Original subtitles

At the chaotic end of a bitter war,

At the chaotic end of a bitter war,

one of the world's largest airplanes

is loaded with orphans and headed for safety.

is loaded with orphans and headed for safety.

Passing throttles now.

Passing throttles now.

Time.

Go.

We needed to get out of missile range.

We needed to get out of missile range.

But only minutes into their escape...

There was this loud explosion, one quick bang.

There was this loud explosion, one quick bang.

What was that?

...the plane is out of control...

I kept going faster and faster and faster.

I kept going faster and faster and faster.

...and headed for the ground.

Prepare for emergency landing.

Mom, get down.

Mom, get down.

And then it was quiet.

And then it was quiet.

Ladies and gentlemen, we are starting our approach.

We lost both engines.

We lost both engines.

...the mask over your nose.

Emergency descent.

Mayday, mayday.

Brace for impact!

South Vietnam, April 1975.

After more than 10 years of fighting,

the United States is on the verge of defeat.

the United States is on the verge of defeat.

The end of the war is fast approaching.

The enemy is closing in on the capital.

The enemy is closing in on the capital.

On April 4th at a military base in the South Vietnamese capital

of Saigon, a strange cargo is being loaded

of Saigon, a strange cargo is being loaded

onto an enormous C-5A Galaxy.

onto an enormous C-5A Galaxy.

This is one of the largest planes in the world.

The C-5A is primarily a cargo plane.

Its hold is wide enough to carry tanks

Its hold is wide enough to carry tanks

and tall enough to move buses.

Above the cargo area, there's a small number of seats.

Both the passenger area and the cargo bay

Both the passenger area and the cargo bay

are being pressed into service today.

Dozens of Vietnamese orphans are being loaded onto the plane

to be flown to safety.

to be flown to safety.

There are thousands of orphans to be

flown out before the North Vietnamese take Saigon.

flown out before the North Vietnamese take Saigon.

Barb Adams works for the American embassy.

Barb Adams works for the American embassy.

She and her daughter Linda are also fleeing.

On April 4, my mom came home and told me

that I had one hour to pack one suitcase

that I had one hour to pack one suitcase

and that we were going to be escorting

the orphans on an orphan airlift back to the United States.

the orphans on an orphan airlift back to the United States.

When my mother and I went upstairs to the troop

compartment, there's traditional airline seats,

compartment, there's traditional airline seats,

and all of the seats were filled with babies.

Sergeant Ray Snedegar is in charge of loading

the plane's massive cargo bay.

Make sure it's secure.

Make sure it's secure.

We got people down here.

It was hard to control the situation.

So many people were there, so much news media, so many people

So many people were there, so much news media, so many people

from the orphanages, so many military people

that it was actually pure chaos.

that it was actually pure chaos.

Just the day before, American president Gerald Ford

Just the day before, American president Gerald Ford

announced the start of this desperate mission of mercy,

a remarkable effort called Operation Babylift.

a remarkable effort called Operation Babylift.

I have directed that C-5A aircraft and other aircraft

I have directed that C-5A aircraft and other aircraft

especially equipped to care for these orphans during

especially equipped to care for these orphans during

the flight be sent to Saigon.

I expect these flights to begin within the next 36 to 48 hours.

I expect these flights to begin within the next 36 to 48 hours.

Arnold Isaacs was covering the end of the war

for "The Baltimore Sun."

for "The Baltimore Sun."

We had transport aircraft flying into Saigon every day,

unloading military supplies and going back empty.

unloading military supplies and going back empty.

And so it was decided that they could carry out the orphans

on those returning flights.

on those returning flights.

There were a lot of cameras and reporters

There were a lot of cameras and reporters

out there, covering the loading and the departure of the plane.

Captain Bud Traynor is in charge of Operation

Babylift's first flight.

Babylift's first flight.

I got a call from the command post back in the States,

and they said to me, how many people could you take out

and they said to me, how many people could you take out

of Saigon if you were asked?

Because of the last minute nature of the flight,

Because of the last minute nature of the flight,

they're running behind schedule.

The plane is already five hours late,

The plane is already five hours late,

and Captain Traynor wants to be in the air.

He orders the cargo bay doors to be closed.

He orders the cargo bay doors to be closed.

Tell them he wants the doors closed.

Loadmaster, close cargo bay doors.

Loadmaster, close cargo bay doors.

The youngest of the 145 children

The youngest of the 145 children

have been crammed into the upper passenger section of the jet.

My mother and I were both assigned three rows of seats

with maybe four to a row, so it would be 12 to 15 babies

with maybe four to a row, so it would be 12 to 15 babies

that we would be taking care of on the flight,

that we would be taking care of on the flight,

feeding them, changing them, whatever

they needed to have done.

