Historic Helicopter Evacuation and Major Bung Ly’s Daring Landing
About This Footage
As the fall of Saigon became inevitable in April 1975, the United States launched Operation Frequent Wind, the final helicopter evacuation of the Vietnam War. This archival footage captures the dramatic rescue on the aircraft carrier USS Midway as American civilians and at-risk South Vietnamese were airlifted from Saigon. The flight deck became a crowded refuge, with Marines standing guard, helicopters arriving one after another, and desperate families stepping onto safety. To clear space, a Huey helicopter is pushed overboard, one of the operation’s most iconic moments. The film also documents the extraordinary landing of a small L-19 observation plane piloted by Major Bung Ly, who brought his wife and children safely onto the carrier. These rare images preserve the urgency, humanity, and unforgettable final chapter of America’s war in Vietnam.