I will give the same answer to your question, but i will say that there was a deadlock which was described in the middle of december, and there was a rapid movement when negotiations resumed on the technical level. Page 173 may 8 brought about the breakthrough in october, and i said then that i did not want to speculate on north vietnamese motives. They needed special care to ensure they were properly preserved and organized. A b52 copilot who flew linebacker ii sorties from andersen, thencaptain don craig, wrote me. Navy task force 77 aerial bombing campaign, conducted against targets in the democratic republic of vietnam north vietnam during the final period of us involvement in the vietnam war.
This was an 11 day, around the clock bombing of strategic targets in north vietnam, in an attempt to bring north vietnam back to the bargaining table after earlier negotiations failed in october 1972. Did operation linebacker ii force the north vietnamese to. During operations freedom train and linebacker the b52 community played a major role in bringing north vietnam back the negotiating table. Hes never really said much about his experiences flying over vietnam. By december 1972, the paris peace talks to end the vietnam war had fallen apart. The operation was conducted from 18 to 29 december 1972, leading to several informal names such as the december raids and the christmas bombings.
Before the easter weekend was over, twelve of hanois thirteen. Vietnam tv doc on linebacker ii vietnam veterans of america. Home military aviation join a b52 on a linebacker ii mission with this story about the christmas bombing campaign over hanoi join a b52 on a linebacker ii mission with this story about the. Not everybody can play the linebacker position in football and not every seventh fleet warship could be part of the linebacker surface strike group. I presented a power point briefing at the lb ii meeting that described the scenarios and missions during lb i and lb ii. With congress preparing to cut off all funding for the war, president richard nixon had to act quickly to pressure the north vietnamese into signing a peace agreement. Using specially commissioned artwork and maps, exusaf fighter colonel marshall michel describes linebacker ii, the climax of the air war over vietnam, and historys only example of how americas best cold war bombers performed against contemporary soviet. May 22, 2015 when north vietnam seemed ready to talk peace in october, nixon directed yet another bombing halt. Mar, 2010 this b52 were shot down in december 1972 by the pavn air defense during the operation linebacker ii also know like bombing christmas in nine days 16 b52 were down and about other 20 more were.
Dec 26, 2017 during operations freedom train and linebacker the b52 community played a major role in bringing north vietnam back the negotiating table. During operation linebacker ii in december 1972, bombers stationed at andersen flew 729 sorties in 11 days. They considered linebacker ii the final vietnamese victory over the united states, a victory on the. Air force robins air force base the easter offensive of 1972 and linebacker i by 1972, richard nixon, who had become president amid promises to end u. The christmas bombing in december 1972, b52 bombers that north vietnamese missile crews had been waiting for came to hanoi. This was more than unfortunate, especially since the linebacker demonstrated north vietnam s vulnerability to us air power, and the ability of the usaf and the usn to apply it when free of the restrictions that plagued them until linebacker. Unlike bomber forces in the korean war, the b52s were under the command of. The same could just as easily be said of operation linebacker ii, what. Linebacker share book recommendations with your friends. It did so with a powerful, 11day bombing campaign, operation linebacker ii. The socalled paris peace talks between kissinger and north vietnams le duc tho had brought the sides close to agreement in october 1972.
Tactics and techniques of electronic warfare by bernard nalty. He and his crew flew three of the eleven nights of the campaign. The socalled paris peace talks between kissinger and north vietnams le duc tho had brought the sides close to i n december 197240 years ago. Des and degs could not be assigned to linebacker, but dds, and ddgs like the lawrence, had the speed, stamina, and strength to.
Linebacker i dropped 150,000 tons of bombs from may to october, while linebacker ii delivered 20,000 tons during eleven days in december. Dec 16, 2017 among the first in combat in vietnam, the mcdonnell douglas a4 skyhawk flew more missions, and paid a higher price, than any other naval aircraft. I know ive mentioned before that my dad was a b52 navigatorradar navigator. The exceptional application of us air coercion strategy. Taking place in late december, this campaign was soon dubbed the christmas bombings. The untold story of the air raids over north vietnam and a video that he was. In march 1972, with the united states working to transfer responsibility for fighting on the ground to the south vietnamese, the north vietnamese launched a major offensive. Join a b52 on a linebacker ii mission with this story about. The day after the beginning of operation linebacker ii, the christmas bombings of north vietnam. Sep 01, 1998 more bombs were dropped on north vietnam from may to december of 1972 than were absorbed by any other country in history. Apr 25, 2017 unfortunately, more than 1,600 innocent civilians were killed in linebacker ii.
