Operation Baby Lift: RAAF Humanitarian Operations from Saigon in 1975
This year (2025) marks the 50th anniversary of the RAAF humanitarian airlift from conflict zones in South Vietnam in 1975.
Despite Governor General Sir Paul Hasluck declaring that Australia’s involvement ended on 11 January 1973, the RAAF played a significant role in humanitarian efforts during the final days of the Vietnam War in 1975, despite facing significant risks to personnel.
In 1975, as the situation in South Vietnam deteriorated rapidly, with the North Vietnamese Army advancing towards Saigon, the RAAF helped evacuate Australian citizens and other foreign nationals from the country under extremely challenging conditions.
From late March until 25 April 1975, No. 36 and No. 37 Squadrons and the 4 Transport Support Flight from Butterworth participated in this airlift known as Headquarters Richmond Detachment ‘S’.
At the time, the Vietnam war was considered to have ended with the Paris Peace Agreement on 27 Jan 1973. However, although this agreement ended the involvement of the allied forces in Vietnam, the war continued until the South Vietnam government surrendered on 30 April 1975.
On 29 March 1975, the South Vietnamese Govt had advised the Australian Government that refugees were pouring into Danang following increasing attacks within South Vietnam by North Vietnamese forces and requested assistance from Australia.
As a result, 36 and 37 SQNs were immediately despatched (on 29 March), initially to Butterworth and then to Saigon for humanitarian operations under the direct control of the Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam. Initial operations were from Phan Rang to Can Tho.
The first operation carrying Vietnamese orphans on 4 April as part of ‘Operation Babylift’ from Saigon to Bangkok followed soon after the crash of the USAF C5 Galaxy.
Geoff recalls the confronting scenes of helicopters ferrying survivors from the crash site. By 17 April it was considered too dangerous for operations to be based in Saigon, so Bangkok was selected as the base from which individual flights to Saigon continued.
The last scheduled flight from Saigon occurred on 25 April when the Australian Ambassador and staff were flown out and a subsequent flight on that day occurred to pick up the 4 ADGs who were still at the airport.
While the focus was on the evacuation of orphans, the operation also included flying in supplies, and evacuating Vietnamese civilians south as the communist forces advanced towards Saigon.
The situation was chaotic and in one incident, as Vietnamese civilians swarmed an aircraft, shots fired by a panicked Vietnamese guard pierced the tail section. Saigon Embassy staff and Embassy staffs from Cambodia and Laos were also evacuated, and a return flight to Saigon picked up four remaining RAAF Embassy Security Guards.
With infants in cardboard boxes on the floor of the aircraft, and other children on litters, the last C130 taking off from Tan Son Nhut was the last sight of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War.
Formal Recognition for the 1975 Operation
Geoff was working with Vietnam Airlines 1995, and he recalls the celebrations conducted by the Vietnamese to commemorate the end of the Vietnam War which led him wonder why Australia did not recognise the war ending in 1975.
In 1997, the Department of Veterans Affairs published the Nominal Roll of Vietnam Veterans without including the RAAF personnel conducting humanitarian operations in 1975.
DVA also initiated a survey about veteran entitlements in the same year. Two ADGs and Geoff made a submission regarding the 1975 operations which resulted in DVA recognising the 1975 operation as ‘warlike service’.
Department of Defence also initiated issue of the Australian Active Service Medal (Post1975) with Clasp ‘VIETNAM 1975’ and the Returned from Active Service Badge. In 2002, the nominal roll was extended to include Detachment S participants and Geoff accepted that entitlements did not include the Vietnam Medal (which was a campaign medal).
Geoff has also been instrumental in seeking the support of DVA and the National Capital Authority (NCA) in having the year 1975 added after the dates 1962-1973 on the Australian Vietnam Forces National Memorial, which was dedicated prior to recognition of the humanitarian operations being deemed to be part of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam war.
Support is positive with the DVA ESORT offering the unanimous support for the AFA submission and DVA undertaking to write to the National Capital Authority in support of adding 1975 to the Australian Vietnam Forces National Memorial (It is important to note that some memorials around Australia, including the Shrine of Remembrance and the Veterans Commemorative Walk in Seymour have amended the reference dates to ‘1962 – 1975’).
A special plaque commemorating Operation Babylift will also be placed in the Remembrance Garden at the National Vietnam Veterans Museum Phillip Island.
The humanitarian efforts of the RAAF in 1975 are being rightfully recognised.
Above Left: A RAAF C130E Hercules of HQRIC Det S, on the tarmac at Tan Son Nhut, Saigon on 4th Apr 1975 - the second of the two RAAF Hercules that participated in Operation Babylift that day.
Above: RAAF aircrew comfort some of the babies with bottles before take-off during the second airlift of orphans from Saigon's Tan Son Nhut airport. (Source: AWM P01973.002)
Above: South Vietnamese refugees crowd the cargo compartment of an RAAF Detachment S Hercules in April 1975. (Source: AWM P05608.005)
Above: Unloading at An Toi (Photo courtesy Geoff Rose)
Above: The National Memorial was dedicated on 3 Oct 1992 with the current inscription: 'For All Those Who Suffered and Died Vietnam 1962 – 1973'.
(For this item, AFA Victoria acknowledges the immense contributions of Geoff Rose, AFA Victoria Vietnam Veterans Branch and excerpts from Mr R W (Bob) Elworthy AM, President VVAA Victorian Branch address at the 2025 Vietnam Veterans Day Commemoration service.)