Travis Air Force Base
Aviation Museum
THE
COLD WAR
Spanning nearly five decades, the Cold War was a time of intense geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union. While it never erupted into full-scale conflict between the superpowers, it shaped the modern world through a series of military operations, humanitarian missions, and aviation milestones.
Early in the Cold War, the Berlin Airlift (1948–1949) tested the Free World’s resolve as American and Allied aircrews flew vital supplies into the blockaded city of Berlin. Among them, Lt. Gail “Candy Bomber” Halvorsen delighted children by dropping tiny parachutes filled with candy, creating a lasting symbol of hope and compassion.
Throughout the period, aviation was central to both war and humanitarian relief. The Travis AFB crash highlighted the risks faced by military aircrews, while missions like Operation Starlift brought critical airlift support to remote regions. The Korean War (1950–1953) and later the Southeast Asian War tested American air power in combat and humanitarian roles alike.
The Cold War also honored the return of service members through missions such as Operation Homecoming, which brought prisoners of war safely back home, showcasing the dedication and resilience of U.S. military personnel.
From combat to cargo drops, from humanitarian aid to courageous rescues, the Cold War era reflects the innovation, sacrifice, and commitment of airmen and women, leaving a legacy that continues to inspire today.
BERLIN AIRLIFT (1948–1949)
Although the Cold War lasted for decades, its first major test of the Free World’s resolve to resist Soviet pressure came in June 1948. Citing “technical difficulties,” Soviet authorities cut off all land and water access to the Western-controlled sectors of Berlin, isolating the city deep within Soviet-occupied Germany.
The only remaining access routes were three 20-mile-wide air corridors crossing Soviet-controlled territory. Faced with the choice of abandoning Berlin or supplying its population entirely by air, the Western Allies chose to act.
For the next 11 months, Allied aircrews flew around the clock, delivering food, fuel, and essential suppliesto sustain more than 2.5 million residents. The effort became known as the Berlin Airlift, one of the greatest humanitarian and logistical achievements in aviation history.
The success of the airlift demonstrated the power of air mobility, international cooperation, and determination—proving that freedom could be defended without direct military conflict.
OPERATION VITTLES
Unofficially known as Operation Vittles, the Berlin Airlift began on June 26, 1948, when U.S. Air Force C-47 Skytrains delivered the first 80 tons of food to Berlin. This initial effort fell far short of the estimated 4,500 tons of food, coal, and other supplies required each day to sustain the city’s population at a minimum level.
The airlift quickly expanded. U.S. Navy and Royal Air Force cargo aircraft joined the effort, significantly increasing capacity and efficiency. To improve safety, coordination, and cooperation between the American and British operations, the Allies established a unified
command on October 15, 1948. The Combined Airlift Task Force, led by Maj. Gen. William H. Tunner, USAF, streamlined flight operations and set the foundation for the airlift’s ultimate success.
To further demonstrate Allied resolve in the face of Soviet pressure, three Strategic Air Command (SAC) bomber groups were deployed to Europe, placing key Soviet targets within range of B-29 Superfortress bombers. This move underscored the seriousness of the Allied commitment to defending Berlin.
BERLIN AIRLIFT - THE STORY OF A GREAT ACHIEVEMENT (1948–1949)
Airlift aircraft operated around the clock using three airfields within Berlin. Tempelhof Airport served the U.S. sector, RAF Gatow supported the British sector, and Tegel Airport was constructed in the French sector in just 60 days.
Remarkably, Tegel was built with the help of volunteer German men and women, whose efforts made it possible to handle the increasing volume of airlift traffic. These three airfields became lifelines for the city, enabling the delivery of vital food, fuel, and supplies to sustain Berlin’s population throughout the blockade.
The Story of Great Achievement 1949
C-47 Skytrains unloading at Tempelhof Airport formed the nucleus of the Berlin Airlift until September 1948, when the larger and faster four-engine C-54 Skymasters, capable of carrying up to ten tons of cargo, were placed into service.
Airlift pilots operated under an extremely rigid system of air traffic control, requiring each aircraft to follow an exact route at a predetermined speed and altitude. If an incoming aircraft was unable to land in Berlin on its first approach, it was required to return immediately to its base in West Germany, with no second attempt permitted.