During vietnam, he was still fresh and was the navigator on his crews. Aftermath during operation linebacker ii, 741 b52 sorties had been dispatched to bomb north vietnam, 12 of them were aborted. Operation linebacker ii is another example of the effective application of airpower during vietnam. To them, full application of airpower in a linebacker ii type campaign in 1965, a decade earlier, would have achieved military victory, prevented the long and costly us involvement in southeast asia, saved south vietnam as a nation, and allowed the us to escape the calamitous effects that the vietnamese war has afflicted on america ever since. To the bomber airmen of today, this book serves as a record of the hopes and dreams. To force a settlement of the vietnam war, president nixon directed an allout air campaign against north vietnams heartland on december 18th 1972. More than 15,000 people and more than 150 b52s lined all available space on the flightline. It was a nearrun thing, said the duke of wellington, after narrowly defeating napoleon at waterloo.
He ordered the massive bombing of hanoi for the first time by americas big stick, the strategic air commands b52s. The american b52 bombing campaign popularly known as the chrismas bombing of 1972 remains one of the most debated topics of this highly controversial conflict. Operation linebacker ii the christmas bombing the vietnam war. I was invited to attend both forums because of the book i wrote about the linebacker offensives. Vtv6, the youth channel of the official vietnamese television network, is putting together a program to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the socalled christmas bombing campaign of late december 1972, which was officially known as operation linebacker ii. Next long range search and rescue pararescue training gopro footage. Operation junction city was an 82day military operation conducted by united states and republic of vietnam rvn or south vietnam forces begun on 22 february 1967 during the vietnam war.
More bombs were dropped on north vietnam from may to december o. This was more than unfortunate, especially since the linebacker demonstrated north vietnams vulnerability to us air power, and the ability of the usaf and the usn to apply it when free of the restrictions that plagued them until linebacker. I wasnt going to press him on it because i know that during. He always talked about writing a book recounting his experience.
The mind did not fuse the words until the briefing officer said hanoi. Later, during the day two premission briefing, a disgusted captain strickland, who was. Among the first in combat in vietnam, the mcdonnell douglas a4 skyhawk flew more missions, and paid a higher price, than any other naval aircraft. Us air force f105d thunderchief is trying to evade v750v sam launched from a sa75 dvina, north vietnam us air force image. Linebacker ii stemmed from the breakdown, in late 1972, of promising negotiations aimed at ending the vietnam war. A total of 20,237 tons of bombs was dropped on north vietnam, mainly continue reading operation linebacker ii the christmas bombing.
My second cruise aboard the uss midway flying combat missions over an loc and over north vietnam, during linebacker i and ii operations, in 1972 and 1973. Navy task force 77 aerial bombing campaigns, conducted in 1972 against targets in north vietnam during the final period of. Join a b52 on a linebacker ii mission with this story about the christmas. Discussions seeking a diplomatic solution to the vietnam war had. Operation linebacker ii was a massive bombing campaign that brought peace in the vietnam war. Operation linebacker ii the massive bombing campaign. Linebacker and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. Dick rynearson was the pilot of a b52 g flying from guam during linebacker ii. I had come to hanoi to research my second book about the air war over north vietnam. In addition, 212 more sorties had bombed south vietnam in order to support the operations on the ground. Two days later on december 18, he ordered the initiation of operation linebacker ii a 12day aerial operation widely known as the christmas bombing to fulfill two major purposes. Vietnam my 2nd cruise to wars end linebacker i and ii 1972 1973.
In reading the recent book, dragons jaw, i have learned of the. Back in episode 504 we took a look a operation linebacker ii of the vietnam war and its effect on the paris peace talks. Operation linebacker and linebacker ii public group facebook. I gave this book four stars, but only from the perspective of a general reader. B52 stratofortresses flew 729 sorties against 34 targets in north vietnam above the 20th. In 1965, the air force entered direct combat in vietnam, despite the fact that its.
