Dakota County Vietnam Veterans: Eagan Pilot Instructor Bruce McRae, Air Force Reserve with Operation Babylift

Bruce McRae, a 1970 graduate of the Air Force Academy, joined the 8th Airlift Squadron at McChord Air Force Base (AFB) in Washington after completing navigator and C-141 training at Air Force bases in California and Oklahoma.

McRae was trained to operate a C-141 Starlifter, a large 4-engine aircraft designed to transport war material, equipment and personnel. Once in Vietnam, the cargo would be unloaded and the aircraft reloaded, often with damaged trucks and aircraft parts, and sometimes wounded or deceased personnel. 

In the spring of 1975, there was a growing concern for orphaned and abandoned Vietnamese children and Operation Babylift was launched on April 3, which allowed many of the children to be flown out and brought to the United States and other countries for adoption. McRae participated in several of these flights during the month of April. Staffed with a flight crew and medical personnel, the Starlifter would be prepared to transport very young children and infants by placing small flat boxes along the floor of the aircraft, tying them down and placing a blanket on top.  The baby or small child would be put on the blanket, covered with another blanket, and securely tied in for safety.

Operation Babylift typically transported 100-160 children per flight.  As the children were brought in, the crew would form a line and pass the children along to the last crew member who handed the child off to the loadmaster, standing in the doorway of the plane. As aircraft were subject to rocket and mortar fire while on the ground the turn-around time for aircraft was kept as short as possible. During Operation Babylift the entire unloading, reconfiguring and loading process was completed in only two hours.

After receiving a health assessment at Clark AFB in the Philippines, the children were flown to Travis AFB in California and eventually placed with their adoptive families in the United States. Over 2,500 Vietnamese children were evacuated in Operation Babylift. The last evacuation flight took place on April 30, 1975, the day Saigon was captured by the North Vietnamese Army.

From 1976 through 1997, McRae remained an active member of the Air Force Reserves, while working as an airline pilot. During the last five years of his reserve duty, he was the commander of the 313rd Airlift Squadron, responsible for transporting personnel and cargo.

In 1996, Lt. Colonel McRae moved to Lakeville with his wife Patricia and their daughters. He retired from the military in 1997 and from Northwest/Delta Airlines in 2010. He currently teaches pilot standards and training on full flight simulators for Delta Airlines in Eagan.

About this column: Each Saturday, the Dakota County Historical Society dips into their archives to bring the names from Dakota County's history to life.