one CH-47 Chinook were pushed overboard to make room for more helicopters to land. Black and White Photographs of Marine Corps Activities in Vietnam, 1962 1975 - Photos of a wide range of subjects including: marines in combat, military dogs, ceremonies and entertainers, aircraft, visits by VIPs, the Army of the Republic of Vietnam, Viet Cong, Vietnamese civilians, Operation Homecoming, and Operation Frequent Wind. The timestamp is only as accurate as the clock in the camera, and it may be completely wrong. [6] During their approach to the compound, Carey and Gray got a firsthand view of the PAVN's firepower as they shelled nearby Tan Son Nhut Airport with ground, rocket, and artillery fire. WebAs the North Vietnamese continued to advance south, President Gerald R. Ford announced on April 3, 1975, that U.S. aircraft delivering supplies to Saigon would carry Vietnamese orphans to the United States on their return flights. [33], The Cessna O-1 Bird Dog that Major Buang landed on USS Midway is now on display at the National Museum of Naval Aviation at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. Do not disclose to other personnel. Brigadier General Richard E. Carey, commander of the 9th MAB, flew to Saigon the next day to see Ambassador Martin; he later said, "The visit was cold, non-productive and appeared to be an irritant to the Ambassador". 21st SOS Frequent Wind and Mayaguez Incident gallery, Video clip: Footage of evacuation operations underway aboard USS Midway, including historic Cessna O-1 landing by VNAF pilot Major Buang, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:NSC_Meeting,_April_9,_1975_%28topic-_Vietnam,_Cambodia%29%28Gerald_Ford_Library%29%281552383%29.pdf, http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/army/fm/90-29/Ch3.htm, Chapter 5: The Final Curtain, 1973 1975, Air America: Played a Crucial Part of the Emergency Helicopter Evacuation of Saigon p.1, U.S. Marines in Vietnam: The Bitter End, 19731975 (Marine Corps Vietnam Operational Histories Series), Operation Frequent Wind: April 29-30, 1975, Thomas Polgar, CIA official during the fall of Saigon, dies, Decent Interval: An Insider's Account of Saigon's Indecent End Told by the CIA's Chief Strategy Analyst in Vietnam, The Air Force in Southeast Asia The end of U.S. involvement 1973 - 1975, Air America in South Vietnam III: The Collapse, Major James H, Kean SSN/0802 USMC, After Action Report 17 April-7 May 1975 p. 3, Last U.S. Marines to leave Saigon describe chaos of Vietnam War's end, Honorable Exit: How a Few Brave Americans Risked All to Save Our Vietnamese Allies at the End of the War, Former South Korean diplomat reconciles with his Vietnamese captors, Gerald R. Ford's Remarks at the Opening of the Ford Museum's Saigon Staircase Exhibit, Grand Rapids Michigan, Photographer who took famous Vietnam War image dies, Option 1: Evacuation by commercial airlift from, Option 2: Evacuation by military airlift from Tan Son Nhut and other South Vietnamese airports as required, Option 3: Evacuation by sea lift from Saigon port, Option 4: Evacuation by helicopter to US Navy ships in the. WebIt was carried out on 2930 April 1975, during the last days of the Vietnam War. [6] In late March, two or three of these MAC aircraft were arriving each day and were used to evacuate civilians and Vietnamese orphans. [10], By 02:15 on 30 April one CH-46 and one CH-53 were landing at the embassy every 10 minutes. 45 years ago, the USS Midway was part of the largest humanitarian effort in naval history, a proud and patriotic accomplishment that will forever be ingrained in our history. Brigadier General Richard E. Carey, commander of the 9th MAB, flew to Saigon the next day to see Ambassador Martin; he later said, "The visit was cold, non-productive and appeared to be an irritant to the Ambassador". On 28 April, Tan Son Nhut Air Base (next to the airport) came under artillery fire and attack from Vietnamese People's Air Force aircraft. Once the deck was clear Major Buang approached the deck, bounced once and then touched down and taxied to a halt with room to spare. [10]:188, In the event that the PAVN or ARVN shot down a helicopter or a mechanical malfunction forced one to make an emergency landing