In a?

In a?

Have a good flight, In a.

There are 102 older children in a cargo area below.

There are 102 older children in a cargo area below.

A number of adults from the American embassy

are also down there, keeping an eye on the orphans.

Getting out of Vietnam starts by leaving

Getting out of Vietnam starts by leaving

the safety of a US base.

Passing throttles now.

15, 20, time.

15, 20, time.

Go.

Gear up.

The cargo plane is heading for Clark Air

Force Base in the Philippines.

It's a 2.5 hour flight.

It's a 2.5 hour flight.

From there, the orphans will be sent to adoption agencies

in North America and Australia.

in North America and Australia.

We needed to take off from Saigon

and make a very rapid ascent to get out of missile range.

and make a very rapid ascent to get out of missile range.

Cargo planes are easy targets.

Cargo planes are easy targets.

They're slow-moving and large.

The possibility of an attack is very real.

The possibility of an attack is very real.

Just days before, North Vietnamese troops

captured the South's second largest city, Danang.

captured the South's second largest city, Danang.

South Vietnamese forces are retreating toward Saigon.

South Vietnamese forces are retreating toward Saigon.

In the capital, the situation is chaotic.

Thousands of South Vietnamese civilians

are desperate to leave.

How's the air in the troop compartment?

It's all right.

The babies still squalling or they quieted

The babies still squalling or they quieted

down with all the noise?

Most are asleep.

Most are asleep.

Just as well.

Then, shortly after takeoff,

Then, shortly after takeoff,

as the plane climbs through 23,000 feet...

as the plane climbs through 23,000 feet...

as the plane climbs through 23,000 feet...

When the rapid decompression occurred,

When the rapid decompression occurred,

the plane filled with this mist.

And so until it dissipates, you cannot see.

And so until it dissipates, you cannot see.

And there was this loud explosion, one quick bang.

What was that?

What was that?

And she said, I'm not sure.

And you could feel the plane heading downward.

Debris started flying around.

Debris started flying around.

It's a classic decompression.

Somewhere, there's a massive hole in the plane's fuselage.

Somewhere, there's a massive hole in the plane's fuselage.

The air inside the jet is rushing out.

The air inside the jet is rushing out.

At 23,000 feet, there's barely enough oxygen to breathe.

So I looked over at the copilot,

So I looked over at the copilot,

and he was putting on his oxygen mask.

And I thought, I'd better do that too.

And I thought, I'd better do that too.

The oxygen masks have dropped automatically,

but on such an overcrowded flight,

but on such an overcrowded flight,

there aren't enough to go around.

The ones that are available weren't

designed to reach babies.

designed to reach babies.

As I looked out the window, I saw the ocean.

And I said to my mom...

And I said to my mom...

I said, we're crashing, aren't we?

At the back of the passenger compartment,

Lieutenant Marcia Wirtz checks in with the crew.

Lieutenant Marcia Wirtz checks in with the crew.

From there, she can usually see down to the cargo bay

below her.

Pilot, this is Wirtz.

Pilot, this is Wirtz.

I'm at the top grade of the troop compartment.

I can see the China Sea out the rear of the plane.

I can see the China Sea out the rear of the plane.

What?

The cargo door is gone.

With more than 300 people on board,

captain Bud Traynor's jet has lost its breathable air.

captain Bud Traynor's jet has lost its breathable air.

Somehow, his massive aircraft has been badly damaged,

Somehow, his massive aircraft has been badly damaged,

and he's a long way from a safe place to land.

The inaugural flight of Operation Babylift

will not make it out of Vietnam.

will not make it out of Vietnam.

The next few minutes will determine

if anyone even survives.

Oxygen levels are dangerously low.

Oxygen levels are dangerously low.

Unlike the passenger compartment above, there

are only a few portable masks for passengers

in the cargo bay.

in the cargo bay.

My first priority after a rapid decompression

is to get the aircraft back down to a breathing

is to get the aircraft back down to a breathing

altitude for all the passengers, which is 10,000 feet.

I'm taking it back to the airport.

I'm taking it back to the airport.

And so I turned 180 degrees, and now

And so I turned 180 degrees, and now

I'm heading back for Saigon.

But before he gets back to Saigon...

But before he gets back to Saigon...

Sergeant Snedegar.

...Traynor needs to know how bad the situation is.

The airplane is going down in a left bank.

The airplane is going down in a left bank.

At that particular point, I sense that we're going down.

I go to the cockpit.

Sir.

Sir.

See what's going on.

