Archives and Records

OPERATION BABYLIFT COLLECTION

“Operation Babylift Collection” is an initiative to document and share the untold journey of Operation Babylift adoptees. 

 In April 1975, as Saigon fell, thousands of children were airlifted to safety in one of the largest wartime evacuations in history. The children were transported to adoptive families worldwide. Despite its historical significance, many aspects of this operation were unknown, and its participants—adoptees, caregivers, and aid workers—often lack a cohesive record of their experiences - until now.

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This project will digitize and cross-reference existing records, including flight manifests, nursery logs, adoption files, and personal correspondence and files, to create a cohesive and accessible archive.

We are working with Regis College to collect new oral histories from adoptees, families, and aid workers to preserve their personal perspectives. Through community outreach and academic programming, we aim to foster a deeper understanding of Operation Babylift and its impact on individuals and communities.

The Collection weaves together facts and documents with the personal narratives to create a comprehensive story that gives shape and our personal histories. 

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SOURCES

RECORD BOOK (728 children listed)

The nursery record book was kept by Friends For All Children to capture the intake and discharge of the children as they were brought into the nurseries. It includes the dates they were brought in, where they were brought in from or who brought them in, the nursery they were brought to, orphanage name and the adopted family and destination. It also provides notes.

NURSERY GROUP LIST (30+ pages)

 As the children were brought in they were assigned to groups in the nurseries with a letter and a number.  This Nursery group list offers the only ID reference for the children that was also used in the convoy lists and the adoption filing.  The lists assign the children into groups A-?, and individually numbered. These can be cross referenced with the convoy sheets to determine when the children were flown out in April 1975.

USAF MANIFESTS: (2)

The C-5A Crew manifest was shoved in pilot Bud Traynors boot, which is the only reason it still exists. The Accident Report lists the military crew, their details, and extent of injuries after the crash. Spelling on the copies of the lists are partially illegible, 

The passenger list for the C-5A crash listed the civilian passengers on the plane,  many who perished in the crash. 

PASSENGER MANIFEST: (1)

USAID provided a comprehensive list of the surviving and deceased children that provides the Orphanage Name, Gender, Birth Information, Adopted Family Name and Destination.

CONVOY LISTS: (57 pages)

The convoy lists are handwritten pages with limited with inconsistent details regarding the flights leaving in April 1975. The details included are not consistent: lead nurse, attending nurse, registrar, carrier, flight, date, time, ID#, nursery name, Vietnamese name of children. These listings can be cross referenced with the record book and Nursery Group list to identify the children and often, find the correct spelling of the names. Many of the listed are illegible.

ADOPTION FILES (2000+ files)

The adoption files for each of the children adopted from Friends For All Children include all of the process documents that were kept in the Boulder, Colorado office.  These files include but are not limited to the following: 

• Adoption Inquiry, application by the perspective family

• Correspondence with the family during the process

• Record of birth

• Vietnamese Birth Certificate

• Nursery photo and info 

• Receipt for adoption fees

• Home study assessment

• Legal files

• Misc photos

• Affidavits by FFAC regarding the child’s relinquishment 

• Orphanage notes

• Medical assessments

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