During the final days of the Vietnam War, dozens of helicopters were deliberately pushed overboard from U.S. Navy ships to make room for incoming aircraft during the large-scale evacuation known as Operation Frequent Wind. This event, which took place on April 29-30, 1975, involved the rapid airlift of more than 7,000 people fleeing Saigon as North Vietnamese forces closed in on the city.

The helicopters discarded at sea were primarily South Vietnamese Air Force aircraft, especially UH-1 Huey models, flown by pilots escaping with family members, colleagues, and refugees. After landing on U.S. Navy carriers and amphibious vessels like USS Midway, USS Hancock, and USS Okinawa, these helicopters had no means for refueling or storage onboard. Their mission—to evacuate people from Saigon—was effectively complete.

As the number of incoming helicopters continued to increase, flight decks became severely congested, posing a risk to the ongoing evacuation effort. To maintain the flow of helicopters carrying evacuees, U.S. Navy sailors employed tractors, forklifts, and manual labor to push empty helicopters overboard. While this represented a significant loss of equipment valued at millions of dollars, leaders judged the sacrifice necessary to save human lives.

Most of the aircraft sank to the ocean floor off southern Vietnam and were never recovered. The depth of the waters, high costs, and logistical difficulties discouraged salvage efforts after the war's conclusion. Consequently, many of these helicopters remain underwater decades later.

A notable exception to this fate was a South Vietnamese Cessna O-1 Bird Dog aircraft piloted by Major Buang-Ly. During the evacuation, Major Buang-Ly dropped a handwritten note from the plane requesting permission to land on USS Midway, carrying his wife and five children. The ship's crew promptly cleared the flight deck, allowing the aircraft to land safely. This airplane was preserved and is currently exhibited at the National Naval Aviation Museum in Florida.

The image of helicopters being pushed into the sea has become one of the enduring symbols of the chaotic final moments of the U.S. involvement in Vietnam and the intense efforts to evacuate thousands under extreme pressure.