Operation Babylift
Operation Babylift was a large-scale evacuation conducted by the United States government during the Vietnam War. It took place in April 1975 and aimed to airlift thousands of orphans out of Vietnam. They placed them in adoptive homes in the United States and other countries. The operation was prompted by the imminent fall of Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam, to North Vietnamese forces. The first flight took off from Tan Son Nhut Air Base in Saigon on April 3, 1975. More than 2,500 children were evacuated, including infants, toddlers, and older children. The airlift faced numerous challenges. This included logistical difficulties, including lack of information about the children’s backgrounds. The children were often accompanied by volunteers and medical personnel. Tragically, one of the flights crashed shortly after takeoff from Tan Son Nhut Air Base on April 4, 1975. This resulted in the loss of many lives.