in hostile territory, two orbiting CH-46s of MAG-39 each carrying 15-man, quick-reaction "Sparrow Hawk" teams of Marines from 1st Platoon, Company A, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, from USS Blue Ridge, were ready to land and provide security enabling a search and rescue helicopter to pick up the crew. The Operations were called "Eagle Pull" and "Frequent Wind". [38] Hubert van Es' photo is frequently used in political cartoons commenting on US foreign policy. Total: 172 heroes honored View a collection of Operation Frequent Wind related videos to commemorate this historic event. At dawn on 29 April two A-1 Skyraiders began patrolling the perimeter of Tan Son Nhut at until one was shot down, presumably by an SA-7 missile. That same day, theMidwayarrived off Vung Tau on the southern coast of South Vietnam . Lady Ace 09, CH-46 serial number 154803, is now on display at the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum in San Diego, California. As the War was coming to an end on April 29th to 30th, 1975, Operation Frequent Wind airlifted about 7100 at risk Vietnamese (to death from the Communist Viet Cong) and American civilians out of Sai Gon, the capital of South Viet Nam. [21]:6 At the same time, General Carey met Admiral Whitmire to convince him to resume flights to the embassy despite pilot fatigue and poor visibility caused by darkness, fires and bad weather. They quickly established an austere command post in preparation for the arrival of the Marine CH-53s and the ground security force. An embassy official said that more than five million dollars were being burned. [41][42], The operation was the subject of the 2014 PBS documentary Last Days in Vietnam.[43]. [21]:7 At 03:00 Ambassador Martin ordered Major Kean to move all the remaining evacuees into the parking lot LZ which was the Marines' final perimeter. The U.S. government was continuing to observe its obligations under the Accords, notwithstanding the North Vietnamese invasion. [6] The Hanoi leadership, reckoning that completion of the evacuation would lessen the risk of American intervention, had apparently instructed General Dng not to target the airlift itself. U.S. officials decided to stop using the less maneuverable C-141s, which had been loaded with up to 316 evacuees, and use only C-130s, which had been taking off with more than 240. Helicopters overflew the designated LZs to check no Americans had been left behind and then the last helicopters (many low on fuel) headed out to TF76, located USS Midway or USS Hancock and shut down. Caption: 127-GVB-279-A150966: Operation Frequent Wind, April 29, 1975. The crews would not leave without their families. Official U.S. Marine Corps photograph A150855 in: U.S. Marines in Vietnam. WebStruck from the Naval Register, 15 August 2015 USS Durham earned three campaign stars for Vietnam War service and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for Operation Frequent Wind or four campaign stars for the Vietnam Service Medal if the Armed Forces Medal is exchanged for the 18th Vietnam campaign, Operation Frequent Wind The crowds prevented the use of buses for transporting evacuees from the embassy to the DAO Compound for evacuation, and the embassy gates were closed to prevent the crowd from surging through. As this was happening, a firefight between two ARVN units broke out and caught the rearmost buses in the crossfire, disabling two of the vehicles. Chambers ordered the flight deck crew to clear the landing area; in the process an estimated US$10 million worth of UH-1 Huey helicopters were pushed overboard into the South China Sea. Tens of thousands of Vietnamese evacuated themselves by sea or air. Kiem warned Armitage that they would be saving more than ships. WebTo commemorate the 45th Anniversary of Operation Frequent Wind and the Fall of Saigon, we invite you to enter the name of a Vietnam War veteran, past or present, along with a tribute message to honor their service. [10] [20] This move created fuel problems for Air America as they no longer had access to the fuel supplies in their compound and at least initially they were refused fuel by the ships of TF76. Sporadic gunfire from around the embassy passed over the rooftop.