And Captain Traynor tells me to go to the cargo compartment

to see what's happening down there.

to see what's happening down there.

When I was in my descent, I went

to my maximum speed, which is what you're supposed

to my maximum speed, which is what you're supposed

to do to get to 10,000 feet.

I got to my maximum speed, and I pulled back on the yoke,

I got to my maximum speed, and I pulled back on the yoke,

and nothing happened.

I kept going faster and faster and faster.

I kept going faster and faster and faster.

Traynor's plane is diving to the ground,

and he can't get it to pull up.

At the back of the plane Ray Snedegar descends

into the center of the storm.

When I came down, I noticed there was a lot of chaos

in the cargo compartment.

Obviously people were frightened.

Obviously people were frightened.

So I'm actually crawling and stepping over people that

are combat loaded on the floor.

are combat loaded on the floor.

And I saw this huge gaping hole in the back of the airplane.

And I saw this huge gaping hole in the back of the airplane.

All daylight back there.

All daylight back there.

And then Snedegar spots what could be

an even more serious problem.

an even more serious problem.

Hydraulic fluid is pumping out.

Control cables are dangling in the breeze,

Control cables are dangling in the breeze,

flopping back and forth.

And it just reminded me of looking at some spaghetti.

That's the first thought in my mind.

The flight engineer also

notices that the plane is losing its hydraulic fluid fast.

notices that the plane is losing its hydraulic fluid fast.

Pilot, we've lost number one hydraulic system.

We've just lost number two hydraulics.

We've just lost number two hydraulics.

Hydraulic fluid helps the crew move the massive

control surfaces in the plane...

control surfaces in the plane...

the rudder and elevator at the back and the ailerons and flaps

on the wing.

There are four separate hydraulic systems on the plane.

There are four separate hydraulic systems on the plane.

Now, two of them are completely empty.

Now, two of them are completely empty.

And as Traynor dives toward 10,000 feet,

his plane is going much faster than it should,

his plane is going much faster than it should,

and he can't pull up.

And I kept pulling back on the yoke,

thinking that I could slow down, pull

thinking that I could slow down, pull

back more and more and more.

I'm not getting anything out of the yoke.

How about you?

How about you?

Nothing.

And we were just totally puzzled.

What is going wrong?

What is going wrong?

Pulling on his yoke should bring the plane's nose

up and slow it down.

up and slow it down.

If he can't pull the plane up soon,

it'll plow straight into the ground.

it'll plow straight into the ground.

And I'm concerned at that point we're still falling.

We're not leveling out.

We're not leveling out.

In the belly of the plane,

Ray Snedegar reports what he sees to the cockpit.

Pilot, cargo bay!

Pilot, cargo bay!

Go ahead.

I told him that part of the ramp was missing.

I told him that part of the ramp was missing.

Pressure door was gone, and hydraulic lines and control

cables had been cut.

The problem is now much worse than we thought.

The problem is now much worse than we thought.

Declare an emergency.

Saigon, this is Mack 80218, and we're declaring emergency.

Saigon, this is Mack 80218, and we're declaring emergency.

We require immediate return to base.

After struggling with his crippled jet,

Traynor's efforts finally seem to pay off.

Traynor's efforts finally seem to pay off.

And now the airplane levels itself off, and we're saying,

wow, thank goodness that we're finally making it out of this.

wow, thank goodness that we're finally making it out of this.

As quickly as it leveled off,

As quickly as it leveled off,

the plane begins to climb again.

The nose of the jet begins pulling up into the sky.

The nose of the jet begins pulling up into the sky.

And so I relaxed the yoke, and what happens?

Nothing.

I'm still going straight up now.

I'm still going straight up now.

Unless Traynor can gain some speed,

his plane will soon stall and tumble from the sky.

his plane will soon stall and tumble from the sky.

And it got higher and higher, and pretty soon

I'm going almost straight up.

I'm going almost straight up.

In desperation, he dips one

wing, forcing the nose down.

wing, forcing the nose down.

I'm now in a very, very steep dive.

And there's nothing I can do, seemingly,

And there's nothing I can do, seemingly,

to bring the nose up.

And so, counterintuitive, I added power.

And so, counterintuitive, I added power.

And when I did that, the airplane

And when I did that, the airplane

pulled itself out of the dive, and I

started to go back up again.

But this time, I stopped it at 10,000 feet and rolled out,

But this time, I stopped it at 10,000 feet and rolled out,

and I realized that I had learned

how to control the airplane.

Traynor can't control his plane's pitch

Traynor can't control his plane's pitch

as he usually does, by pushing and pulling

on his control column.

