Operation Babylift was the name given to the mass evacuation of children from South Vietnam to the United States and other western countries at the end of the Vietnam War, on April 3–26, 1975. By the final American flight out of South Vietnam, over 3,300 infants and children had been airlifted, although the actual number has been variously reported. Along with Operation New Life, over 110,000 refugees were evacuated from South Vietnam at the end of the Vietnam War. Thousands of children were airlifted from Vietnam and adopted by families around the world.
A Babylift flight arrives at San Francisco, 5 April 1975
A pair of well-worn baby shoes worn by an orphan evacuated from Vietnam during Operation Babylift
The fall of Saigon was the capture of Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam, by North Vietnam on 30 April 1975. The event marked the end of the Vietnam War and the collapse of the South Vietnamese state, leading to a transition period and the formal reunification of Vietnam into the Socialist Republic of Vietnam under communist rule on 2 July 1976.
A CIA officer helps evacuees up a ladder onto an Air America Bell 204/205 helicopter at 22 Gia Long Street on 29 April 1975.
Situation of South Vietnam before the capture of Saigon (lower right) on 30 April 1975
A U.S. Marine provides security as American helicopters land at the DAO compound
South Vietnamese refugees arrive on a U.S. Navy vessel during Operation Frequent Wind
