16:00The North Vietnamese Air Force tried to interfere in the British evacuation for a second time. The orbiting Albatross picked up 4 MIG 19s approaching Saigon from the north at low level. Above them was a group of 4 MIG 21s. The Sea Lightnings on CAP turned towards the MIG 19s and began to dive on the fast approaching targets. Trails of vapour streamed of the big fighters wing tips as they pulled G as they turned. On Ark Royal the alert pair of Sea Lightning’s was taxiing towards the catapults for immediate launch.
Once away, the second pair of fighters climbed to intercept the fast approaching MIG 21’s. The Sea Lightning’s radar soon had the MIGs in its view, and locked on to the lead aircraft. The British now waited for the Vietnamese to make an offensive move so that they could fire. They duly obliged by turning towards the 2 Sea Lightnings that had moved to intercept the MIG 19s.
The MIG 19s streaked across the paddy fields, they made what would be their final turn, their new course was directly towards the Brigand crash site. The lead Sea Lightning received clearance to fire, the pilots finger gently applied pressure to the trigger on his stick. Off to his right the darkening sky was lit up by the motor of the over wing mounted Red Top missile leapt off the launch rail. It hurtled across the sky, tracking straight to the scene of the 1st MIG 19s demise in a boiling fire ball. The second soon followed, his tail being detached and the rest of the aircraft tumbling wildly till it impacted the ground where it exploded.
The Sea Lightnings attention was now taken by the group of fast closing MIG 21s; the last 2 MIG 19s must have thought they had a clear run at the, now Australian held positions ahead. However, this was the last thought they probably had as the RAN Marauders blew them out of the sky with their Sidewinders.
The MIG 21s were now out numbered 4 – 6 and bugged out. The fresh pair of Sea Lightnings gave chase up to the point were it was clear the MIGs wouldn’t be coming back.
16:30The Albatross AEW picked up a low level track heading out to sea from somewhere in the Saigon suburbs. Whatever, and who ever, it was headed out towards the Franco/Commonwealth Task Group. It was travelling at around 200 Knots at 100 Feet, occasionally changing direction as though the pilot was trying to shake off a tail. A third pair of Sea Lightnings was launched from Ark Royal to investigate the contact. With the ongoing air combat with the North Vietnamese Air force, tensions were running high amongst the Fleet Air Arm pilots. The target was rapidly intercepted, but the Sea Lightnings were struggling to maintain contact as it was flying so slowly. The target was identified as a VNAF Custer CCW-5 Channel Wing light transport. Usually this is a 5 seat aircraft; however the Sea Lightning pilots reported counting at least 10 persons aboard. The interceptors continued to make radio contact with the Custer, without any real success. Suddenly the radio on the Custer burst into life, its pilot was requesting permission to land on the ‘American’ aircraft carrier directly ahead. This raised a slight chuckle in Ark Royal’s CIC as it was her that the pilot was referring to. Several copies of Jane’s All World Aircraft were fetched from the library and consulted for data on the approaching aircraft. It was found that it should be able to land with out arrester gear, although thought was given to erecting the crash barrier.
The pilot of the Custer, a Major in the South Vietnamese Army had packed the aircraft with 10 members of his family, including 6 children, had planned to land on an US carrier but he had been forced to low level by the North Vietnamese MIG’s that were flying over in increasing numbers. Ark Royal was in the landing cycle and preparing to recover the Sea Lightnings after their engagement with the MIGs. Bulwark’s flight deck was clear at the time she manoeuvred into a better position to receive the Custer. The Vietnamese Major brought his aircraft to 500 ft and lined up with the Bulwark’s centre line. The Custer’s engines howled as he used power to balance out its desire to fall out of the sky due to the overload. The Major floated the aircraft over the round down at around 50 Knots and chopped the power. The tyres barely chirped as the touched down on the deck. As the Custer rolled slowly to a halt and was surrounded by the flight deck personnel. The pilot and his family were helped out of the aircraft; it was then moved out of the way to allow helicopters on to their spots.
Custer CCW-5 Channel Wing; 314th Special Mission Squadron, 33rd Tactical Wing, 5th Air Division, VNAF17:00Aboard HMS Bulwark 4 Army Air Corps Westland Ultralights AOP.Mk.2Bs were unpacked from their carry cases and work began on assembling them. They had been loaded partially disassembled at Portsmouth so that they took up less precious space.
The Union Flag was finally lowered at the British Embassy. The flag was handed to the Ambassador before he boarded the Royal Navy Elephant helicopter waiting for him. The final elements of the Embassy security teams were lifted in the second Elephant that was on the lawn behind the first. Thus ended the British diplomatic presence in Vietnam, the Ambassador was landed on Ark Royal and had dinner with the Admiral and the other Commonwealth representatives.