In addition to the inherent risks of constant flight operations, airlift crews faced Soviet harassment. This included radio frequency jamming, searchlights directed at aircraft during nighttime departures, deliberate “buzzing” of cargo planes by Soviet fighters, and barrage balloons allowed to drift into the narrow air corridors.
A cross-sectional flight system, in use by September 1948, organized aircraft at specific altitudes and directions, allowing landings at the
C-47s unloading at Tempelhof
remarkable rate of one aircraft every three minutes. Later refinements introduced two altitude levels, maintaining the same landing rate while increasing overall efficiency.
At midnight on May 12, 1949, Soviet authorities reopened land and water access routes into Berlin. Despite this, the airlift continued until September 30, 1949, allowing the Allies to build a critical reserve of supplies.
Cross-sectional view of flight into Berlin (from AU ECI course 50 pg.103)
The Allied airlift successfully prevented Berlin from falling under Soviet control and provided invaluable lessons in air traffic control, aircraft maintenance, standardized loading and unloading procedures, and other aspects of sustained large-scale air cargo operations. These lessons would shape future military and humanitarian airlift missions around the world.
The cost of this extraordinary effort was significant. More than 65 U.S., British, and German personnel lost their lives during the airlift, including 31 Americans, underscoring the risks faced by those who kept Berlin supplied.
THE "CANDY BOMBER"
During the Berlin Airlift (1948–1949), American C-54 pilot Lt. Gail Halvorsen flew countless missions delivering food and supplies to the city’s residents. Deeply moved by the plight of Berlin’s children, he wanted to do something special just for them.
He created an initiative called “Operation Little Vittles,” in which he purchased candy from local stores and dropped it over the city using tiny handmade parachutes. Fellow Air Force personnel joined in, donating their own candy and gum, and providing handkerchiefs to serve as parachutes.
Lt. Halvorsen’s efforts brought joy to thousands of children and earned him the enduring nickname, the “Candy Bomber.” His story remains a symbol of compassion and ingenuity in the midst of a major humanitarian operation.
The American wartime “K” or “C” rations, each meal included a small candy bar and a tiny green box containing two pieces of Chiclets chewing gum. Today, the modern Meals Ready-to-Eat (MRE) still include a commercial candy bar, continuing the tradition of a small treat for service members.
News of Lt. Halvorsen’s “chocolate drops” quickly spread. Newspapers celebrated the “Candy Bomber,” and he began receiving packages of candy and handkerchiefs from supporters eager to contribute to Operation Little Vittles. The American Confectioners Association joined the effort, sending tons of candy and gum to Westover Air Force Base, from where it was forwarded to Rhine-Main Air Base for distribution over Berlin.
Soon, other Allied pilots joined in, dropping candy for the children of Berlin. By January 1949, Lt. Halvorsen had air-dropped more than 250,000 miniature parachutes loaded with candy, reaching nearly 100,000 children during the Soviet blockade. The operation not only brought joy to Berlin’s youngest residents but also symbolized Allied determination and humanitarian spirit. The Soviet blockade eventually ended in May 1949, unable to starve the city or quell its resilience.
Lt. Gail Halvorsen, the “Candy Bomber”
CANDY BOMBER HONORED AT TRAVIS AFB 2004 TATTOO
The Berlin Airlift remains a valued example of humanitarian airlift and is celebrated as a benchmark for military and humanitarian operations.
During the 2004 Tattoo at the Travis Air Museum and Travis Air Force Base flight line, Col. Lyn Sherlock, 60th Air Mobility Wing commander, joined Retired Col. Gail S. Halvorsen, famously known as the “Candy Bomber,” in a ceremonial salute to the American flag.
The flag was presented to Col. Halvorsen on behalf of the base in recognition of his extraordinary achievements during the Berlin Airlift, honoring his courage, compassion, and enduring legacy in military aviation history.
Candy Bomber honored at Travis AFB 2004 Tattoo
Retired Col. Gail S. Halvorsen and Col. Lyn Sherlock
(U.S. Air Force photo/Ed Drohan)
Lt. Halvorsen dropping candy during the “Berlin Airlift.”
THE KOREAN CONFLICT (1950–1953)
The Korean Conflict began on June 25, 1950, when North Korean forces invaded South Korea. Hostilities continued until a cease-fire was declared on July 27, 1953, though no formal peace treaty was ever signed, leaving the Korean Peninsula technically still at war.
The conflict arose from the division of Korea after World War II, with North and South Korea establishing provisional governments competing for control of the peninsula. The war became a Cold War-era confrontation between the United States and its allies and the Communist powers of China and the Soviet Union.
Key combatants included North Korea, supported by the People’s Volunteer Army of China and Soviet advisers, pilots, and weapons; and South Korea, supported principally by the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and the Philippines, along with forces from other United Nations member nations.
Naming of the conflict varies globally. In South Korea, it is often called “Yugio” (6•25), referencing the start date, or more formally, “Hanguk Jeonjaeng” (Korean War). North Korea calls it the “Fatherland Liberation War.” In the United States, it was termed a police action under the United Nations, avoiding the need for a formal declaration of war.
Because it is often overshadowed by World War II and the Vietnam War, the Korean Conflict is sometimes referred to in the West as “The Forgotten War,” despite its major significance in 20th-century military history.
THE KOREAN CONFLICT: ON THE GROUND
After World War II, Korea emerged as a divided nation: a communist North Korea and a pro-Western South Korea. Both governments aspired to unify the peninsula, but each sought to do so on its own terms.
By early 1949, North Korea appeared to be preparing for war. Its leader, Kim Il Sung, delivered a bellicose New Year’s speech denouncing South Korea as a puppet state. The North Korean army expanded rapidly, with soldiers conducting war maneuvers while bond drives raised funds to purchase Soviet weapons.
Troops dropping over the Korean hills from C-119
The 38th parallel, which divided North and South Korea, became heavily fortified, and border incidents began to escalate. Neither Pyongyang nor Seoul recognized the line as a legitimate, permanent boundary, setting the stage for the outbreak of hostilities in June 1950.
THE KOREAN CONFLICT: ON BASE
It is widely recognized that during the Korean War, squadrons from the Military Air Transport Service (MATS) stationed at Fairfield-Suisun AFB provided critical airlift support for United Nations forces.
Less well known, however, is that four combat-ready reconnaissance aircrews from the 5th Reconnaissance Group at the base flew combat missions over North Korea, gathering vital intelligence.
The outbreak of the Korean Conflict underscored the strategic importance of Fairfield-Suisun Air Force Base as one of Strategic Air Command’s (SAC) main West Coast facilities, earning it the nickname “Gateway to the Pacific.”
Gateway to the Pacific
TRAVIS AFB: MEDICAL SUPPORT DURING THE KOREAN WAR
The outbreak of the Korean War brought significant changes to Travis Air Force Base’s hospital staff and facilities. The new “hospital on the hill”, which had opened about a year before the conflict began, was still under construction when the war started.
Located on a hill near the runway, the hospital was unprepared for the sudden influx of casualties. Between July and December 1950, the number of patients surged from 514 per month to 5,475 per month, requiring a rapid expansion of medical facilities.
To accommodate the growing need, airmen’s barracks and other nearby structures were temporarily converted into wards until new wings were completed in 1952, ensuring that Travis AFB could provide critical care for wounded service members during the Korean Conflict.
David Grant Hospital; the "Hospital on the Hill"
Patients med evacuated to Travis
Korean War Air Evacuation Exhibit- L-4 "Grasshopper", Stinson L-5 "Sentinel"
THE TRAVIS CRASH
BRIGADIER GENERAL ROBERT F. TRAVIS (1904–1950)
Brigadier General Robert F. Travis’ life and career were tragically cut short on August 5, 1950, when he died in a B-29 crash at Travis Air Force Base.
A distinguished military aviator and engineer, Travis began his career after graduating from West Point in June 1928. During World War II, he commanded the 41st Combat Wing in England, personally leading his men on 35 combat missions over Nazi-occupied Europe. His numerous decorations included the Distinguished Flying Cross with three oak leaf clusters, the Air Medal with three clusters, the French Croix de Guerre with Palm, the Legion d’Honneur, and the Purple Heart.
