Operation Frequent Wind: Difference between revisions

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	{{Infobox Military Conflict
	\|conflict=Operation Frequent Wind
	\|partof=]
	\|image= ]
	\|caption= Vietnamese refugees disembarking helicopter
	\|date=], ]–], ]
	\|place= ] - ], {{convert\|17\|nmi\|km\|0}} from the Vung Tau Peninsula
	\|result= U.S. tactical victory with US forces airlifting over 50,000 people to safety
	\|combatant1= {{flagicon\|United States}} ]<br> {{flagicon\|South Vietnam}} ]
	\|combatant2= ] - ]<br>] - ]
	\|commander1= Commander Task Force 76
	\|commander2=
	\|strength1=
	\|strength2=
	\|casualties1=
	}}] ] helicopters on the deck of ] during Operation Frequent Wind, April 1975.]]
	] pushed over board.]]
	'''Operation Frequent Wind''' was the ] by ] from ], ], in April ] during the last days of the ].

	==Operation Frequent Wind==

	The operation was based on ], the ] evacuation by air of ], ], on ], ]<ref name="Final">{{cite web \|date=2000 \| url = http://www.history.navy.mil/seairland/chap5.htm \| title = Chapter 5: The Final Curtain, 1973 - 1975\| format = HTML \| publisher = history.navy.mil\| accessdate = 2007-07-24 \| last= }}</ref>. Operation Eagle Pull had been a huge success in terms of meeting all goals set out by military planners.

	"Frequent Wind" was the second code name chosen when the original code name "Talon Vise" was compromised.<ref>{{cite book
	\| title=The Fall of Saigon: Scenes from the Sudden End of a Long War
	\| last=Butler
	\| first=David
	\| publisher=Simon and Schuster
	\| date=1985
	\| isbn=0-671-46675-5
	}}</ref> A code that was to be used to signal the start of Frequent Wind was distributed to the press and American civilians in the city. The code was a quote on ]: the comment that the temperature is rising, followed by eight bars of ]. (Japanese journalists were concerned that they would not recognize the tune and had to get someone to sing it to them)<ref name="FamousPictures">{{cite web \|date=2007 \| url = http://www.famouspictures.org/mag/index.php?title=Vietnam_Airlift\| title = Famous Pictures Magazine - Vietnam Airlift\| format = HTML \| publisher = Famous Pictures Magazine\| accessdate = 2007-07-24 \| last=Lucas, Dean }}</ref>.

	In the run up to the evacuation, thousands of Vietnamese wanted to escape the encroaching communist forces. With so many desperate people and so many civilians in knowledge of security codes, security was broken almost as soon as the code song was given out. When the operation started thousands of Vietnamese tried to flood what was thought to be the US embassy in ]<ref name="Final"> {{cite web \|date=2000 \| url = http://www.history.navy.mil/seairland/chap5.htm \| title = Chapter 5: The Final Curtain, 1973 - 1975\| format = HTML \| publisher = history.navy.mil\| accessdate = 2007-07-24 \| last= }}</ref>. One of the landing zones was frequently referred to as the US Embassy, but in fact is an apartment building several blocks away (this building was Pittman Apartments which was used as residential quarters for various US diplomatic personnel) that was one of several pick-up points for the American evacuation. Protecting the evacuation force on the ground in South Vietnam were combat elements of the 9th Marine Amphibious Brigade, including the ] and ] (which would two weeks later be engaged in the rescue of the ]). The last contingent of Americans that left Vietnam were U.S. ]s who departed at 7:58 am from the rooftop of the U.S. Embassy.<ref>{{cite web \|date=2008 \| url = http://www.fallofsaigon.org/\| title = AFTER ACTION REPORT~ 17 April ~ 7 May 1975\| format = \| publisher = \| accessdate = 2008-03-14 \| last= }}</ref>

	1,373 ] ]s and 5,595 ] and third country nationals were evacuated by ] and ] helicopters to ] ships off-shore in an approximately 24-hour period on April 29 to 30, 1975, immediately preceding the ]. During the operation, so many South Vietnamese helicopters landed on the vessels taking the evacuees that some were pushed overboard to make room for more people. Other helicopters, having nowhere to land, were deliberately crash landed into the sea, close to the ships, their pilots bailing out at the last moment to be picked up by rescue boats.<ref>
	{{cite book
	\| title=The Vietnam War: An Almanac
	\| last=Bowman
	\| first=John S.
	\| publisher=Pharos Books
	\| date=1985
	\| isbn=0-911818-85-5
	}} p434. (Cited at {{cite web
	\| last=Rombough
	\| first=Julia
	\| title=Frequent Wind: The Last Days of the Vietnam War
	\| url=http://lark.cc.ku.edu/~lance/Family/Julia/5128text.htm
	\| accessdate=2006-07-01
	}})</ref>
	Many of the Vietnamese evacuees were allowed to enter the United States under the ].
	{{Campaignbox Vietnam War}}

	==In popular culture==
	* The ], '']'', depicts events leading up to, and during Operation Frequent Wind, with the main ]s becoming separated as a result of the evacuation.

	* In ] of '']'', Arnold learns that ] was fortunate enough to have his infant daughter evacuated in Operation Frequent Wind, but without him. He later immigrated to the ] alone. Arnold tries to give Mr. Hyunh the best Christmas gift by reuniting them.<ref>{{cite url
	\|url=http://www.hey-arnold.com/Arnold/arn_1spc.html#AC
	\|title=Hey Arnold! Character and Episode Guide
	\|publisher=hey-arnold.com
	\|date=2008-06-06
	\|accessdate=2008-06-11
	}}</ref>

	==References==
	<references/>

	==Further reading==
	*]. ''Decent Interval: An Insider's Account of Saigon's Indecent End Told by the CIA's Chief Strategy Analyst in Vietnam''. University Press of Kansas, 1977. ISBN 0-7006-1213-0

	==External links==
	{{cite web
	\| url = http://www.kirk1087.org/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=23
	\| title = Pictures of Operation Frequent Wind aboard USS Kirk
	\| accessdate = 2006-09-09
	}}

	{{cite web
	\| url = http://www.fallofsaigon.org/
	\| title = LtCol Jim Kean USMC, Retired "AFTER ACTION REPORT~ 17 April ~ 7 May 1975"
	\| accessdate = 2008-03-17
	}}

	]
	]
	]
	]
	]
	]

	]
	]
	]
	]
	]

Revision as of 19:40, 14 January 2009