In the final days of the Vietnam War, over 3,000 children were airlifted out of Vietnam and adopted around the world through Operation Babylift. One of those children was Devaki Murch, who decades later would launch a profound and deeply personal project: the Operation Babylift Collection.
Through archival preservation, storytelling, and community-building, Devaki is helping adoptees uncover the truths of their beginnings.
If you are an adoptee and interested in the project, please click on the form below and you will be directed to the live form on Devaki's site:
From a Personal Search to a Public Archive
In 2005, a chance conversation in Vietnam with a former caregiver revealed that Devaki’s adoption story was incomplete. That revelation led her to discover her name on the manifest of the first Babylift flight—one that tragically crashed shortly after takeoff.
This moment launched a journey of research, discovery, and healing. Devaki began compiling artifacts, intake logs, legal papers, photographs, and personal letters. What started as a personal search has become a historical and emotional archive for thousands: the Operation Babylift Collection.
Giving Voice to the Voiceless: The Operation Babylift Collection
The goal of the collection is clear: to help adoptees access their stories, reconnect with their pasts, and better understand the emotional complexities of international adoption. It includes:
Original records and photos from adoption agencies and caretakers
Stories shared by adoptees and families
Ongoing exhibits such as “Operation Babylift: New Perspectives”, which travels to schools and museums to educate the public on the real human experiences behind the headlines
This project has become a lifeline for many searching for answers—and a mirror for understanding identity, displacement, and resilience.
Join the Movement
Want to support this powerful work?
Learn more and explore the archive at operationbabylift.org
Share the stories and amplify the voices of those impacted