Linebacker ii was a maximum effort air campaign, focusing heavily on strategic military targets in hanoi and haiphong. The same could just as easily be said of operation linebacker ii, what b52 aircrews came to call the 11 day war. Back to korea 8 tfw was transferred to kunsan air base, republic of korea on september 6, 1974 and became responsible for air defense of south korea. Ec121s were used extensively in southeast asia between 16 april 1965, and 1 june 1974, particularly in support of operation rolling thunder and operation linebacker linebacker ii to provide radar early warning and limited airborne control of usaf fighter forces engaging mig interceptors. During operation linebacker ii a total of 741 b52 sorties had been dispatched to bomb north vietnam and 729 had actually completed their missions. A record of all air crews lost during operation linebacker ii.
Even if the boeing b52 was born to be the mainstay of the u. All previous air campaigns, including the initial linebacker carried out in mayoctober 1972, were limited, designed to interdict the overland routes by which the north resupplied its regular units and viet cong forces operating in south vietnam. December 1972 linebacker ii strategic air command rare vietnam war piece this is an exclusively rare war piece out of a long held collection. Flying orbits over the gulf of tonkin and later over laos.
Andersen became the home to over 15,000 airmen, 153 b52 bombers and 20 support aircraft during the highest peak of the. 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. Dec 19, 2015 ec121s were used extensively in southeast asia between 16 april 1965, and 1 june 1974, particularly in support of operation rolling thunder and operation linebacker linebacker ii to provide radar early warning and limited airborne control of usaf fighter forces engaging mig interceptors. Operation linebacker ii was a us seventh air force and us 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. Operation linebacker ii was an 11day aerial bombing campaign that occurred. Pushing forward, the final plan for operation dragoon was approved on july 14, 1944. The same could just as easily be said of operation linebacker ii, what b52 aircrews came to call the 11day war. When operation marhuk ended on 26 january 1973 with the end of operation linebacker ii, nearly 1,000 sorties had been flown with 123 sampans sunk, further straining the logistics of north vietnam that eventually drove them to the bargaining table. Why was operation linebacker so much more effective than. Dec 23, 2016 seventyfive airmen died supporting the operation, 33 of whom died in the 15 downed b52 stratofortress bombers the primary bomber flown during operation linebacker ii.
Not since world war ii had bombers been employed in an operation of this scope. Aad and jamming over hanoi and noi bai during operation linebacker ii. Operation linebacker ii was a us seventh air force and u. 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.
Naval air power 1965 1975 operation linebacker may 1972 october 1972 operation linebacker ii december 1972 vietnamization. Exit the us 19721975 operation frequent wind april 1975 arabisraeli wars. Linebacker ii christmas raids b52 crew losses 1272 stories. Midway cruise pictures protests uss midway history uss midway museum midway changes vid air opsvietnam raven facs misty facs nail facs covey facs abcc moonbeam close air support red river rats operation homecoming national vietnamwar. The air war over south vietnam, 19681975, by bernard c. It was a nearrun thing, said the duke of wellington, after narrowly defeating napoleon at waterloo. Operation linebacker iii gearing class version timeless. Ii, an examination of strategic bombardment theory from world war ii to the early years of the vietnam war, strategic assets and micromanagement of those assets between 1965 and 1972, operation linebacker i, operation linebacker ii, and, finally, the consequences and change in strategic thought brought forward by the campaigns. Because of the original operation linebacker, the americans had a considerable force of b52 bombers available to them. The operation was conducted from 1829 december 1972, leading to several of informal names such as the december raids and the christmas bombings.
Navy task force 77 aerial bombing campaign, conducted against targets in the democratic republic of vietnam during the final period of us involvement in the vietnam war. Thereafter both sides agreed that linebacker ii had been the critical battle, the battle that had ended the war, but that is where agreement stopped. Veteran owned and operated business retired marine. Vintage original vietnam war incountry machineembroidered patch, size is 3.