The first US Marine Corps Bell/Aerospatiale C-145A landed at the American Embassy.
17:30The Dartmouth Training Squadron arrives with the fleet, Blake’s Elephants had launched when they came within range of the Commonwealth group. They would operate off the Bulwark; the hanger on the Blake would be rigged to take some of the overspill of refugees. As Blake passed the Ark Royal, she dipped her pennants in salute to the Flag Ship. Initially she would be kept close to the carriers, but soon her special abilities would be required elsewhere.
General Carey ordered the extraction of 3rd Platoon, Company C of BLT 1/9, which had been landed at the DAO Compound on 25 April to assist the Marine Security Guard.
Westland Ultralight AOP.Mk.2B; 656 Sqn, Army Air Corps18:00The crash site was still proving to be a difficult position. The reinforcements provided by the additional Royal Marines in the afternoon had proved to be something of a deterrent to the NVA, and they had pulled back. However, aerial reconnaissance indicated that this was a temporary state of affairs. The NVA were preparing to move forward again. Thus preparations were put in motion to put further troops on the ground before darkness fell.
4 RAN Elephants set down on the road and off loaded volunteers from 4th Royal Australian Regiment and ASASR to relieve the Royal Marines and SAS who had taken up the position in the afternoon. Behind the Elephants 4 Royal Navy Elephants set the New Zealander’s L5 Pack Howitzers, about ½ a mile back from the front line. The aircraft set down on the road to off load the gunners. They then moved forward with Marines to relieve the Golfswing crew and to lift the relieved Marines and SAS.
The first RAF Brigands appeared above the crash site to take there first turn on support duties. Back at Butterworth, the Valiant had just landed and was taxiing in to park next to the Australian Sperrin. The ground crews of both would be busy later in the night.
As the Valiant came to a halt, at the far side of the airfield the Huntsman R.Mk.2 began its take off Roll and climbed out, heading towards Vietnam yet again.
18:30Just as night began to fall, a single Westminster HC.Mk.2 lifted off from Bulwark and headed out into the twilight. Officially the flight was logged as a night navigation exercise, but the aircraft was crewed by the 2 senior pilots of 103 Sqn. The flight headed towards the coast, but not towards the city. It carried on inland, tracked by the orbiting Albatross AEW.Mk.2. It was later reported that the radar operators were ordered not to log the flight or to mention is direction and destination. However, one did say in an interview with the BBC that the helicopter flew deep in country, landing at a small village that was known to have a U.S Special forces training base nearby. When the helicopter landed back onboard Bulwark, it was struck down to the hanger deck, without being removed from the lift, before the crew disembarked. In addition around 15 men were seen to exit the aircraft, all wearing American Jungle fatigues and carrying M-16s. The following morning they were seen in the mess, dressed in UK DPM fatigues, sitting with the SAS troopers. Together they all embarked aboard an RAF Westminster and participated in the recovery of the downed Brigand.
Some year’s later reports surfaced that the 15 were SAS trainers and advisors that had been working with the Americans in training the South Vietnamese Army. A number of troopers spoke about their activities, under strict conditions of anonymity, on the controversial BBC documentary “Britain’s Secret War – Vietnam”. The British Government slated the programmes as being completely false and tried to have it banned. The Government still denies that British personnel served in any capacity in the Vietnam War other than the Embassy evacuations carried out in Operation Dunkirk and described here.
At the crash site the Kiwi gunners fired star shell to illuminate NVA troops trying to move forward. They were met with a hail of fire and were forced to retreat; this was to set the tone for the night.
The RAF Brigands dropped their first bombs in anger against another push forward by the Vietnamese, this time coming in on the positions left flank, across as yet undisturbed paddy fields.
19:00On Bulwark, the aircraft mechanics began to fit the Sioux Scouts with the Hawkswing (the air launched version of Swingfire) installation packs that had been flown out to the ship and loaded at the Singapore stop over. 4 missiles per aircraft to provide yet more fire power for the morning.
General Carey transferred 3 platoons (130 men) of BLT 2/4 into the Embassy Compound to provide additional security and assistance for the Embassy.
19:30General Carey directed that the remaining elements guarding the Annex be withdrawn to DAO Headquarters (the Alamo) where the last of the evacuees would await their flight. Once completed, the new defensive perimeter encompassed only LZ 36 and the Alamo.
20:00HMS Blake and her escort group turned away from the carriers and made her way towards the mouth of the Mekong delta, on her flight deck were the 4 Westland Ultralights having just landed on to their new temporary home. To reach her objective she had to pass past the American fleet that had been assembled for Operation Frequent Wind. The air above the Royal Navy ships was full of aircraft flying between the US fleet and the centre of Saigon.