A great book, providing an indepth look at us air force operations during the libebacker ii campaign over north vietnam in december of 1972. Lets remove the asinine passions that drive people to emotionally declare a victory in the vietnam war for the united states based on simple technicalities that are far more complex than they lead on and look a. Wings over vietnam operation linebacker ii documentary. During operation linebacker ii, 741 b52 sorties had been dispatched to bomb north vietnam, 12 of them were aborted. On december 18, 1972 president nixon announced the beginning of operation linebacker ii, otherwise known as the christmas bombings. B52 shot down during linebacker ii in vietnam youtube. The untold story of the air raids over north vietnam. Operation linebacker ii was a us seventh air force and u. Operation linebacker ii was given a 36 hour period over christmas when they flew no missions, but then american forces stepped up their bombing effort up to the 29th of december at which point there were few strategic targets left to hit in north vietnam. During the operation linebacker 2 around 741 b52 sorties had bombed north vietnam and 729 of them struck their aimed targets. When north vietnam seemed ready to talk peace in october, nixon directed yet another bombing halt. Operation linebacker ii marked a seminal point in the vietnam war.
So, nixon eliminated the sanctuaries and ordered the heaviest bombing of the entire war against hanoi and haiphong, operation linebacker ii. The same could just as easily be said of operation linebacker ii, what b52 aircrews came to call the 11day war. Apr 05, 2014 two days later on december 18, he ordered the initiation of operation linebacker ii a 12day aerial operation widely known as the christmas bombing to fulfill two major purposes. A brief history and a case study in cold war practice. Join a b52 on a linebacker ii mission with this story. Navy task force 77 air interdiction campaign conducted against the democratic republic of vietnam north vietnam from 9 may to 23 october 1972, during the vietnam war. Linebacker ii was the crowning blow that got us out of vietnam. Named linebacker i and ii, these operations would have a major effect on thwarting north. Join a b52 on a linebacker ii mission with this story about the. Sep 30, 1989 a great book, providing an indepth look at us air force operations during the libebacker ii campaign over north vietnam in december of 1972. Operation linebacker ii the massive bombing campaign that. Jul, 2009 even though the north was ready to sign a treaty to free south vietnam, congress demands to pass the bill nullified linebacker ii and provided the communists with a free ticket to walk into. By late 1971, evidence that the north vietnamese were planning an invasion became apparent to both military leaders and the nixon administration.
Tactics and techniques of electronic warfare electronic countermeasures in the air war against north vietnam 19651973. His book duty, honor, country incorporates his first book return with honor. Additionally, 769 sorties were flown by the air forces and 505 by the navy and marine in support of the b52s bombers. This b52 were shot down in december 1972 by the pavn air defense during the operation linebacker ii also know like bombing christmas in nine days 16 b52 were down and about other 20 more were. B52 bombing crews at andersen air force base, guam being briefed on the. The murrey marder papers at the national security archive. On good friday, 30 march 1972, three north vietnamese divisions crossed the demilitarized zone dmz separating the democratic republic of vietnam from the republic of vietnam and invaded the northernmost provinces of the latter. For the blytheville crews, the whole linebacker ii experience became very personal, because a total of 19 individual crew members were shot down. Day was held captive as a pow for 2,027 days, and was in the hanoi hilton when linebacker ii was taking place.
Operation linebacker and linebacker ii has 602 members. I especially liked this book for the level of detail it provided and its large scope. North vietnam then balked for two months over ceasefire provisions. When certains crew entered the briefing room at 11 in the morning on monday. It was the chance to explore further my father and i talked about linebacker ii, but i just didnt understand. Vietnamization was a policy of the richard nixon administration to end u. Did operation linebacker ii force the north vietnamese to sue. Andersen became the home to over 15,000 airmen, 153 b52 bombers and 20 support aircraft during the highest peak of the. Strategic bombing at the end of the second indochina war william head historian for the u. Operation linebacker took place from may 9 to october 23, 1972 during the vietnam war 19551975. When the murrey marder papers came to the national security archive, they were disorganized and at risk of serious deterioration.
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