As a psychologist, I had the privilege of working with Vietnam Veterans. They told me about the Freedom Bird, the aircraft that brought military personnel home after their tour of duty.
Veterans told me how they felt safe as the aircraft left Vietnam airspace and headed back to the "World ... the good-ol' U.S. of A."
I was surprised to learn that these planes were civilian aircraft commissioned by the military, and the pilots and crew were civilians.
These planes were also used to transport soldiers to Vietnam and often into combat zones. The crew was not trained for these duties but performed exceptionally well. Veterans told me how the young "airline stewardesses," as they were then known, served an important role and offered support to the soldiers on the trip to Vietnam and the trip home.
In researching the Freedom Bird for our novel All the Broken Angels, my co-author and I discovered a website that discusses the Freedom Bird in more detail. I was fascinated to hear the stories of those returning home, the stories of the airline stewardesses, and the role they played. This website is home to a museum called the Aviation Museum & Library in San Franciso. It's currently closed, but an exhibition is available online. Check out this site:
Vietnam Veterans may have felt safe while flying on the Freedom Bird, but many did not receive a kind welcome when they returned home. I'm saddened when I hear the stories of how these brave Veterans were treated. You can hear the stories of some of these individuals in All the Broken Angels. We pay tribute to these brave men and women in the novel.
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