In April 1975, during the final few weeks of the Vietnam War, a remarkable endeavor was initiated to evacuate Vietnamese orphans to the US as communist forces advanced on Saigon. Called Operation Babylift, the plan saw over 3,000 infants and children transported to safety, the idea being that once on American soil the orphans would be relocated and adopted out to American, Canadian, European, and Australian families. But Operation Babylift was very nearly grounded after a tragic accident took place during the inaugural flight.
So, who ordered the airlift, and why was it imperative to get the children out of the war-torn country as soon as possible? Click on for these answers and more.