Born in Georgia in 1904 to a prominent military family, Travis assumed his first command at Hickam Field, Honolulu, in June 1939 as leader of the 72nd Bombardment Squadron. He earned his brigadier general’s star in September 1944 upon taking command of the 41st Combat Wing in Europe, solidifying a career marked by leadership, courage, and dedication to service.
Brigadier General Robert F. Travis
Following his wartime service, Brigadier General Travis was reassigned to Hickam Field as Commanding General of Pacific Air Command. His outstanding bombing record and rapid rise in rank made him a natural choice to oversee the development of Fairfield-Suisun AFB for the Strategic Air Command (SAC) in 1949. During his tenure, he commanded both SAC wings at the base, earning further distinction.
Brig. Gen. Travis’ popularity and the shock of his tragic death inspired local civilian leaders and base officials to propose renaming the base in his honor. The proposal was approved in Washington, and on October 20, 1950, Fairfield-Suisun AFB officially became Travis AFB. The formal dedication ceremony, held on April 20, 1951, was presided over by California Governor Earl Warren and attended by numerous dignitaries and members of the Travis family.
August 5, 1950 – THE TRAVIS AFB CRASH
On August 5, 1950, Communist forces crossed the Naktong River near Taegu on the Korean Peninsula, threatening the perimeter around Pusan and creating a tense situation for United Nations and American ground forces.
On that same day, a Mark IV nuclear bomb was being transported to the eastern Pacific. The bomb’s two critical components—the dense uranium core and the high-explosive outer casing—were carried on separate aircraft, via different routes and times, for safety.
A B-29 bomber departed Fairfield-Suisun Air Force Base carrying the high-explosive portion of the Mark IV. Approximately twenty minutes after the crash, the bomb’s high explosives ignited. The resulting blast was felt and heard over 30 miles away and caused significant damage to a nearby trailer park on the base.
This tragic accident cut short the career of Brigadier General Robert F. Travis, leading to the eventual renaming of the base in his honor.
August 5, 1950
Late in the evening of August 5, 1950, the lead plane of a fifteen-plane flight of B-29s lost control of an engine during takeoff from Fairfield-Suisun Air Force Base. Heavily loaded, the aircraft then lost a second engine while attempting to return to the runway. An electrical power failure further complicated the situation, but Captain Eugene Steffes, the pilot, managed to perform a controlled sliding crash, saving the lives of several crew members.
As the airplane slid forward, it spun to the side and broke apart just forward of the bomb bay, separating the cockpit from the rest of the aircraft. This allowed rescuers to remove crew
The explosion was heard many miles away
members from the cockpit area. Brigadier General Robert F. Travis was among those initially rescued alive from the cockpit but died from crash-related injuries en route to the hospital. Captain Steffes escaped by crawling out the pilot’s window and was rescued by members of the 9th Food Service Group working nearby.
Unfortunately, the rear of the aircraft, loaded with fuel, caught fire, and rescuers were unable to save the ten crew members in the aft section. As the fire burned, the 5,000 pounds of high explosives inside the Mark IV atomic weapon overheated and exploded, causing extensive damage to the surrounding area.
The explosion was extremely powerful, heard many miles away, and scattered wreckage across a wide area. Several people were killed by the blast, while others suffered hearing loss and additional injuries.
At the time of the crash, the United States was gripped by fear over “atomic spies” and the theft of U.S. military secrets. Communist advances in Europe and Asia heightened public anxiety, and there was widespread agreement that sensitive military information should be shielded from potential espionage.
Within this climate, many were willing to accept official explanations describing the mission as “a routine training flight,” even though local media and much of the community understood that the incident involved far more than a training exercise. Civic leaders supported the official narrative as they campaigned to have the base renamed in honor of Brigadier General Robert F. Travis.
The dedication ceremony drew numerous dignitaries, including California Governor Earl Warren. Over time, public interest in the incident faded. As Solano County grew rapidly, what had once been a widely known and deeply felt local tragedy gradually became a largely forgotten footnote of the Cold War.
