Vietnam: Refugees from the defeated Republic of Vietnam being evacuated to the flight deck of a US carrier in the South China Sea, April 1975

Operation Frequent Wind was the evacuation by helicopter of American civilians and 'at-risk' Vietnamese from Saigon, South Vietnam, on 29-30 April 1975 during the last days of the Vietnam War. -More than 7,000 people were evacuated from various points in Saigon, and the airlift left a number of enduring images. More than 7,000 people were evacuated from various points in Saigon, and the airlift left a number of enduring images.<br/><br/><br/>The airlift was a large, but not large, part of the Vietnam War. More than 7,000 people were evacuated from various points in Saigon, and the airlift left a number of enduring images.<br/><br/> Preparations for the airlift already existed as a standard procedure for American embassies. By mid-April, contingency plans were in place and preparations were underway for a possible helicopter evacuation. As the imminent collapse of Saigon became evident, Task Force 76 was assembled off the coast near Vung Tau to support a helicopter evacuation and provide air support if required. Air support was not needed as the North Vietnamese recognized that interfering with the evacuation could <br/><br/><br/>Air support was not needed as the North Vietnamese recognized that interfering with the evacuation could provoke a forceful reaction from US forces. On April 28, Tan Son Nhut Air Base came under artillery fire and attack from Vietnamese People's Air Force aircraft. The fixed-wing evacuation was terminated and Operation Frequent Wind commenced.<br/><br/><br/>The fixed-wing evacuation was terminated and Operation Frequent Wind commenced. The evacuation was to take place primarily from DAO Compound and began around two in the afternoon on 29 April and was completed that night with only limited The US Embassy, Saigon was intended to only be a secondary evacuation point for Embassy staff, but was soon The evacuation of the Embassy was completed at 07:53 on 30 April, but some 400 third country nationals were left behind.