[41] [42], The operation was the subject of the 2014 PBS documentary Last Days in Vietnam.[43]. [10]:182 This was the last USAF fixed-wing aircraft to leave Tan Son Nhut. From Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository. [10], The HMH-462 CH-53s loaded with evacuees and left the compound, they unloaded the first evacuees delivered by Operation Frequent Wind at 15:40. 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. [17] Members of the police in Saigon had been promised evacuation in exchange for protecting the American evacuation buses and control of the crowds in the city during the evacuation. Shipmates would fight for that ship. [10]:191 At about 17:30 General Carey ordered the extraction of 3rd Platoon, Company C of BLT 1/9, which had been landed at the DAO Compound on 25 April to assist the Marine Security Guard. Major Kean contacted the Seventh Fleet to advise them of his airlift requirements; until that time the fleet believed that all evacuees had been bussed from the embassy to the DAO Compound and that only two helicopters would be required to evacuate Ambassador Martin and the Marines from the embassy. [20] The scene was famously captured on film by Hubert van Es. [6]:99 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. [6]:37 President Ford, in an address to the American public on 11 April, promised to evacuate Vietnamese civilians of various categories. [6] Originally codenamed "Talon Vise", the operation was renamed "Frequent Wind" when the original codename was compromised. [20] Air America helicopters started flying to the rooftop LZs in Saigon and either shuttled the evacuees back to the DAO Compound or flew out to the ships of TF76. [20] Air America helicopters started flying to the rooftop LZs in Saigon and either shuttled the evacuees back to the DAO Compound or flew out to the ships of TF76. Taken with other categories of Vietnamese, the number quickly passed 200,000. Sporadic gunfire from around the embassy passed over the rooftop. 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. The Marines closed and bolted the chancery door, the elevators were locked by Seabees on the sixth floor and the Marines withdrew up the stairwells locking grill gates behind them. Martin had remained optimistic that a negotiated settlement could be reached whereby the US would not have to pull out of South Vietnam and, in an effort to avert defeatism and panic he instructed Major James Kean, commanding officer of the Marine Security Guard Battalion and Ground Support Force Commander United States Embassy Compound, that he could not begin to remove the tamarind tree and other trees and shrubbery which prevented the use of the embassy parking lot as a helicopter landing zone. [4], Although American officials at the highest levels of the intelligence community (e.g., CIA Director William Colby) were certain that the South Vietnamese government would collapse, everyone in the U.S. government underestimated the speed of the North Vietnamese advance during the 1975 Spring Offensive and how quickly the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) would collapse. Operation Frequent Wind Please rescue me. The cause of the crash was never determined. [20] With its available fleet of only 20 Hueys (3 of which were impounded, ditched or damaged at TF76), Air America had moved over 1,000 evacuees to the DAO Compound, the Embassy or out to the ships of TF76. The evacuation of Saigon: "Operation Frequent Wind" . [6] At 00:30 on 30 April, thermite grenades, having been previously placed in selected buildings, ignited as two CH-53s left the DAO parking lot carrying the last elements of BLT 2/4. It immediately turned toward the threatening radar and fifteen to twenty anti-aircraft weapons opened up on it and the F-4D. In addition, Air America helicopters and RVNAF aircraft brought additional evacuees to the TF76 ships. As the imminent collapse of Saigon became evident, the U.S. Navy assembled Task Force 76 off the coast near Vng Tu to support a helicopter evacuation and provide air support if required. Many of the Vietnamese evacuees were allowed to enter the United States under the Indochina Migration and Refugee Assistance Act. [14], At 17:00 the first CH-46 landed at the embassy. [21]:8. [6]:70 C-130s leaving Tan Son Nhut reported receiving PAVN .51 cal and 37mm anti-aircraft (AAA) fire,[6]:7172 while sporadic PAVN rocket and artillery attacks also started to hit the airport and air base. [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. These were the upper crust of Vietnamese society and were not suffering from typical diseases endemic in Vietnam. As they approached the helicopters had taken rifle and M-79 grenade fire from ARVN troops but without causing any apparent damage. The Marine evacuation contingent, the 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade (Task Group 79.1), consisted of three Battalion Landing Teams (BLT); 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines (2/4), 1st Battalion 9th Marines (1/9), 3rd Battalion 9th Marines (3/9) and three helicopter squadrons HMH-462, HMH-463, HMM-165 along with other support units from Marine Aircraft Group 39 (MAG-39). [10]:196 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. An embassy official said that more than five million dollars were being burned. [38] Hubert van Es' photo is frequently used in political cartoons commenting on US foreign policy. [6], At 03:30 on 29 April a PAVN rocket hit Guardpost 1 at the DAO Compound, instantly killing Marine Corporals McMahon and Judge. Ambassador Graham Martin ordered the capitals evacuation. [6]:35, By late April, Air America helicopters were flying several daily shuttles from TF76 to the DAO Compound to enable the 9th MAB to conduct evacuation preparations at the DAO without exceeding the Paris Peace Accords' limit of 50 U.S. military personnel in South Vietnam. [10], 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. 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. Two LZs were now available in the embassy compound, the rooftop for UH-1s and CH-46s and the new parking lot LZ for the heavier CH-53s. [6] The second wave of 12 CH-53s from HMH-463 landed in the DAO Compound at 15:15 bringing in the rest of the BLT. Frequent Wind at the Fort Worth Aviation Museum. 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. The Vietnam War by this time was no longer an American conflict, and the South Vietnamese were in dire straits. [20] A stolen Air America Bell 204 landed on Kirk, from where US Navy pilots flew it to Okinawa. [6]:72 At 21:00 on 28 April Major General Homer D. Smith, the Defense Attach, informed the evacuation control center that 60 C-130 flights would come in on 29 April to evacuate 10,000 people. Among those arriving at the embassy were Phan Quang n, former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister responsible for social welfare and refugee resettlement,[14] and Lieutenant-General ng Vn Quang. 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". [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. These altitudes were also high enough to avoid small arms and artillery fire. 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. Major Buang, Wife and 5 child." 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. On the ground floor a water tanker was driven through the chancery door and the crowd began to surge up through the building toward the rooftop. The airlift resulted in a number of enduring images. More than 7,000 people were evacuated by helicopter from various points in Saigon. [6] By 16 April, Alamo was complete: water, C-rations, petroleum, oil, and lubricants had been stockpiled; backup electricity generators had been installed; sanitary facilities were completed; and concertina wire protected the perimeter. Although we will no longer be able to commemorate the 45th Anniversary of Operation Frequent Wind in person, we invite you to learn about this historic event right here on our website. The evacuation of personnel from the DAO compound had lasted nine hours and involved over 50 Marine Corps and Air Force helicopters. They quickly established an austere command post in preparation for the arrival of the Marine CH-53s and the ground security force. [10] 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. One AC-119 gunship had spent the night of 28/29 April dropping flares and firing on the approaching PAVN. Rather than loading as many evacuees as possible, each evacuee was required to have a seat and a seatbelt, reducing the number of passengers that could be carried on each flight to 94 in a C-141 and 75 in a C-130. 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. A second Cessna O-1 was also recovered by USS Midway that afternoon. Most of the Marines were inside the chancery when the crowds outside the embassy broke through the gates into the compound. The 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade (9th MAB), which was to supply helicopters and a security force for the evacuation, sent a delegation to consult with Ambassador Graham Martin on current plans on 12 April. On 2 May, Task Force 76, carrying the Operation Frequent Wind evacuees and 44,000 seaborne evacuees and the RVN Navy group set sail for reception centers in the Philippines and Guam.