Instead, by gently increasing and decreasing

Instead, by gently increasing and decreasing

power to his engines, he seems to be

able to keep his plane level.

able to keep his plane level.

At that point, I realized that my only pitch

control was the throttle.

control was the throttle.

The plane has descended to 10,000 feet.

There's now enough oxygen to breathe.

There's now enough oxygen to breathe.

1, 0, 0.

It's safe to remove our masks.

Gear down, and before landing checklist.

I headed directly for Saigon and began a descent

I headed directly for Saigon and began a descent

and began positioning myself for a final much

like you would in a glider.

like you would in a glider.

Captain Traynor has coaxed his injured jet

down to just over 4,000 feet.

down to just over 4,000 feet.

Seven miles from the airport, he turns

his jet to line up with the runway

his jet to line up with the runway

when his plane surprises him again.

In the final turn to the runway,

In the final turn to the runway,

when I banked the airplane, the nose dropped, and I

couldn't continue my turn.

couldn't continue my turn.

I had to level the wings so that I had enough lift that the nose

I had to level the wings so that I had enough lift that the nose

didn't keep descending.

Captain Traynor has to stop turning before he

can line up with the runway.

can line up with the runway.

He's now losing altitude fast, and his prospects

are becoming increasingly grim.

are becoming increasingly grim.

While we were working in the cargo compartment,

the loadmaster came to me and said

we need to get upstairs because we're going to crash land.

we need to get upstairs because we're going to crash land.

When I get to the top of the ladder, I've changed my mind

and think, I need to be in the cargo compartment

and think, I need to be in the cargo compartment

when this airplane does get on the runway

so I can help evacuate down there.

As I try to leave, the flight engineer grabbed me

As I try to leave, the flight engineer grabbed me

by my left elbow, throws me into a seat,

and about the time I hit the seat,

and about the time I hit the seat,

I can hear the ground screaming.

It's a loud scream.

It's coming closer.

Prepare for it.

Imminent crash landing.

Get down on the floor!

Get down on the floor!

Prepare for emergency landing!

Mom, get down!

When we started to go down, my mother and I

When we started to go down, my mother and I

were focusing on what should we be doing to brace for impact.

were focusing on what should we be doing to brace for impact.

We had a big open field in front of us.

When I got within about 200 feet of the ground,

When I got within about 200 feet of the ground,

I said, we're going in.

The plane is hurtling toward the ground

The plane is hurtling toward the ground

at over 300 miles per hour.

I reached down, grabbed my seatbelt.

I reached down, grabbed my seatbelt.

And when the seatbelt snaps...

We touched the ground relatively easily.

Then we popped back in the air.

Then we popped back in the air.

The jumpseat said to me, Bud, we're going to make it.

But I could see looming ahead of me was this huge, huge river.

But I could see looming ahead of me was this huge, huge river.

So I added power.

And even with full power, at that point,

I was still continuing to sink.

I was still continuing to sink.

My whole life went into slow motion.

My whole life went into slow motion.

The airplane is coming apart where I'm sitting.

It's all kinds of debris is flying through the air.

It's all kinds of debris is flying through the air.

And it went on and on and on.

It seemed like forever.

It seemed like forever.

When I was going upside down, I

When I was going upside down, I

remember saying goodbye to my wife a couple of times,

because I was a goner.

And then it was quiet.

And then it was quiet.

Traynor and the rest of the cockpit crew

have survived the horrific crash of their C-5A.

have survived the horrific crash of their C-5A.

When I stepped out of the window, what was clear

after you looked around, the airplane broke up

after you looked around, the airplane broke up

into its component parts.

The tail dropped off.

The flight deck broke away.

The flight deck broke away.

The troop compartment and the wings, they

separated from the cargo compartment.

The cargo compartment itself disintegrated, essentially.

The cargo compartment itself disintegrated, essentially.

Behind the cockpit, the plane's wings, which hold

Behind the cockpit, the plane's wings, which hold

the fuel tanks, are burning.

The passenger section of the plane

is largely intact and separated from the scorching

is largely intact and separated from the scorching

heat of the burning wings.

Lieutenant Wirtz and many others who had been in the passenger

section survive.

section survive.

Then we started bringing babies out,

Then we started bringing babies out,

and I could hear some helicopters coming.

and I could hear some helicopters coming.

At that point, I was not looking for my mother

because I had been assured that she was OK.

Just minutes after the crash,

Just minutes after the crash,

rescue workers are on the scene, searching for survivors.

Almost everyone in the cargo area

was killed instantly when the plane

was killed instantly when the plane

slammed down the second time.