20:30As Blake moved across the sea the Ultralight crews spent their time fitting the ballistic protection panels inside the lower half of the cockpit bubble. They had been developed for use in Northern Ireland, where they had proven very good at saving lives amongst the AAC crews. Additionally, against standing orders, they removed the doors to allow better ventilation in the stifling heat and humidity, this would also allow a much quicker escape if they did have to put down in a hurry.
The last American evacuees had been loaded onto helicopters.
21:00Blake took up her assigned position around 8,000 yards of the coast near the village of Ap An Thuan, this being only a couple of miles away from the Brigand crash site. At that range both her 6” and 3” guns were able to provide fire support. With her flight deck lit up like a football stadium, the first Ultralight lifted off and disappeared in to the velvet darkness.
The little Ultralight began to orbit above the paddy fields, it was small, agile and quiet and the NVA wouldn’t know it was watching them as they tried to push forward and around the Australians on the ground. The Vietnamese soldiers were moving along the edge of the road, the other side to the Brigand. The Captain thought this idea was going to work perfectly until the ground under him erupted. The Blake’s 3” guns had dropped its fire in the middle of the Vietnamese platoon, scattering their body parts across the road. The Ultralights observer observed the fall of shot with his Starlight scope, correcting where necessary.
The Blake’s escort group took up a blocking line to cover their charge. They had received reports of North Vietnamese naval activity along the coast. They were trying to move troops along the coast in attempt to outflank the remnants of the South Vietnamese Army. The ships launched their helicopters to widen the search radius to the maximum. The Tribal Class frigates moved in close to shore, Mohawk and Zulu launched their Westland Prowlers. The Tribals were finally in their element as they had been built to operate in the warm shallow waters of the Persian Gulf. Rothesay and Plymouth stood further off shore launching their Grasshoppers to patrol out over the deeper water of the Delta.
21:30Major Kean was informed that Admiral Whitmire, Commander of Task Force 76 had ordered that operations would cease at 23:00. Major Kean saw Ambassador Martin to request that he contact the Oval Office to ensure that the airlift continued. Ambassador Martin soon sent word back to Major Kean that sorties would continue to be flown. At the same time, General Carey met with Admiral Whitmire to convince him to resume flights to the Embassy despite pilot weariness and poor visibility caused by darkness, fires and bad weather.
22:00The RNZAF Britten Norman Mainlander C.Mk.50 lands on road close to Brigand crash site to medivac the ASASR after another prolonged engagement with NVA, to facilitate the landing, the road had to be illuminated by flares and torches. The Mainlander lifted off as 3 Royal Navy Elephants swung in behind, onboard the Canadian 1 Commando, Canadian Airborne Regiment, taking their turn at the crash site for the first time. To mark this they hoisted up a makeshift pole with a large red Maple Leaf flying in the gentle breeze
It didn’t take the NVA long to greet their new opposition in their own manner, a full frontal charge across the paddy. The Canadians responded with the same level of vigour as their Australian and British cousins had previously, with devastating fire power.
22:30Hidden behind a vale of darkness and the overhanging jungle, North Vietnamese P.4 torpedo boats moved south at near walking pace. They were hoping to slip past the American fleet that stood off shore. They hadn’t planned on the British presence within the mouth of the Mekong Delta. The North Vietnamese High Command had been caught out by the speed that Blake and her group had achieved in getting south from Hong Kong.
HMS Exmouth powered along the coast, HMS Mohawk’s Westland Prowler had seen something that it wanted to identify, but required some back up. Exmouth positioned herself across the mouth of the large creak; the Prowler moved in to a low hover, just off the water and turned on her spot light. The crew man scanned it back and forward, on finding nothing it moved on as did Exmouth.
Westland Prowler HAS Mk 1; 703NAS, RN23:00The Vietnamese P.4 boat started to break cover, to try and make the next creak. The Captain in charge of the detachment wanted to sail in to the heart of the bedecked in red flags, to try and achieve a place in history for him. His over confidence was about to kill him and his crews. Believing the British had been evaded, he order the remaining diesels fired up and slowly moved the boats out into the lagoon, just as the Prowler from HMS Zulu popped up over the tree tops and fired an AS-12 Anti-Tank missile. The round tracked straight and true and was the last thing to cross the Captain’s mind before exploding. The second round sank the remains of the burning boat. The crew of the second P.4 tried to reverse back into the edge of the jungle before it suffered the same fate as its lead. The confusion allowed it to slip back behind cover, where the crew abandoned the boat and ran for the safety of the NVA’s lines.
