March 27, 1975

Telegram from Ed Daly, President and owner of World Airlines, to Ambassador Graham Martin.

In it, he writes about: “…the urgency of immediate expansion of the Danang refugee airlift relates again to the inhumane treatment of civilian and military of South Vietnamese by the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese forces.”

He notes that during the period March 24 – 27 World Airways flights carried more than 2000 refugees to freedom.

April 3, 1975

Record of telephone call to the White House describing Ed Daly’s unofficial orphan rescue mission from Saigon.

April 3, 1975

Memo from Daniel Parker to Theodore Marrs. Parker recommends releasing of funds to begin airlifting 2000 Vietnamese children in “safe and suitable” aircraft.

April 3, 1975

President Ford’s statement to the Press. In it he says “We are seeing a great human tragedy as untold numbers of Vietnamese flee the North Vietnamese onslaught. The United States has been doing and will continue to do its utmost to assist these people.”

He also authorizes the release of funds to airlift 2000 Vietnamese orphans to the U.S.

April 4, 1975

President Ford’s official statement after learning about the crash of the first “Operation Babylift” airplane.

He said: “I am deeply saddened at the loss of so many lives in the crash of the United States C-5A mercy light today near Saigon. I wish to convey my heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of the victims, many of whom were coming to new homes in the United States, and to the volunteers who were caring for them on the flight. Our mission of mercy will continue.”

April 7, 1975

Condolence letter to the Nance family on the loss of their son during the crash of the C5-A

April 17, 1975

Memo to President Ford detailing the numbers of Vietnamese orphans and other refugees who were transported to the U.S.

From April 3 through April 15 1975, 1703 orphans were flown out of Vietnam in “Operation Babylift.”