1942 SEAGRAVE FIRE TRUCK
The fire truck on display is a 1942 Seagrave pumper, one of the most historically significant vehicles in the museum’s collection. On August 5, 1950, it was among the first emergency vehicles to respond to the crash of a B-29 Superfortress near the main gate of Fairfield–Suisun Air Force Base.
The crew fought the intense aircraft fire until exploding ordnance forced firefighting efforts to cease. The Seagrave sustained substantial damage when the explosion occurred, an event that resulted in 124 people injured, 49 hospitalized, and 19 fatalities. Among those who lost their lives were five firefighters and Brigadier General Travis.
1942 Seagrave pumper truck
Despite the damage, the fire truck was repaired and returned to service. Seagrave Fire Apparatus was founded by Frederick Seagrave in Detroit, Michigan, in 1881 and is the oldest manufacturer of fire apparatus in the United States. This Seagrave pumper (Serial No. B4224) has a factory date of August 26, 1942 and was originally assigned to Fairfield–Suisun Army Air Field later that same year.
The truck served the base faithfully until March 1956, when it was sold through the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Office (DRMO) to the Suisun Fire Department. It continued to perform admirably on numerous fires before being retired in 1979.
On July 28, 1985, the truck was purchased back from the City of Suisun by Travis AFB firefighters for $1.00, under the condition that it be fully restored. The restoration was completed through the personal time, effort, and financial contributions of Travis firefighters, preserving this remarkable piece of firefighting and Air Force history for future generations.
OPERATION STARLIFT
When movie star Ruth Roman visited Travis Air Force Base in September 1950, she unknowingly became the forerunner of what would later be known as Operation Starlift. Her visit inspired a program designed to bring morale and encouragement to service members during the Korean War.
Through coordination between Special Service Officers and the Hollywood Coordinating Committee, arrangements were made for additional screen celebrities to travel to Travis AFB to entertain wounded service members arriving at base hospitals. These entertainers were flown from Burbank, California, every Saturday and returned the following day.
In addition to visiting hospitalized personnel, the stars also performed in the large Passenger Terminal Building, providing entertainment and encouragement to troops en route to the battle zone in Korea. Operation Starlift became an important morale-boosting effort, highlighting the human side of military support during wartime.
Helmeted, rifle-carrying soldiers and Marines, along with sailors and airmen, paused for a few moments to relax and momentarily forget that they were soon heading into combat. At times, the loudspeaker would boom, announcing that a plane was ready to load.
The men would slowly file out, often looking back over their shoulders at the performers and calling out, “Goodbye—thanks, thanks a lot.” The performers would answer in return, “Goodbye, boys. Take care of yourselves. God bless you.”
These brief exchanges captured the human connection at the heart of Operation Starlift, offering comfort and encouragement to those about to face the uncertainties of war.
Frances Faye entertains Korean War wounded
as part of Operation Starlift
Joe Louis
Doris Day
In hospital wards, men who had been wounded in battle only days earlier looked up in surprise as familiar faces appeared at their bedsides, greeting them with a simple, heartfelt, “Hiya, boy—how are you doing?”
Stars such as Jane Russell, Shirley Temple, Shelley Winters, Alan Ladd, Jack Benny, Danny Kaye, Pat O’Brien, Claudette Colbert, Keenan Wynn, Donald O’Connor, Janet Leigh, Vic Damone, Debbie Reynolds, Yvonne De Carlo, Bob Hope, and many others visited Travis Air Force Base, freely giving their time and talent to entertain and comfort wounded personnel and those awaiting deployment.
The project initially had no formal name. That changed in late September 1950, when Brigadier General Joe W. Kelly, then base commander, walked into the Public Information Office and asked, “Who is coming here from Hollywood this week on our ‘Operation Starlift’?”
The phrase perfectly captured the spirit of the program and immediately took hold, becoming the quasi-official name for the regularly scheduled flights that transported entertainers from Burbank to Travis AFB every Saturday, returning them the following day.