With the evacuation of the landing control teams from the Annex and Alamo completed, General Carey ordered the withdrawal of the ground security forces from the DAO Compound.
23:30US Marines destroyed the satellite terminal, the DAO Compound's last means of direct communication with the outside world.
00:00The main bulk of the North Vietnamese Navy moved down the coast, hugging the shore line as they had done before. They had slipped out of Cam Ranh Bay, 180 mile to the North east of Saigon, as darkness had descended. By now they were at the mouth of the Mekong Delta, nestled up under the edge of the jungle canopy. The force was made up of 3 SOI class Corvettes, 2 Komar fast attack boats and a pair of P.6 Torpedo Boats. Their crews moved around the decks carefully and quietly, trying to avoid any unnecessary noise as the officers stood and watched as Exmouth slipped past the mouth of the lagoon. It was an hour since the explosions that tore the P.4 Torpedo Boat apart had echoed around the jungle and the rest of the Vietnamese naval group had been forced to sit and wait for the flames and fuss to die off.
00:30With thermite grenades, having been previously placed in selected buildings, ignited as two CH-53s left the DAO parking lot carrying the last elements of 2nd Battalion 4th Marines US Marine Corps.
01:00The Vietnamese officers hadn’t seen any sign of the Royal Navy since Exmouth had moved away, they were beginning to feel more confidant. One of the P.6 boats was ordered to move off and check the sea outside the mouth of the lagoon for any activity. Nothing was found, so the rest of the group moved away from the shore at minimum power, trying to keep the noise down. As the group passed out into the open sea, their presence had already been noted on the radar screen of the Westland Grasshopper HAS.Mk.2 off HMS Plymouth. The helicopter tracked the Vietnamese group from maximum radar range, monitoring their progress and sending the information back to the Plymouth.
Westland Grasshopper HAS.Mk.2; 829NAS, RNThe Tribal Class Frigates moved up behind the Vietnamese group, also hugging the coast. Onboard they both had recovered and rearmed their Prowlers with AS-12 missiles. On HMS Rothesay, her Westland Grasshopper HAS Mk.1A was also armed and fuelled
01:30The Vietnamese group slipped into the mouth of the Mekong Delta, still unaware of the fact that they were being followed and monitored. They were also unaware that ahead of them lay HMS Blake still firing upon the North Vietnamese Army in the vicinity of the crash site. The Vietnamese naval group continued into the channel and upstream towards the city of Saigon. They approached the channel that Blake was moored up in; they could hear the booming of her guns and the muzzle flash behind the jungle. Tensions rose amongst the British as the lead P.6 Torpedo boat rounded the bend and first saw Blake. The Vietnamese, as had been expected, opened fire and with this Plymouths Grasshopper launched its first missile straight in to the lead Corvette, setting it ablaze. The two Tribals began to run at the rear of the group, firing with their 4.5” guns. Mohawk managed to wing one of the trailing P.6’s and it was rundown by Zulu, slicing it in half, both of which sank rapidly. At this time a second AS-12 slammed in the second Corvette just at the water line. It began to take on water and rolled over within minutes. The two Prowlers had by now joined the fight by shooting at, and missing, both of the Komars fast attack boats. The surviving Corvette was beached in the confusion, the crew escaping the maelstrom of death and destruction. Blakes fire support of the Canadians at the crash site carried on uninterrupted.
Both the Komars turned towards the open sea and attempted to run to safety. Unfortunately for them the HMNZS Waikato had moved into a position to cover any such escapes and had launched her Grasshopper HAS Mk.1. The helicopter sped toward the fast moving boats dispatching the first with a single AS-12 missile. The second Kumar turned away again and managed to find itself in the sights of the Albatross off HMCS Assiniboine. The Albatross launched an AGM-12B Bullpup, the weapon tracked straight and true, hitting the fast attack boat square in the middle of the superstructure.
Westland Grasshopper HAS.Mk.1A; 829NAS, RN
Westland Grasshopper HAS.Mk.1; No.3 Sqn, RNZN02:00One C-145A and one CH-53 were landing at the Embassy every 10 minutes. At this time, the Embassy indicated that another 19 lifts would complete the evacuation.
02:30The NVA push forward on to the Brigand crash site finally ground to a halt, again they were held off, mainly due to the fire from the Kiwi gunners and HMS Blake. However, this latest move had exposed a potential weakness in the Canadians position. The group of NVA that had tried to move up the other side of the road gave the Canadians serious cause for concern. They had insufficient personnel to cover both sides of the road, these concerns were passed up the chain of command and soon officers began to huddle over map tables.