Air force b52s performed the brunt of the bombing missions during the operation, but navy aircraft played a vital role in air defense suppression missions and also reseeded north vietnams major ports with mines. Lb but was done over christmas and with b52s instead of precision air strikes 1973 paris peace agreement. The key difference between operation rolling thunder and operation linebacker i and ii were the political limitations in place and the goals of each respective campaign. P patch, 1972 linebacker ii, hanoi bombing, vietnam war. Operation linebacker took place from may 9 to october 23, 1972 during the vietnam war 19551975. War jargon midway cruise pictures uss midway history uss midway museum mig 19 mig 21 north vietnam ace river rats penang snaketemple powmia operation homecoming pow reunion video songs of war general quarters thunders combat. After i talked with the some of the missile crews and other veterans, the vietnamese picture of the christmas bombing slowly fell into place for me. Flying above a midway class carrier are a batch of b52s. For the december 1972 military operation, see operation linebacker ii. Unlike the operation rolling thunder and operation linebacker interdiction operations, linebacker ii was to be a maximu.
Original patch of the vietnam war patch of the united states air forces strategic air command. It was preceded by operation linebacker i and since the interest in linebacker ii was so high it was decided to check out linebacker i. Operation linebacker ii, unlike operation linebacker i which lasted some six months lasted just 11 days before peace talks continued. B52 on bombing mission during operation linebacker.
May 15, 2017 the key difference between operation rolling thunder and operation linebacker i and ii were the political limitations in place and the goals of each respective campaign. It was the chance to explore further my father and i talked about linebacker ii, but i just didnt understand. Dec 29, 2015 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 ii, in a b52 bomber over hanoi, north vietnam, on december 26, 1972. My father and i talked about linebacker ii, but i just didnt understand. It is a prefinished, prototype patch for whatever reason remaining unfinished. Since operated in a much safer environment of south vietnam in the mid60s, b52s bombing tactics used in the. If not for the bravery and resilience of those american airmen, the operation might have ended in disaster. Vietnam war patch usaf 67th tactical fighter squadron. Operation linebacker ii with almost the ocmplete withdrawal of american troops from vietnam the willi. He always talked about writing a book recounting his experience. Learning from experiences in normandy, planners selected landing areas that. 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.
Operation rolling thunder was designed with four strategic goals in mind. Strategic air command was initially reluctant to release half of the bomber force into use on one operation for a number of reasons. Learning from experiences in normandy, planners selected landing areas. Operation linebacker ii december 1972 the vietnam war occurred in vietnam, laos and cambodia from 1959 to april 30th, 1975. The full potential of the b52 was applied during the massive operation linebacker ii, the 1972 christmas air offensive which represented the biggest bombing campaign conducted by the u. The operation was conducted from 18 to 29 december 1972, leading to several informal names such as the december raids and the christmas bombings. Ec121s were used extensively in southeast asia between 16 april 1965, and 1 june 1974, particularly in support of operation rolling thunder and operation linebackerlinebacker ii to provide radar early warning and limited airborne control of usaf fighter forces engaging mig interceptors. Operation rolling thunder march 1965 nov 1968 operation bolo january 1967 on yankee station. During operation linebacker ii a total of 741 b52 sorties had been dispatched to bomb north vietnam and 729 actually completed their missions. Operations linebacker and linebacker ii initiated the end of the southeast asia war.
Operation linebacker i 9 may 1972 23 october 1972 operation linebacker ii 18 december 1972 29 december 1972. 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. 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. Operation linebacker knox version timeless military.