[8]. At 10:00 Ambassador Martin confirmed General Smith's assessment and at 10:48 he contacted Washington to recommend Option 4, the helicopter evacuation. [6]:103 At 00:30 on 30 April, thermite grenades, having been previously placed in selected buildings, ignited as two CH-53s left the DAO parking lot carrying the last elements of BLT 2/4. The U.S. government was continuing to observe its obligations under the Accords, notwithstanding the North Vietnamese invasion. The fixed-wing evacuation was terminated and Operation Frequent Wind began. Around 12:00 five or six RVNAF UH-1Hs and one of the stolen ICCS UH-1Hs, were circling around Blue Ridge. The U.S. Embassy in Saigon was intended to only be a secondary evacuation point for embassy staff, but it was soon overwhelmed with evacuees and desperate South Vietnamese. Art Ritchie recalls: " [These are] some photos of the Hancock during the evacuation of Saigon in April of 1975. They quickly established an austere command post in preparation for the arrival of the Marine CH-53s and the ground security force. [21]:5 Air America UH-1s began ferrying evacuees from other smaller assembly points throughout the city and dropping them on the Embassy's rooftop LZ. [6], On 27 April, PAVN rockets hit Saigon and Cholon for the first time since the 1973 ceasefire. To 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. Returning in February 2016 41 years later he held a small black & white photo of him as a boy being carried from a Huey on the flight deck by his father during the evacuation of Vietnam Vu Duong stands in front of a black & white photo of himself as a child being carried by his father escaping Saigon 41 years ago. [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. 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. 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. On 23 April President Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines announced that no more than 2,500 Vietnamese evacuees would be allowed in the Philippines at any one time, further increasing the strain on MAC which now had to move evacuees out of Saigon and move some 5,000 evacuees from Clark Air Base on to Guam, Wake Island and Yokota Air Base. In any case this effectively marked the end of the commercial airlift from Tan Son Nhut. These altitudes were also high enough to avoid small arms and artillery fire. The code is: The temperature in Saigon is 105 degrees and rising. [6]:73, At 03:30 on 29 April a PAVN rocket hit Guardpost 1 at the DAO Compound, instantly killing Marine Corporals Charles McMahon and Darwin Judge. [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. [18] Disgruntled ARVN troops repeatedly hit American helicopters with small arms fire throughout the evacuation, without causing serious damage. 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. [6]:92, The evacuation proceeded without interference from the PAVN. Nulla vel risus et eros sollicitudin pulvinar et in odio. Operation The Air America pilot shut down his helicopter and left it. Total: 172 heroes honored View a collection of Operation Frequent Wind related videos to commemorate this historic event. On 2 May, the ragtag navy began its 1,012-mile trek to Subic Bay, the Philippines. 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. Among those arriving at the embassy were Phan Quang n, former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister responsible for social welfare and refugee resettlement,[14]:27 and Lieutenant-General ng Vn Quang. continue reading . This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. The timestamp is only as accurate as the clock in the camera, and it may be completely wrong. WebOperation Frequent Wind On March 10, 1975, Communist forces attacked and routed South Vietnamese troops. [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. Several weeks before Saigon fell, Armitage had met with Captain Kiem Do, RVNN deputy chief of staff, to plan the rescue of its ships when the government surrendered. MSC tugs pulled barges filled with people from Saigon Port out to TF-76. [17] Members of the police in Saigon had been promised evacuation in exchange for protecting the American evacuation buses and control of the crowds in the city during the evacuation. [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. The sinking of the Maine in Havana Harbor on 15 February 1898 was the pivotal event initiating the Spanish-American War. 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. [10]:196 Between 19:00 and 21:00 General Carey transferred 3 platoons (130 men) of BLT 2/4 into the embassy compound to provide additional security and assistance for the embassy. Please check back here for updates regarding this event or the reopening of the USS Midway Museum. Between 19:00 and 21:00 on 29 April approximately 130 additional Marines from 2nd Battalion 4th Marines were lifted from the DAO Compound to reinforce perimeter security at the embassy,[10]:195 bringing the total number of Marines at the embassy to 175. [14]:30, At 17:00 the first CH-46 landed at the embassy. In addition, Air America helicopters and RVNAF aircraft brought additional evacuees to the TF76 ships. Hannahthe Other Carrier in the Fall of Saigon Ambassador Martin refused to accept General Smith's recommendation and instead insisted on visiting Tan Son Nhut to survey the situation for himself. An embassy official said that more than five million dollars were being burned. Aircraft flying air cover for the evacuation reported being tracked with surface to air radar in the vicinity of Bin Ha Air Base (which had fallen to the PAVN on 