Appearing voluntarily, these stars often worked harder at the base than they did before the cameras. It was common—rather than exceptional—for these highly paid celebrities to perform two or three hour-long shows at the Passenger Terminal Building for service members awaiting overseas air transport, followed by additional performances in the hospital auditorium for ambulatory patients.
One doctor observed, “There is no better medicine for these men than a visit from people they have seen so often on the screen but never expected to meet in person. All of them have been to the movies, and to them it represents the United States. It means they are home again.”
The impact of the program reached beyond the base. The motion picture Starlift, produced by Warner Bros. Studios, was filmed at Travis Air Force Base and based on the real-life experiences of Operation Starlift, preserving its legacy for audiences around the world.
Starlift Stars
The film Starlift is a 1951 musical released by Warner Bros., starring Doris Day, Gordon MacRae, Virginia Mayo, Dick Wesson, and Ruth Roman. It was directed by Roy Del Ruth and written by John D. Klorer and Karl Kamb, based on a story by Klorer.
Produced during the early months of the Korean War, the movie centers on a U.S. Air Force airman’s wish to meet a Hollywood film star and follows the efforts of movie celebrities who travel to an Air Force base to perform for wounded service members. The storyline was inspired by the real-life events of Operation Starlift at Travis Air Force Base.
Travis AFB Aviation Museum volunteers have recently upgraded the exhibit featuring the film, helping preserve and share this unique connection between Hollywood, the U.S. Air Force, and Cold War–era morale missions.
Visit our Movie Exhibit and discover Hollywood’s connection to Travis AFB.
SOUTHEAST ASIAN WAR: LAOS, VIETNAM, AND CAMBODIA (1961–1973)
A product of the Cold War, the Southeast Asian War (1961–1973) emerged from communist efforts to overthrow non-communist governments in the region. The conflict spread across Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, drawing in regional and global powers.
United States involvement was guided by the policy of containment, which sought to prevent the expansion of communism beyond its early Cold War boundaries. While containment often relied on political and economic measures, in Southeast Asia—much like during the Korean War (1950–1953)—the United States committed large military forces in support of allied governments.
The Southeast Asian War became one of the longest and most complex conflicts of the Cold War era, leaving a lasting impact on the region, the U.S. military, and American society.
The primary U.S. objective in the Southeast Asia War was to protect South Vietnam—initially from a local communist insurgency and later from military conquest by communist North Vietnam. U.S. leaders also sought to prevent the spread of communism to neighboring nations, fearing a regional “domino effect.”
Although commonly referred to as the Vietnam War, U.S. involvement extended beyond Vietnam’s borders and included military operations in Laos and Cambodia, reflecting the broader regional scope of the conflict.
For much of the early 20th century, the peoples of Southeast Asia struggled for independence from French colonial rule. During this period, the United States provided military assistance to France in
Museum SEA exhibit
its fight against communist-led insurgencies. Following France’s defeat in 1954, the region of Indochina was divided into North Vietnam, South Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. A demilitarized zone (DMZ) was established to separate North and South Vietnam.
North Vietnam, led by Ho Chi Minh, emerged as a communist state. In response, the United States supported the formation of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO), an eight-nation alliance intended to protect South Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from further communist expansion.
North Vietnam soon declared its intention to reunify the country with South Vietnam—by military means if necessary. In 1959, it began supporting an insurgent and terrorist campaign in South Vietnam conducted by communist guerrillas known as the Viet Cong. North Vietnam later expanded its efforts by aiding communist guerrilla forces in Laos, further widening the conflict.
What began in 1961 as a limited U.S. advisory mission to train the South Vietnamese Army steadily escalated into a massive American military commitment. U.S. combat operations soon commenced in South Vietnam and eventually expanded into North Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, reflecting the regional scope of the war.
The growing U.S. involvement sought to counter local communist insurgencies, North Vietnamese regular forces, and the extensive supply networks that sustained them. These efforts marked one of the largest and most complex military operations of the Cold War era.
Click here to learn more about the Southeast Asia War. the National Museum of the US Air Force
Carl Bodin, a Travis volunteer described it like this:
"I know it sounds like a cliche now, but the truth is when you fight a war, when you’re involved in battle, you can’t help but become a band of brothers. The enemy feels it too in their ranks. When you put your life in another person’s hands again and again, it forms a bond of trust. This bond is lifelong. It’s the reason that after so many years, people still come to the Wall searching for those they served with. Then, when they find a name, it still releases strong emotions. Even if I met the enemy today, we could still relate. We could relate to this feeling."