The Royal Marines that were still on site, as Golfswing operators, had finally managed to get some rest. They had put 6 Canadians through a very basic crash course in operating the missile system; a young 2nd Lt had actually managed a kill with his second round, destroying a T-34 as it cleared the tree line in the distance.
03:00Ambassador Martin ordered Major Kean to move all the remaining evacuees into the parking lot LZ which was the Marines final perimeter.
The RAF Valiant bomber was prepared to go out on an ani-shiping patrol, loaded with 1000lb bombs, the aircraft was to run up the coast to Da Nang to cover any further Vietnamese naval interventions. If nothing was found, the aircraft was to carry out an interdiction raid to prevent any NVA reinforcements reaching the general area of the crash site when the lift operation. In this it was to be joined by the Sperrin, which was currently heading back down the coast having bombed the Torpedo boats that it had found there.
03:30Royal Marines began to gather on the hanger deck of HMS Bulwark, checking their kit and forcing as much ammunition in to pouches as they could. Some of the ground crews preparing the Elephants had noticed that there were a significant number of foreign accents amongst the group. The Dutch had volunteered to go along as had the Norwegians. The French Marines were also planning to offer a contribution from the Foch as 40 men prepared to board a C-145A Tilt Duct assault transport.
04:00The first Elephant to arrive from Bulwark carried the Royal Marine boat crews as they were to assist the Blake’s company in the moving of the boats and to check them after they were afloat. The next group of Elephants lifted off from Bulwark with assorted RIBs and inflatable Zodiacs underslung. These were airlifted to the Blake, being landed on the water alongside her, the boats then being collected and moored to the bottom of the boarding steps.
The next group of helicopters, comprising 2 Elephants (1 RN and 1 RAN) and the French C-145A brought the various Marines across from Bulwark and Foch. Each aircraft took turns to land on and off load their cargos, then clear the deck for the next aircraft in. The Marines carried and dragged their gear in to the hanger to clear the flight deck, and then it was down to the boats for transport to shore. The boats moved across the water slowly and quietly. They off loaded the Marines then returned to Blake for the next batch. The Royal Marines set up a perimeter around the landing beach and set about organising the carriage of the WOMBAT 120mm and 84mm Carl Gustav ammunition. The Dutch and Norwegians were next ashore, backed up by Australian volunteers; the final arrivals were the French Marines. With their arrival the forces moved inland following the berms around paddy fields so that they could move quicker.
04:30The Multi-National Marine force arrived at the roadside, and moved through the remains of the last Vietnamese assault to the crash site. The wombat was positioned so as to cover the right side of the road and the group of Banyan trees beyond. In the far distance the rumble of the Valiant and the Sperrin could be hear as they set about their work for this night. Soon, the noise of their engines would be drowned out by the constant rumble as their bombs fell on the 3rd line of the NVA. The bombers were also cutting roads and bridges that led into the area, preventing any reinforcements from getting involved in the fighting. Also out and about that night were the RAF Brigands and their Huntsman E.Mk.1 carrying out their air defence suppression and close support mission. Half of the Brigands were armed with Martel ARMs, and they orbited with the Huntsman E.Mk.1, the rest of the detachment had been armed with bombs and SNEBs for support duties with the Royal Navy Brigands and the Royal Australian Navy Marauders.
Working on an EM emissions map of the area provided by the Huntsman R.Mk.2, the Huntsman E.Mk.1 operated as a jamming platform and directed the Brigands on to their targets. As the Martels had to be set to their frequency on the ground each of the 12 had been set differently based on the emissions map. The first SAM or ZSU that tried to target any of the aircraft involved in the recovery operation would have a short operating career, and so it was to prove for a number of such systems.
Major Kean went to the rooftop LZ and spoke over a helicopter radio with General Carey who advised that President Ford had ordered that the airlift be limited to US personnel and General Carey, Commanding General, 9th MAB, ordered Major Kean to withdraw his men into the Chancery building and withdraw to the rooftop LZ for evacuation.
05:00Ambassador Martin boarded a USMC C-145A , call-sign "Lady Ace 09" of HMM-165 ‘White Knights’ and was flown to the USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19). When Lady Ace 09 transmitted "Tiger is out," those helicopters still flying thought the mission was complete, thereby delaying the evacuation to the Marines from the Embassy roof.
