Vietnamese Orphan Airlift

by Daniel L. Haulman

Operation Name:
Vietnamese Orphan Airlift
Location:
Republic of Vietnam
Date:
August 1965
Emergency: Hundreds of orphans had to be evacuated from Da Nang because of escalating fighting.
Organizations: 315th Air Division
Airlifted: More than 400 orphans.
Aircraft Used: C–130 (two)

Hundreds of children who had been orphaned by flooding in South Vietnam in 1964 crowded shelters in Da Nang. When escalating fighting in the area threatened their safety in mid-1965, their guardians decided to move them to a new orphanage in Saigon.

In August, the 315th Air Division used a pair of C–130s to airlift more than 400 children, ranging in age from six to 14, from Da Nang to Saigon. The 8th Aerial Port Squadron’s Detachment 2 provided refreshments to the children while they awaited airlift at Da Nang.

Comments
Subscribe
Notify of

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments