Report 19750430A

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Date

April 30, 1975

Administration

Gerald Ford

Location

South Vietnam

Was 4(a)(1) Triggered? (Hostilities/Imminent Hostilities)

Yes, described in/inferred from report

Was 4(a)(2) Triggered? (Combat- Equipped Introduction)

Yes, stated or used terms in statute

Was 4(a)(3) Triggered? (Substantial Enlargement)

No, as described in/inferred from report

Joint/Coalition Mission

Article 51 Report to UN

Not applicable because no self-defense claim

Purpose/Mission

Evacuation

Details: "emergency final evacuation out of consideration for the safety of U.S. citizens" in Saigon

Domestic Legal Authority

Constitution (Art. II)

Details: "The operation was ordered and conducted pursuant to the President's Constitutional executive power and authority as Commander-in-Chief of U.S. Armed Forces."

Claimed International Legal Basis

Unknown

Estimated Scope/Duration

Scope/duration specified

Details: "...about 1:00 A.M. EDT, April 29, 1975, U.S. forces entered South Vietnam airspace... The last elements of the ground security force departed Saigon at 7:46 P.M. EDT April 29, 1975."

Type of Enemy or Mission

Nation-state

Details: North Vietnam

Military Activity

Air operations Use of ground forces

Details: "A force of 70 evacuation helicopters with 865 Marines evacuated about 1400 U.S. citizens, together with approximately 5500 third country nationals and South Vietnamese... U.S. fighter aircraft provided protective cover... and in one instance suppressed North Vietnamese anti-aircraft artillery firing upon evacuation helicopters... The ground security forces on occasion returned fire during the course of the evacuation operation."

US Casualties Reported

Yes

Details: "Two crew members of a Navy search and rescue helicopter are missing at sea. There are no other known U.S. casualties from this operation..."

Non-US Casualties Reported