The Last Helicopter Out of Vietnam

The last helicopter to leave Vietnam ferried the Marine guards at the US Embassy in Saigon to safety. That chopper is sitting quietly at the military “Boneyard” at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson.

Producer – Christopher Conover
Videographers – Martin Rubio/Bob Lindberg
Editor – Mike Baron

[RTOneZer]

It should be restored and displayed side by side with the last chopper to leave the US Embassy in Kabul in the next 24-48 hours.

[findme]

This helicopter (Swift 22) should be saved and installed at a US Vietnam memorial. I hope the museum saves it and can restore it even as a static display.

[nancyquinn]

Absolutely chilling. I remember our parents and us 7 kids saying a rosary for "The Boys". Makes me cry even now- You will Always be boys to me.

[cplkirk]

I was a young Marine in HMM-164 on Operation Frequent Wind. We had been on The USS Hancock. Swift-22 was a CH-46 "Sea Knight". I don't remember the pilots' names but I'm pretty sure the crew was Sgts Stan Hughes and Chris Woods whom I knew well. It was a remarkable operation and 2 of our pilots, Capt. Nystul and Lt. Shea -- both great guys --were killed on another '46 that went down that night. Tremendous amount of flying took place and HMM-164 did a terrific job. Proud to have been part of it.

[DetTigerFan]

It definitely belongs in a museum as it is an important piece of history.

[kylebales]

Definitely should be restored for display purposes. I think it would be neat at the Navy museum in Pensacola

[themetalstickman]

This is a darkly appropriate video for today (Aug. 16, 2021).

[AlfDog]

I was a Marine Corporal assigned to VMCJ-1 on board the USS Midway, CV41, for that op. Crazy times as the Midway became a landing zone of choice for several S. Vietnamese pilots who stole helicopters loaded them with family and friends and landed wherever there was a clear deck. It was also where the famous O1 Birddog Cessna flown by a S. Vietnamese Major along with his wife and 5 children landed. Look that one up. Amazing story that I was privileged to have a front row seat to witness.

[Trev_Swen]

My Dad was in the Navy. He said he was there from 1969-1971. He did make it back home. He also told me that it rained nonstop for 1 whole week

[linglingjr]

I cannot begin to imagine what an experience it would be to have taken part in the evacuation of Saigon. So much of it seems surreal.

[wesleyrm]

Putting it in a museum would be nice! Support to the idea from a random Brazilian here lol.

[lellialopes]

history like this is just so cool to me

[bigsteve]

Outstanding !. The World's Finest US Marine Aviation. Semper Fi

[wkat]

That thing needs to be restored and put in Pensacola. If it hasn't been upgraded too much I would paint it just like it was in 1975.

[jude_the_apostle]

Watched something earlier from one of the marines that was left on the embassy roof. Where it became apparent a helicopter was coming commander told them strait up that they are marines and they'll defend what needs to be defended until the death. At this point the soldiers can hear and see NVA and VC tanks and trucks rolling down the streets.

[pursuingperformance]

I was a Journalist (JO3) onboard the Oki Boat (LPH-3) from March 1973 until October 1975 and witnessed this helo's return. April 1975 was a busy month in the South China Seas.

[bit]

Ch-47 154038 was also there in 1975 from the use hancock and was picking up people from Kabul, sadly it was left at the Kabul airport

[robertprokop]

I was thinking about the movie "Patton" the other day, and how George C. Scott (quoting Patton) says at the beginning "America has never lost, and will never lose, a war."

Time to update the movie.

[webman]

What a political waste of lives and money that war was. I just missed being drafted and going over when it ended.

[davidrichardson]

What are the names of the 11 marines on the roof