50th Anniversary
Commemoration of HQRIC Detachment ‘S’ Event
23 July 2025, Canberra
Australian War Memorial
Australian War Memorial Operation Babylift Morning event is at 8.30am
Commemorative Area. For map, parking and other details see AWM info here
For further information about the commemorative ceremony and full day of events, please email
ceremony@awm.gov.au or visit the
37 Squadron (RAAF) Association website.
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Special Invitation to 1975 Operation Babylift adoptees and the adopted Vietnamese community from the Vietnam War Era. For Vietnamese adoptees wishing to attend the above please RSVP by 18 July to Col Coyne: raaf37sqnassoc@outlook.com
Please put AMW July Event in subject heading and your name with option of adding your airlift or adoption year, town of adoption and current place of residence.
23 July Event Overview:
The Australian War Memorial in Canberra, ACT and the No 37 Squadron (RAAF) Association are holding an event to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War. since the deployment of Headquarters Richmond Detachment ‘S’, which incorporated Operation Babylift, being the Australian Government response to the evolving humanitarian crisis in Southern Vietnam, April 1975.
The No 37 Squadron (RAAF) Association’s primary objective is to provide a commemoration to bring together the RAAF personnel participants who deployed to Saigon in April 1975 under the authority of Headquarters Richmond Detachment ‘S’ and the Operation Babylift adoptees, family members, QF Charter crew members, nurses and nuns who assisted and cared for those infants and orphans on their journey to Australia.
There will be an opportunity to meet the aircrew from the airlift and guests from the communities below:
- Adoptee and family member names,
- HQRIC Det ‘S’ personnel
- 4 Hospital Butterworth medical staff
- QF Charter cabin & flight crew
- Nurses, nuns & medical staff
- Families/survivors of USAF C-5 Galaxy crash
Numbers will be limited to around 150 people.
For more info contact Col Coyne: raaf37sqnassoc@outlook.com
President, No. 37 Squadron (RAAF) Association
C-130E Loadmaster 1981-1990
(M) 0402 815015
Note there will also an opportunity for adoptees (from all the Vietnam War era, not just 1975) and friends to gather and with drinks and snacks provided on the evening of 23 July at around 5.30pm – 6.30pm at the Mercure Hotel Olim’s bar made available by The Vietnam Family Search Group www.vietnamesefamilysearch.org vnmotherssearch@gmail.com funded by a Relationships Australia SA ICAFFs grant. The evening casual gathering (soft drinks and shared bar food / alcohol or larger meals at own cost) will have adoptee facilitation support provided by Adopted Vietnamese International www.adoptedvietnamese.org
Are you from ACT/NSW? There are also reimbursement grants available of $100 (approx. 7 but amount may increase if fewer applicants) to assist with travel e.g. airfares or taxis to and from event venues in Canberra – also funded by an ICAFF grant. Please keep your receipts from your travel costs. For more info contact Sue-Yen Bylund: vnmotherssearch@gmail.com