The exhibit displays the faces of war through the years. The uniforms have changed, but the faces appear the same. They are those of young men, determined to defend their country and forever changed by the experience. The same can be said for the women who served. Honored in the exhibit are Babylift participants, military women, civilian volunteers and the Vietnam nurses who shared amazing stories.
“It’s unbelievable how these young nurses faced tragedy day in and day out and through it all had to remain strong to offer compassion to the injured and dying. To be spat on and called names upon their return was not the welcome they deserved,” stated Vietnam veteran Bill Lancaster.
From the air support efforts, to the medical evacuations, to the strategic bombing and air war, the Air Force men and women who served in Vietnam never received proper recognition for their often-valiant efforts. This exhibit seeks to render that recognition.
"BRINGING THEM HOME"
By late 1965, David Grant Hospital and its adjoining Transient Casualty Facility were expanded to accommodate the growing number of wounded personnel returning from the Pacific theater. In 1968, a $600,000 special construction project added 92 beds to the 2nd Casualty Staging Flight’s transient patient area, significantly increasing the base’s medical capacity.
Patients were typically held at Travis Air Force Base for more than 48 hours before being transferred to Veterans Administration hospitals closer to their hometowns or to facilities in Oakland or San Francisco.
By 1970, the number of transient patients had declined to 2,647 per month. While still higher than pre-1965 levels, this decrease marked a respite from the peak years of the Southeast Asia conflict and reflected a gradual easing of the war’s human toll.
THE HUMAN COST OF WAR
The Vietnam War had another, more sobering impact on Travis Air Force Base. The base became the primary West Coast terminus for Military Airlift Command (MAC) aeromedical evacuation flights from the Pacific and the principal receiving station for military fatalities returned to the United States for burial.
The consequences of the war in Southeast Asia were especially evident at the Travis Mortuary Affairs Office. Records show that 10,523 military caskets from Southeast Asia passed through Travis in 1968 alone, with Army casualties accounting for 73 percent of that total. This was largely due to Travis serving as the Army’s sole West Coast receiving station for war dead until 1970.
Crowds welcome home Vietnam Prisoners of War at Travis AFB
AMBUS Nestles Within the Petal Doors of the Giant C-141 (Starlifter)
It was official policy to return all fallen service members to the United States as rapidly as possible, ensuring that families could lay their loved ones to rest with dignity and honor.
OPERATION HOMECOMING
Operation Homecoming was the mission that returned American Prisoners of War (POWs) from Southeast Asia following the Vietnam War. Between February 12 and March 29, 1973, North Vietnam released 566 American military personnel and 25 civilians, many of whom had endured years of captivity in communist prison camps.
The primary release point was Gia Lam Airport in Hanoi, where Military Airlift Command (MAC) C-141 Starlifter aircraft departed on 18 “Freedom Flights.” These historic missions carried the returning POWs to the United States via Clark Air Base in the Philippines, marking the long-awaited homecoming of American service members.
Operation Homecoming stands as a powerful symbol of endurance, sacrifice, and national relief, and remains one of the most meaningful humanitarian airlift operations of the Cold War era.
After their release, former POWs were airlifted from Vietnam to Clark Air Base in the Philippines, where they received immediate medical care and new uniforms. From Clark, they were flown onward to Travis Air Force Base, where they were welcomed home by families, friends, and fellow service members in deeply moving reunion ceremonies.
One returning POW recalled the moment freedom was announced by a North Vietnamese official:
“As I call your name, step forward and go home.”
Another POW described the first sight of the aircraft that would carry him home:
“Free at last! That C-141 was the most beautiful bird I’d ever seen. I have chills running all through my body—you will just never know how it feels.”
Operation Homecoming
These flights marked the end of captivity and the beginning of healing, symbolizing the profound human impact of Operation Homecoming and the vital role of airlift in bringing America’s heroes home.