The dead, the injured, and the uninjured survivors

are taken to hospitals in Saigon and Thailand.

are taken to hospitals in Saigon and Thailand.

Since I was not injured, I just took a seat

and was waiting for my mother while they

and was waiting for my mother while they

brought in a lot of the babies.

Then somebody came over to me and told

Then somebody came over to me and told

me that my mother had died.

175 people survive the crash of the Air Force jet,

175 people survive the crash of the Air Force jet,

but more than 150 have been killed.

but more than 150 have been killed.

More than half of them were children.

And it was really such a blow in what had already been

And it was really such a blow in what had already been

a very tragic and sad story of the collapse

a very tragic and sad story of the collapse

of South Vietnam, and...

The investigation begins immediately.

The investigation begins immediately.

The next day, along with the investigators,

The next day, along with the investigators,

Captain Bud Traynor returns to the smoldering

wreckage of his plane on a special mission of his own.

wreckage of his plane on a special mission of his own.

I had to leave a couple of crew members

out at the aircraft.

out at the aircraft.

And so I went back the next morning.

The bodies of two dead crewmen

are still pinned down by the wreckage.

are still pinned down by the wreckage.

So we took a lot of tie-down chains and put them together

So we took a lot of tie-down chains and put them together

and did the old heave-ho with a whole lot of people

to move the flap of wreckage that was

to move the flap of wreckage that was

pinning the two crew members.

And we got them out of there.

It's always important to finish the job, and we did.

It's always important to finish the job, and we did.

Dave Scheiding is a structural engineer

with the Air Force.

When we got to the site, we had some concern

to begin with because there was a tremendous amount

of civilian people out there, actually picking up parts,

which of course that didn't help us much as

far as the investigation goes.

far as the investigation goes.

He's part of a team that

goes to Saigon to try to figure out why the plane crashed.

goes to Saigon to try to figure out why the plane crashed.

This investigation was very unique

from a couple of standpoints.

from a couple of standpoints.

The first standpoint, of course of the people

taking parts away from us, but second, the country

was in extreme chaos.

was in extreme chaos.

It was essentially falling.

Frank Huskin is also part of the investigative team.

Frank Huskin is also part of the investigative team.

The NVA and the Viet Cong are all around,

and we were only out there during the daytime,

and we were only out there during the daytime,

but it was a very uncomfortable feeling,

very uncomfortable feeling.

One of the first things we wanted to rule out was sabotage

and a bomb, so we brought in dogs from the Philippines,

and a bomb, so we brought in dogs from the Philippines,

bomb-sniffing dogs.

Take them back there to the rear of the plane.

With North Vietnamese soldiers so close,

With North Vietnamese soldiers so close,

a direct attack or sabotage are obvious theories.

During the rush to board the aircraft,

personal luggage was loaded but not thoroughly checked.

personal luggage was loaded but not thoroughly checked.

This added to the speculation that a bomb may

have been smuggled on board.

have been smuggled on board.

The dogs find no trace of a bomb,

and investigators find no evidence of explosive residue

and investigators find no evidence of explosive residue

in the plane.

It clearly wasn't attacked, but something had

It clearly wasn't attacked, but something had

caused the cargo door to fail.

We had to find the doors, if at all possible,

We had to find the doors, if at all possible,

to make sure that we didn't have a problem with other C-5s that

to make sure that we didn't have a problem with other C-5s that

would cause this type of crash.

would cause this type of crash.

Soon, the massive C-5As

will be desperately needed to get America out of Vietnam.

will be desperately needed to get America out of Vietnam.

Finding out what happened to this one

couldn't be more urgent.

It was beyond important.

It was beyond important.

At the time, we had approximately 100 C-5 aircraft.

At the time, we had approximately 100 C-5 aircraft.

We grounded the C-5s until such time

that we could figure out, one, what the problem was,

that we could figure out, one, what the problem was,

and two, what were we going to do to prevent it

from happening again.

Hey, guys.

As they examine the wreckage,

As they examine the wreckage,

investigators also try to find out

why the crew had such difficulty controlling the plane.

why the crew had such difficulty controlling the plane.

Look how this has sheared off.

Look how this has sheared off.

The cables that Ray Snedegar

saw leaking hydraulic fluid were the ones that

control the plane's elevator.

control the plane's elevator.

Since the elevator controls pitch,

Captain Traynor had no way of guiding his plane up and down.

Captain Traynor had no way of guiding his plane up and down.

Pilot!

When there is no control of the elevator, which allows

When there is no control of the elevator, which allows

for up and down pitch, an airplane will set

up an oscillation up and down.

up an oscillation up and down.

His oscillation started as nose was going down,

and then it picked up speed, and then it started pitching up.

and then it picked up speed, and then it started pitching up.