25 April), but there were no missile launches. Hancock was lovingly called Hanna and Fightin' Hanna by the crew. Many vessels were in bad shape. WebAs we approach the commemorative 45 th year of Operation Frequent Wind, I wanted to invite you all to take a look back with me, to the role of the Midways sister-in-arms for the evacuation of refugees during the fall of Saigon in April 1975the USS Hancock. Find ratings and reviews for the newest movie and TV shows. One AC-119 gunship had spent the night of 28/29 April dropping flares and firing on the approaching PAVN. [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. [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 staff of 9th MAB prescribed altitudes, routes, and checkpoints for flight safety for the operation. Major Buang, Wife and 5 child." [8], On 1 April an evacuation control center manned by U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force (USAF) and U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) personnel began operating at the Defense Attach Office (DAO) compound on 12-hour shifts, increasing to 24-hour shifts the next day. This will be followed by the playing of I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas. Tens of thousands of Vietnamese evacuated themselves by sea or air. In any case this effectively marked the end of the commercial airlift from Tan Son Nhut. Major Kean saw Ambassador Martin to request that he contact the Oval Office to ensure that the airlift continued. The two enlisted crewmen survived, but the bodies of the pilots were not recovered. 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. WebThe final evacuation was Operation Frequent Wind which resulted in 7,000 people being evacuated from Saigon by helicopter. This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps. Evacuation plans already existed as a standard procedure for American embassies. [10]:187, The air wings of USS Enterprise and USS Coral Sea, were ready to provide close air support and anti-aircraft suppression if required with their A-6 and A-7 attack aircraft, and would provide continuous fighter cover the evacuation route including by VF-1 and VF-2, flying from Enterprise with the first combat deployment of the new F-14A Tomcat. [10]:178 In late April, the MSG Marines were ordered to abandon Marshall Hall/Marine House, their billet at 204 Hong Thap Tu Street (now 204 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street), and move into the recreation area in the embassy compound. 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. Operation Frequent Wind ship disposition 1975. Moments later a RVNAF UH-1H attempted to land on the helipad, locked rotors with the Air America Bell, almost pushing it overboard. Some lifts were scheduled. Vietnam War IMDb is the world's most popular and authoritative source for movie, TV and celebrity content. There was an insert page which read: "Note evacuational signal. Air America helicopters continued to make rooftop pickups until after nightfall by which time navigation became increasingly difficult. [10] With the evacuation of the landing control teams from the Annex and Alamo completed, General Carey ordered the withdrawal of the ground security forces from the DAO Compound around 22:50. Sea Stories - Operation Frequent Wind [36] [37] The building in the photo was the Pittman Apartment building at 22 Gia Long Street (now 22 L T Trng Street), which was used as a residence by various embassy, CIA, and USAID employees. 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. 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). [2]:92. [6]:44 Finally, on 19 April, a simple procedure was implemented that cleared up the paperwork jam and the number of evacuees dramatically increased. WebIt was carried out on 2930 April 1975, during the last days of the Vietnam War. "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. Hancock would be involved in both operations. During Operation Frequent Wind, 71 helicopters flew over 650 sorties between Saigon and elements of the Seventh Fleet off shore. The U.S. Navy records only two commissioned warships named for the state of Illinoisthe current, I Did Not Expect She Would Be Blown Up . Strategic Air Command KC-135 tankers provided air-to-air refueling. [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). [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). [34] The USS Midway is a museum ship in San Diego. [6] Between 04:30 and 08:00 up to 40 artillery rounds and rockets hit around the DAO Compound. Martin told them that he would not tolerate any outward signs that the United States intended to abandon South Vietnam. Fall of Saigon [9] Thirteen Marines from the Marine Security Guard (MSG) detachment were deployed to the DAO Compound on 13 April to replace eight Marine guards who had been providing security after they were withdrawn from the closed Da Nang and Nha Trang consulates.
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