Bell/Aerospatiale (D-2064) C-145A; HMM-165 ‘White Knights’, USMC05:30HMS Apollo completed her turn and was now heading back towards the main part of the Task Group. She steamed a course that was parallel to the Vietnamese coastline, acting as a block to any North Vietnamese naval interference. With eh ship at action stations, the CIC was fully manned, operators hunched over their screens, watching the movement of small green blobs. The Type 965 air warning radar display showed the tracks of the various helicopters as they worked their way back and forth from the carriers to the city. The Officer of the Watch peered over the shoulder of the operator and watched the green fire flies dance about the screen. A voice in his head set sent Lt Martin Ferguson across the Type 993 Surface search display, 2 small fast moving targets had been detected coming out from the coast, heading towards the Task Group. Ferguson immediately picked up the handset and called the captain to the CIC; he then turned and asked that the ships aircraft be made ready for launch.
Apollo was involved in the shipboard trials of the Hawker Siddeley HS-140 Civet HAS.Mk.1 VSTOL aircraft (700X Sqn). It gave the ship a much longer reach than the usual Wasp helicopter; it also carried a more capable sensor suite.
Hawker Siddeley (HS-140) Civet HAS.Mk.1; 700X Sqn, RNThe flight crew were roused out of their bunks, then ran to the briefing room, pulling on their flight suits. While the pilot, Commander Christopher Dean sorted out the details for the alert. His Observer, Lieutenant Philip Masson, pulled on his immersion suit, boots and life jacket.
Captain Kyle Dempster-Watts reached the CIC, to hear that the 2 targets had been challenged by radio repeatedly with no answer; further attempts were made as he walked around the room checking the other displays. He reached the communications desk and asked for the Ark Royal to be informed of the contact and that they were changing course to intercept. When the Flagship authorised this action, he then turned and issued the steering orders. At this point he also order the Civet launched to investigate.
The Civet sat ready to go, fuelled and with ground power hooked up. After the pre-flight checks the engines were started and the aircraft lifted off the deck, slipped to port, then disappeared in to the pre-dawn gloom. At 500 knots, the Civet reached the targets far quicker than they had anticipated, thus the target was caught off guard when it flew over at 500 ft. As the Civet turned Lt Masson fired up the search light and steered it on to the boats, illuminating them. They were a pair of Soviet built P6 Torpedo Boats moving at close to 40 knots. The crews of the boats were more awake as the Civet moved in closer to try and read their pennant numbers. A hail of small and medium calibre gun fire met the aircraft, forcing it to pull away, killing the search light as they did so, and thus disappearing in to the darkness.
Returning to the Apollo, the aircraft was checked over for any hits, and then the deck crew set about fitting the stub wings for the Aerospatiale AS.12 missiles. While this was going on the flight crew grabbed a desperately needed cold drink of water as the humidity was already climbing as was the temperature. Apollo continued to surge forward through the sea, which boiled and churned as it passed under her stern, the breeze filled here battle ensigns as the flew from her masts.
06:00A pair of orbiting RAN Marauders spotted activity on the road that ran along one side of the paddy field where the Brigand lay. They dived down to make a closer inspection of what the NVA were up to. A column of eight Zil 6x6 trucks were moving towards the crash site. On the Ark Royal the CIC suddenly got even busier than it was already. It was becoming clear that action would be required for the Rotodyne to make the recovery of the Brigand and for the troops guarding it to be extracted safely. The approaching NVA would require to be rolled back so as to create a sterile zone around the Brigand to allow the large and vulnerable Rotodyne to hover over the downed bomber safely.
06:30The Civet lifted off, the Torpedo boats had turned toward the carriers and thus represented a credible threat so the rules of engagement allowed the use of force. Also tracking the boats from the opposite direction was HMS Amazon (F169), she was carrying the other trial Civet attached to the Task Group. Amazon moved to cut off the Torpedo boats route to the carriers, forcing them to turn away, but not before launching all of their torpedoes at Amazon. This forced her to turn violently to port in avoidance. Reversing her turn she launched her Civet, the Vietnamese were now trapped between the 2 heavily armed aircraft. They were now really only marking time before they met their inevitable fate, the Civets closed to within 8000 yards, the outer limit of the AS.12s operating envelope. The Apollo’s Civet, as the lead aircraft, fired its first missile; it struck the water just under the stern of the trailing boat without causing any real damage. Amazon’s Civet fired next; lifting the wooden hull’s stern out of the water, breaking the boat’s back. As its keel became exposed it was hit by the 2nd round from Apollo’s Civet blowing the boat in several million fragments. The crew of the lead boat had seen what happened to their fellow boat and they were terrified. The helmsman forced the throttles to go beyond their stops; trying to find any more speed, but they were only delaying the inevitable. Both Civets launched at the same time, both rounds tracked straight and true. The boat erupted like a small volcano, spreading flaming fragments of itself over a sizeable area of sea. Although it was plain that there would be no survivors, the two Civets searched the area with their lights, before heading back to their home ships.