A falling plane's aerodynamic properties

A falling plane's aerodynamic properties

will force it to follow a predictable pattern.

As lift increases, the nose naturally tilts upwards.

As lift increases, the nose naturally tilts upwards.

Without the elevators to counteract the motion,

it will continue until the plane moves so slowly that it stalls,

it will continue until the plane moves so slowly that it stalls,

falling back to the ground.

It explains the strange motion of the giant C-5A.

It explains the strange motion of the giant C-5A.

By adjusting the thrust to his engines,

Traynor was able to keep the jet from rising and falling.

Traynor was able to keep the jet from rising and falling.

Investigators believe the cables were sheared off when the cargo

Investigators believe the cables were sheared off when the cargo

door exploded from the plane.

But they still don't know why the door

failed in the first place.

failed in the first place.

Then we made a determination we were going to have

to try and find the doors.

to try and find the doors.

But the door is somewhere at the bottom

of the South China Sea.

of the South China Sea.

Our next problem was trying to figure out

the ballistics of those doors.

Nobody had ever even thought of figuring out

Nobody had ever even thought of figuring out

ballistics of two doors flying through the air from 23,000

feet.

feet.

Relying on the airspeed and the altitude

of the moment of decompression, investigators

of the moment of decompression, investigators

learn the plane was a little over 25 miles

from the coast of Vietnam.

When the doors went out, the airplane

When the doors went out, the airplane

was moving across the water at about 600 feet per second.

Therefore, we had to come down with a pretty

good estimate for the Navy to even know where to look.

good estimate for the Navy to even know where to look.

Ships from the US Seventh Fleet

criss-crossed the South China Sea, looking for the rear door.

criss-crossed the South China Sea, looking for the rear door.

For the first several days, they can't find anything.

For the first several days, they can't find anything.

The South China Sea has swallowed the evidence.

The South China Sea has swallowed the evidence.

At the crash site of the inaugural flight

of Operation Babylift, investigators are becoming

of Operation Babylift, investigators are becoming

increasingly frustrated.

A great deal of wreckage has been stolen by scavengers.

A great deal of wreckage has been stolen by scavengers.

An important clue could be among the pieces taken away.

To retrieve these parts, the Air Force offers to buy them back.

To retrieve these parts, the Air Force offers to buy them back.

The strategy was to provide leaflets

The strategy was to provide leaflets

throughout the city of Saigon and the surrounding area.

We want every piece of material from the aircraft back,

We want every piece of material from the aircraft back,

and we will also pay you if you will turn this in to us.

11 days after the crash,

flyers are delivered to local officials

flyers are delivered to local officials

and distributed throughout the city.

Investigators do eventually recover

the camera that was used by a film crew on board the plane.

the camera that was used by a film crew on board the plane.

They hope it can show them exactly what happened.

They hope it can show them exactly what happened.

But the film inside the camera has already been removed.

A piece of the wreckage turned in during the buyback program

A piece of the wreckage turned in during the buyback program

is just what they're looking for.

We were trying to get the black boxes back,

We were trying to get the black boxes back,

because that's the thing we really wanted.

The piece that is brought back

is a system called MADAR, malfunction detection

is a system called MADAR, malfunction detection

analysis and recording system.

It didn't identify the reason for the doors

It didn't identify the reason for the doors

and the ramps failing, but it did provide us a sequence

of events in a lot of areas including altitude,

of events in a lot of areas including altitude,

airspeed, the performance of the aircraft

itself during that time frame.

itself during that time frame.

As investigators continue

to look for the cause of the crash, the situation in Vietnam

to look for the cause of the crash, the situation in Vietnam

gets worse.

Two days after they receive the MADAR,

the South Vietnamese president resigns.

the South Vietnamese president resigns.

On April 23, 100,000 North Vietnamese troops

On April 23, 100,000 North Vietnamese troops

approach Saigon.

The noose around the city is tightening quickly.

The noose around the city is tightening quickly.

While we were out in the rice paddy,

you could see burning hamlets and villages in the distance.

you could see burning hamlets and villages in the distance.

They were on fire.

You could hear the explosions and so forth of mortars.

You could hear the explosions and so forth of mortars.

While the situation in Vietnam continues to unravel,

While the situation in Vietnam continues to unravel,

the US Navy finally has some success at sea.

On April 26, they find the cargo ramp and part of the pressure

On April 26, they find the cargo ramp and part of the pressure

door of Traynor's plane.

If investigators don't find the answers here,

they may not find them anywhere.

They're running out of time, and they're running out of leads.

They're running out of time, and they're running out of leads.