Operation linebacker ii the christmas bombing the vietnam war. The ultimate patch for a operation linebacker vet biker cut patch. The war was fought between the communist north vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of south vietnam, supported by the united states and other member nations of the southeast asia treaty organization seato. Since operated in a much safer environment of south vietnam in the mid60s, b52s bombing tactics used in the first days of linebacker ii became inflexible and predictable. Chad clifton is raising funds for operation linebacker iii commemorative challenge coin on kickstarter. Andersen became the home to over 15,000 airmen, 153 b52 bombers and 20. Operation linebacker ii with almost the ocmplete withdrawal of american troops from vietnam the willingness of the north vietnamese government to indculge in taclks with the south had almost come to a complete halt by the beginning of december 1972, the buildup of troops along the dmz and the. Operation linebacker knox version timeless military coins. Missions ranged from 80 miles north of the dmz to as far north as 80 miles south of hanoi inland. Operation linebacker ii the massive bombing campaign that. Heavy, durable operation linebacker patch great detail and stitching great for a jacket or vest.
Seventyfive airmen died supporting the operation, 33 of whom died in the 15 downed b52 stratofortress bombers the primary bomber flown during operation linebacker ii. Operation rolling thunder was the codename for an american bombing campaign during the vietnam war. Back in episode 504 we took a look a operation linebacker ii of the vietnam war and its effect on the paris peace talks. On the first night of operation linebacker ii, staff sergeant samuel olin turner, united states air force, the gunner aboard boeing b52d35bw stratofortress 56676 call sign brown 3, saw a supersonic mikoyangurevich mig 21 interceptor approaching the bomber from below and behind, with a second interceptor following at a distance. Navy task force 77 air interdiction campaign conducted against the north vietnam from 9 may to 23 october 1972, during the vietnam war its purpose was to halt or slow the transportation of supplies and materials for the nguyen hue offensive known in the west as the easter offensive, an invasion of the south vietnam. He was taken as a prisoner of war by the north vietnamese december 22, 1972, while supporting operation linebacker ii. During operations freedom train and linebacker the b52 community played a major role in bringing north vietnam back the negotiating table. Join a b52 on a linebacker ii mission with this story. May 22, 2010 operation linebacker ii, in a b52 bomber over hanoi, north vietnam, on december 26, 1972. Operation linebacker ii with almost the ocmplete withdrawal of american troops from vietnam the willingness of the north vietnamese government to indculge in taclks with the south had almost come to a complete halt by the beginning of december 1972, the buildup of troops along the dmz and the lack of prisoner exchanges brought one of the largest attacks on north vietnam of the entire war.
Operation linebacker ii operations were initiated on 18 december 1972 and were directed by the joint chiefs of staff jcs to continue until further notice. Although linebacker ii was overall successful, it had some serious problems in the execution of the operation, especially in the area of tactical strategy. Operation linebacker i 9 may 1972 23 october 1972 operation linebacker ii 18 december 1972. During the operation, also referred to as the 11day war or 11 days of christmas, more than 700 sorties were flown out of andersen afb and utapao royal thai airbase, thailand. Patch, operation lineback ii, strategic ac, vietnam war. Operation linebacker ii is another example of the effective application of airpower during vietnam. Apr 25, 2017 in operation linebacker ii, b52s and around 2,000 supporting aircraft faced more than a hundred north vietnamese aircraft, highaltitude surfaceto air missiles designed in the soviet union, and numerous north vietnamese antiaircraft batteries on the ground. Operation linebacker vietnam cruise jacket patch 5 round full color patch showing the main points of bombing in vietnam to include haiphong, vinh and dongha during operation linebacker in 1972. Operation linebacker iii commemorative challenge coin by. And i think to a man, everyone that has flown in that linebacker, 11 day operation, and that were talking not just b52s, were talking the entire support package, you know, the wild weasels, the fighters the mig cap, the navy, the ecm, the airborne radar, awacs, a whole bunch of people involved in that. To force a settlement of the vietnam war, president nixon directed an allout air campaign against north vietnams heartland on december 18th 1972. Operation linebacker ii the massive bombing campaign. A total 15,237 tons of ordnance was dropped on 18 industrial and 14 military targets including eight sam sites while fighterbombers added another 5,000 tons of bombs to the tally.
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