07:00To complete the flight to the task group, the Rotodyne would require in-flight refuelling, as it was 937 miles (1507km, 814 Nautical Miles) as the crow flies and fully tanked the Rotodyne was capable of 650 miles. This was carried out by a USAF McDonnell Douglas KC-132B that was already in orbit off the Vietnamese coast, refuelling USAF and USN aircraft covering the American evacuation. The early morning light was bright enough to allow refuelling to take place without the use of KC-132B’s flood lights. The Rotodyne, finally, launched at 06:30. Fully tanked it continued on to the Bulwark. The aircraft had to set down on the rear of the flight deck due to the 104ft of the rotors. The deck crew removed the heavy lifting equipment from the Rotodyne and rigged on the deck
McDonnell Douglas KC-132B; 181st ARS, Texas ANG, USAFA single Westminster lifted off from Bulwark, onboard were the mystery 15 soldiers who had arrived earlier in the evening. The helicopter made its way towards HMS Blake, before carrying on beyond the crash site then swinging around to set down approximately 2 miles behind the NVA’s front line where it off loaded the troops and took off to return to Bulwark.
C-145A s evacuated the US Marine Battalion Landing Team from the US Embassy roof.
07:30On all the carriers, preparations began to get underway for the final reinforcement of the crash site. Helicopters were being warmed up and fuelled, as troops carried out weapons checks and collected extra ammunition.
The 3 Elephants set down on the road just forward to the New Zealand artillery, which were still firing away at the NVA as they tried to move up. The rear ramps were already down as the settled on to the earth, out drove 2 Land Rovers per aircraft. Each carried a rack with a pair of Swingfire missiles.
From Foch, 5 Bell/Aerospatiale Kadet Cobras lifted off the deck and set off to follow the 3 Australian Cobras and the 4 RAF Westminsters. The Westminsters turned to run along the road in line astern, the Cobras overtaking along both side as 3 Cobra Kadets passed above in an arrow head formation. The lead Cobra Kadet unleashed a hail of rocket fire against the forward mortar position, his wing men followed suit. The other two Cobra Kadets approached the area from the left, coming behind a line of trees. Hiding in them was a T.55, which suddenly exploded as it was hit by a HOT missile launched off the trailing Cobra Kadet. The lead aircraft moved up to gain a position overlooking the left flank of the field, when it was hit by an RPG. It removed the right duct; the aircraft immediately rolled to the right and fell like a stone. Landing upside down on the mud, the cockpit canopy collapsed instantly. A Foreign Legion platoon that had landed behind the cover of the Cobra Kadets made their way over and removed the bodies of the crew. They were medivaced out in a French Navy Bell/Aerospatiale C-144A.
The Australian Cobras approached the column of trucks as they slowly moved forward. Using the Miniguns and grenade launchers in the turrets they passed down either side of the column, reducing them to blazing wrecks. They turned away and launched rockets at an artillery position in the rear.
On the road the Westminsters came to a hover, setting down the under slung SAS Land Rovers. Once the sling lines had been released they landed on the verge to the left of the roads crown. Out poured a mixed force made up of Royal Marines, Ghurkhas and 1st Canadian. Simultaneously, French Navy Bell/Aerospatiale C-145As landed French Marines to support the Foreign Legionnaires already on the ground.
08:00On board Bulwark, the Rotodyne was being prepared for the extraction of the crashed Brigand; the heavy lifting lines were being laid out and attached to the belly hook. Once this was all done it lifted off and head out to orbit the crash site till it was deemed safe enough for it to come in.
The SAS Land Rovers set off up the road at speed, to act as a blocking force. They passed the still burning Zil’s and arrived at a junction, parking across the road and laying charges and Claymore mines, they awaited any attempt by the NVA to move back up the road, they also awaited the additional 15 troops to support and extract them. The 2 RCN Canadair’s provided close support, dropping cluster bombs from adapted torpedo racks; also they strafed the area with their Miniguns
The ground forces were tasked with expanding the perimeter of the enclave as much as was possible, the new perimeter expanding out up to 2 miles.
With the NVA being kept out of the area, the Rotodyne was cleared to move into position over the stricken Brigand. A pair of Westland Whitby’s landed close by and a Royal Navy wreck recovery team set to work checking the slings had been laid out correctly by the SAS the previous day. The Rotodyne dropped down to allow the slings to be attached to the lifting beam, and then applied power. The Brigand only moved slightly as it had settled into the mud of the paddy field. The RN ground team started to dig around the Brigand, and slowly it began to move. The crumpled nose of the aircraft was the final part to release its tenacious hold on terra firma, water pouring forth out of the shattered radome.