When the ramp is examined, investigators

When the ramp is examined, investigators

make a disturbing discovery.

On that ramp, two of the stirrups

were in great condition.

were in great condition.

They were perfect.

They had not failed.

So obviously it told us that at least two of the locks

had just unlocked themselves.

had just unlocked themselves.

The C-5A has 14 locks holding the rear cargo

door shut, seven on each side.

door shut, seven on each side.

The door recovered from the sea tells investigators

The door recovered from the sea tells investigators

that for some reason three of the locks designed to hold

it shut had either unlocked in flight

it shut had either unlocked in flight

or had never locked at all.

This flight was actually like a ticking bomb.

This flight was actually like a ticking bomb.

When they closed the ramps, all those locks

would look like they were in a locked position.

When it took off, the fuse was lit.

When it took off, the fuse was lit.

And as the aircraft climbed out, the fuse kept burning.

As the plane climbed away from Saigon...

As the plane climbed away from Saigon...

Gear up.

...the pressure outside the jet dropped.

The air inside pushed with increasing

The air inside pushed with increasing

force against the cargo door.

Then, as the plane passed through 23,000 feet,

Then, as the plane passed through 23,000 feet,

with three latches unlocked, the pressure on the door

with three latches unlocked, the pressure on the door

was too much.

With the three locks that failed all in a row,

it was just too much load for the other four locks

it was just too much load for the other four locks

to actually pick up, which resulted

in the catastrophic failure of the ramp itself.

in the catastrophic failure of the ramp itself.

But investigators still don't

know why the locks failed.

know why the locks failed.

Before they can find the answer, the situation in Vietnam

deteriorates completely.

Saigon is under siege.

Saigon is under siege.

On April 27, the investigators take all of the evidence

On April 27, the investigators take all of the evidence

they can and leave.

It's simply too dangerous to stay.

When we left Saigon, we were the last two C-141s

When we left Saigon, we were the last two C-141s

to leave Thompson Air Base.

They were essentially losing their country at that time.

And after that, it was only helicopters that got out.

And after that, it was only helicopters that got out.

Investigators hope they

have all the clues they need to solve the mystery of the crash.

have all the clues they need to solve the mystery of the crash.

They know they won't be coming back to Vietnam

to look for any more.

to look for any more.

April 30, 1975, the war in Vietnam ends.

April 30, 1975, the war in Vietnam ends.

The last remaining Americans in Vietnam are flown to safety.

Back in the United States, investigators

Back in the United States, investigators

continue their work.

Since the C-5A is in service around the world,

they need to know why three locks on the cargo door failed.

When we got back to Texas, it was to help

When we got back to Texas, it was to help

us verify the failure sequence.

Investigators discover something

Investigators discover something

potentially alarming about the cargo plane's rear door.

Parts from the C-5A were actually

removed from the plane, cannibalized

removed from the plane, cannibalized

to service another cargo plane.

The locks on the rear door of the C-5A

are connected to each other by a series of tie rods.

are connected to each other by a series of tie rods.

The rods can be lengthened or shortened to ensure the locks

The rods can be lengthened or shortened to ensure the locks

are completely closed.

It's these tie rods which were removed

It's these tie rods which were removed

from the Babylift plane.

At the time, the enormous cargo planes were in constant demand.

At the time, the enormous cargo planes were in constant demand.

The Air Force was very short of parts,

and so they came up with a standard practice

and so they came up with a standard practice

for maintenance that they could cannibalize parts off

of aircrafts that are not being flown.

of aircrafts that are not being flown.

It's authorized, and it's a good operation if you respect

it and treat it properly.

it and treat it properly.

The tie rods were replaced before the Babylift

plane left for Saigon.

But for some reason, they hadn't held.

But for some reason, they hadn't held.

To try to figure out what happened, investigators rebuild

To try to figure out what happened, investigators rebuild

one of the locks that was supposed to keep the rear door

closed.

We essentially built a working model of that ramp.

We essentially built a working model of that ramp.

And we had to do that because we didn't get all the parts back

because of the people picking them up,

because of the people picking them up,

parts out in the ocean, and everything

that we never got back.

Investigators aren't convinced

Investigators aren't convinced

that the problem is in the basic design of the lock.

They suspect that before the plane left California,

They suspect that before the plane left California,

the engineers who replaced the rods didn't

follow the proper procedures.

When we're talking about the locks,

When we're talking about the locks,

the distances that we're talking about are very, very small.

We could be talking about a 16th, 32nd of an inch

We could be talking about a 16th, 32nd of an inch

difference between being locked and unlocked.

