Skip to main content

Naval History and Heritage Command

National Museum of the U.S. Navy

American Alliance of Museums Accredited Museums Logo
Related Content
Topic
  • People-Places-Things--Vietnamese
  • Relief Efforts--Humanitarian Aid-Rescue
Document Type
  • Photograph
Wars & Conflicts
  • Vietnam Conflict 1962-1975
File Formats
  • Image (gif, jpg, tiff)
Location of Archival Materials
  • National Museum of the U.S. Navy

April 29, 1975 - Operation Frequent Wind


127-GVB-279-A150894: Operation Frequent Wind. Evacuation of Phnom Penh and Saigon, April 29, 1975. Shown: A Vietnamese woman, carrying her son, is given a numbered tag as she arrives onboard USS Hancock (CV-19). Her belongings will be tagged with...
Caption: 127-GVB-279-A150894: Operation Frequent Wind. Evacuation of Phnom Penh and Saigon, April 29, 1975. Shown: A Vietnamese woman, carrying her son, is given a numbered tag as she arrives onboard USS Hancock (CV-19). Her belongings will be tagged with the same number due to the language barrier between the refugees and Marines. Official U.S. Marine Corps photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Commander Task Force 76 received the order to execute Operation Frequent Wind (initially Talon Vise), the evacuation of U.S. personnel and Vietnamese who might suffer as a result of their past service to the Allied effort.   When the operation ceased on May 2, the Vietnamese Navy group set sail for reception centers in the Philippines and Guam in Operation New Life.  Thus, this operation ended the U.s. Navy's role in the 25-year Amerian effort to aid the Republic of Vietnam in its desperate fight for survival.  


127-GVB-279-A150960: Operation Frequent Wind, April 29, 1975. Two Marine CH-53 helicopters set down in a parking lot on the north edge of Saigon during the evacuation. Official U.S. Marine Corps photograph, now in the collections of the National ...
Caption: 127-GVB-279-A150960: Operation Frequent Wind, April 29, 1975. Two Marine CH-53 helicopters set down in a parking lot on the north edge of Saigon during the evacuation. Official U.S. Marine Corps photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

127-GVB-279-A150966: Operation Frequent Wind, April 29, 1975. A South Vietnamese C-130 aircraft, trying to take off was hit by enemy SA-7 rockets and burns on the runway during the evacuation exercises in Saigon. Official U.S. Marine Corps photog...
Caption: 127-GVB-279-A150966: Operation Frequent Wind, April 29, 1975. A South Vietnamese C-130 aircraft, trying to take off was hit by enemy SA-7 rockets and burns on the runway during the evacuation exercises in Saigon. Official U.S. Marine Corps photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

127-GVB-279-A801616: Operation Frequent Wind, April 29, 1975. A South Vietnamese pilot lands his Huey helicopter on the deck of USS Hancock (CV-19). Many pilots fled to Hancock, seeking refuge for themselves, family and friends during the evacuat...
Caption: 127-GVB-279-A801616: Operation Frequent Wind, April 29, 1975. A South Vietnamese pilot lands his Huey helicopter on the deck of USS Hancock (CV-19). Many pilots fled to Hancock, seeking refuge for themselves, family and friends during the evacuation. Official U.S. Marine Corps photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Operation Frequent Wind, April 29, 1975 A Vietnamese Air Force HU-1 Huey Helicopter is deliberately ditched near USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19), as one of the ship’s boats stands by to pick up the pilot. This helicopter was one of 15 which landed on boa...
Caption: Operation Frequent Wind, April 29, 1975 A Vietnamese Air Force HU-1 Huey Helicopter is deliberately ditched near USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19), as one of the ship’s boats stands by to pick up the pilot. This helicopter was one of 15 which landed on board USS Blue Ridge with Vietnamese military personnel and families during the evacuation. The helicopters had to be pushed or ditched into the sea because of the lack of space on deck. NHHC Photograph Collection, Navy Subject Files.
Published: Tue Apr 28 09:45:33 EDT 2020