Operation Frequent Wind

Operation Frequent Wind was the U.S. military’s evacuation effort from Saigon, Vietnam, in April 1975, marking the end of the Vietnam War. As North Vietnamese forces advanced, the U.S. and South Vietnamese people hurriedly evacuated personnel, diplomats, and at-risk civilians by air and sea. Helicopters and ships rapidly transported these evacuees from rooftops, embassy grounds, and offshore vessels to evacuation points, ultimately fleeing the city before falling under North Vietnamese control. This operation was the largest helicopter evacuation in history and symbolized the conclusion of America’s involvement in Vietnam.