The rerigging was done before the plane

The rerigging was done before the plane

left the United States.

Show me how you rerig it.

After the locks were rerigged,

After the locks were rerigged,

they should have checked to make sure they were working.

That wasn't done.

Without the check, no one would have noticed that the rerigging

Without the check, no one would have noticed that the rerigging

was done improperly.

I would say that this accident actually started back at Travis

I would say that this accident actually started back at Travis

Air Force Base in California.

When the two tie rods that had been cannibalized earlier

were replaced, they were not installed properly.

were replaced, they were not installed properly.

Loadmaster, close cargo bay doors.

When the door was opened and shut in Saigon,

there was a warning that not everything was perfect.

there was a warning that not everything was perfect.

We had some difficulty getting it to lock.

So we had to open and close it three, four times.

So we had to open and close it three, four times.

But it seemed to be routine.

And in the heat of the moment, we

didn't think anything about it.

didn't think anything about it.

But 12 minutes after liftoff, as the plane continued

But 12 minutes after liftoff, as the plane continued

to climb, the three improperly closed locks were forced open

by the building air pressure.

by the building air pressure.

The remaining locks could not take the extra load.

The cargo door burst open and was torn off the fuselage.

The cargo door burst open and was torn off the fuselage.

You just can't take shortcuts and just pull a couple of rods

You just can't take shortcuts and just pull a couple of rods

out, run out and put them back in.

That's not going to hack it.

The investigators have found their answers.

The investigators have found their answers.

And in their final report, they make specific recommendations

that will make the C-5A safer.

that will make the C-5A safer.

As a result, the Air Force designs a pin

As a result, the Air Force designs a pin

that slips through each lock.

If the door isn't properly shut, the pins

can't slide into place.

can't slide into place.

We essentially Murphy-proofed it by putting steel pins

in there so that when the lock is in the overcenter position,

in there so that when the lock is in the overcenter position,

if you can insert these safety pins, then you know that

the system is properly rigged.

the system is properly rigged.

Ray Snedegar retired from the Air Force

as a chief master sergeant.

This mission was probably the most discouraging in some ways,

This mission was probably the most discouraging in some ways,

based on part of the outcome.

Pilot!

Pilot!

Cargo bay!

But also it was refreshing in the fact

that we displayed such good airmanship, such courage,

that we displayed such good airmanship, such courage,

and we were able to save so many people.

After 28 years of service,

After 28 years of service,

Bud Traynor retired from the Air Force as a colonel.

I think everyone second guesses

I think everyone second guesses

themselves to see if there was something

else that they could do.

I am very fortunate in that I never found

I am very fortunate in that I never found

something that I said, I sure wish I

had done X. Just wasn't there.

had done X. Just wasn't there.

That pilot did a super job.

The fact that anybody survived this crash is just remarkable.

The fact that anybody survived this crash is just remarkable.

The ones that were saved are very

fortunate that that particular crew

fortunate that that particular crew

was in charge of that aircraft.

Being a pilot myself and knowing that they only

had one aileron and four engines, by rights,

had one aileron and four engines, by rights,

they all should have been dead.

Investigation board does not normally recommend decorations.

Investigation board does not normally recommend decorations.

That's not part of their job.

That's not part of their job.

But in this case, we recommended to the Air Force

that they be considered for a high decoration.

that they be considered for a high decoration.

Surviving crew members, including Captain Bud

Traynor and Sergeant Ray Snedegar,

were awarded medals by the Air Force for heroism

and extraordinary achievement.

and extraordinary achievement.

One of the orphans who survived was baby In a.

In a?

In a?

Today, she is known as Kelly Jackson-Brownlee.

April 4, 1975, it's definitely a pivotal point in my life,

April 4, 1975, it's definitely a pivotal point in my life,

April 4, 1975, it's definitely a pivotal point in my life,

where I left part of myself behind in Vietnam.

where I left part of myself behind in Vietnam.

When Operation Babylift resumed,

Kelly, along with thousands of other orphans,

Kelly, along with thousands of other orphans,

were flown to the United States.

She was eventually adopted by a family

She was eventually adopted by a family

near Seattle, Washington.

There was a 25-year anniversary in April of 2000,

There was a 25-year anniversary in April of 2000,

and it brought together all of the adults

that were adopted from Vietnam.

that were adopted from Vietnam.

And I ended up meeting someone who was very special

And I ended up meeting someone who was very special

and actually ended up marrying.

Chris Brownlee and his wife Kelly

Chris Brownlee and his wife Kelly

were both airlifted out of Vietnam on April 5, 1975,

were both airlifted out of Vietnam on April 5, 1975,

one day after the crash.