The Rotodyne slowly gained altitude, turned, and returned to the fleet. The wreck was set down on the deck of the RFA Bacchus (A404). Once it was strapped down and covered, it would remain there till it was lifted off in Portsmouth.
08:30The ground force now began to fall back to toward the road, first out were the Royal Navy aircraft recovery team, lifted out by the Whitbys from Antrim and Fife. The Royal Marine Land Rovers were next, loaded in to Elephants.
09:00The SAS Land Rovers roared back after raising their own brand of hell amongst the NVA second echelon troops. The Westminsters had been orbiting since they had landed the Land Rovers, now ran in again to the same stretch of road. They landed collected their troop loads and lifted into the hover to hook on to the slings, supported by Royal Marines, Canadian Airborne, ASASR and Legionnaires; and lifted off. , returning to Bulwark.
The last defensive line slowly fell back on to the road and awaited pick up by their transport. The Vietnamese were showing less inclination for a fight with this group of foreigners in their land. They were more concerned with the occupation of the city of Saigon, and the extracting of vengeance on those that had not been able to affect their escapes.
The First aircraft to land on the road for the last lift began to approach the marked out area, the French came in first, a Bell/Aerospatiale C-145A collecting the Legionnaires. The last man on board the aircraft being the Captain Paul Citron, the Company Commander, he shook hands with each of the other officers present before boarding.
As the French aircraft cleared the area an Australian Elephant dropped in to collect the last of the ASASR, again the officers exchanged handshakes. This was not the case when the Elephant came in for the Canadians as they would be meeting up on board Bulwark. The RAF Westminster was the last helicopter in, picking up the last British soldiers in Vietnam. The young Lieutenant stepped on the door sill of the Westminster, looked around at the smoking wreckage and pock marked landscape, and signalled to take off and return to the Task Group, which was already starting to turn away from the shores of Vietnam.
A single C-145A "Swift 2-2" of HHM-164 ‘Knightriders’ arrived to evacuate Major Kean and the 10 remaining men of the Marine Security Guards.
Bell/Aerospatiale (D-2064) C-145A; HHM-164, USMCAt 11:30 NVA tanks smashed through the gates of the Presidential Palace (now the Reunification Palace) less than 1 km from the Embassy and raised the flag of the National Liberation Front for South Vietnam (NLF) over the building; the Vietnam War was over.
With the last of the helicopters safely back on deck, the battle group turned to the north and steamed to Hong Kong. There they off loaded the remaining evacuees, they were flown to the holding facility at RAF Kia Tak. The Vietnamese were separated out so that they could be given medical checks and civilian clothing. The staff from the Australian, New Zealand, Canadian and British embassies boarded the transport aircraft from their home nations, they would be home long before their rescuers. The staff from the French Embassy had to wait another 24hrs before the specially chartered Air France 747 arrived to return them to Paris.
It was late afternoon on the 1st of May before the Melbourne said their fair wells and turned away from the rest of the Task Group and began to make her way south. She passed Darwin on her way to Sydney. There were crowds of relatives and friends lining the dock side awaiting her return. But, there would be no parades as the country had had its fill of wars in Vietnam. There were a number of low key, welcome home celebrations, where the Prime Minister personally thanked all those involved in the operation. A number of the senior staff from the embassy also came onboard to thank naval and army personnel directly.
Foch accompanied the British warships till after they had passed Sicily. Much of the voyage home was taken up with cross decking exercises and inter-regimental competitions. As part of these competitions an endurance march was conducted in the Sinai which the Foreign Legion won although the SAS ran them very close, the Royal Marines defeated the French Marines. The Canadians were forced to withdraw after a number of their team suffered from heat stroke. Amphibious exercises were also conducted on the coast line of Somalia and Egypt.
As the fleet passed through the Mediterranean, they were over flown by a BAC (Commercial) Canberra CC.Mk.1 of the Royal Flight. It made a number of low passes before turning away and landing at Gibraltar. An Elephant off Ark Royal met the passengers and flew then out to the carrier. The Queen Mother, the patron of the Ark Royal, and the Prince of Wales toured the ship. They met and thanked members of the crew before flying over to the Bulwark. They both spent time with the Royal Marines and Gurkhas, picture from the ships photographer were issued to the press. They also met and spent a lot of time with the SAS, no photos were allowed of this meeting. The Royal guests were flown back to Gibraltar to rejoin their aircraft. On their way back to the UK, the aircraft again over flew the fleet a number of times. Both of their Royal Highnesses could be seen waving from the windows of the aircraft.
BAC Canberra (Commercial) CC.Mk.1; Queen’s Flight, RAF
