See also this story on OPERATION FREEQUENT WIND on our website:

https://www.popasmoke.com/cms/show_news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1111884488&archive=&template=

Can anyone relate stories to me on how many missions were flow by CH-46D crews to effect the evacuation

According to info compiled by PMAG-39 and cited in 9th MAB Command Chronology 1 May 1975, CH-46s flew 206.1 flight hours in 262 sorties. Here is the breakdown:

Day Sorties
Evacuations 90
Insert/Extract of Ground Security Force 12

Night Sorties
Evac 128
Extract of GSF 32

Sorties by type mission
Insert/Extract of GSF 7
Evac 218
Medevac 18
SAR 18

Goodnight Saigon

Tom,
I recently read a book called "Goodnight Saigon" that was written by Charles W. Henderson. Mr. Henderson also wrote "Marine Sniper", about Carlos Hathcock. I thought the book was excellent. It told the story of the evacuation of Saigon from all sides. NVA, Viet Cong, ARVN, US Embassy staff and the last Marines out of Vietnam. Here is a link to Mr. Henderson's webpage.

http://www.charleshenderson.net/

HMH-462 LPH Okinawa 1975

HMH-462 was aboard the LPH Okinawa with the CH53D Helicopters. Several VN Helicopters landed on the deck including one CH47 Army Helicopter . A Viet Army Capt & his family was on it with all their personal effects including drums of fuel & motor bikes. We pushed it off the fan tail. It floated upside down as long as I could see it. One of the Cobra gunships went down in the Ocean & the pilots recovered. I later read that pilot was killed back at Pendelton when a Cobra main blade came through the helicopter. My photos some of which are in the POPAMOKE file under my name , Paul Moore, are on board the LPH Okinawa.

Carriers or LPH Ships involved in Op Frquent Wind

Can anyone list the ships involved (from an aviation standpoint)?

Tom Miller

Can anyone list the ships involved (from an aviation standpoint)?

USS Anchorage (LSD-36) SU#2 H&MS-36
USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19) Prov MAG-39
USS Dubuque (LPD-8) HMM-165(-)
USS Durham (LKA-114) Det. HMM-165
USS Hancock (CVA-19) HMH-463(Rein), Det. HMM-164, Det. HMM-165, Det. HML-367
USS Okinawa (LPH-3) HMH-462, Det. HMM-165
USS Midway (CVA-43) 10 USAF HH-53s

USS Denver, USS Duluth, USS Mobile, USS Mt Vernon, USS Peoria, and USS Vancouver served as refueling stations.

Frequent Wind

It would be of interest to learn about the load the USS Midway carried.