iscover
Linebacker II
0 comment
After 17 years of SAC service, the B-52 finally laid to rest any doubts that might have lingered about its ability to perform the strategic bombardment mission. During 11 days in December of 1972, the B-52s penetrated the strongest air defence network ever encountered in the history of aerial warfare to put their loads precisely on target.
The targets were military and industrial complexes in the Hanoi/Haiphong area of North Vietnam. They were struck as a result of a continuing intransigence and faithless bargaining position of the enemy, and to demonstrate to the enemy that the United States had the means and the will to do whatever had to be done to negotiate the return of POWs and an end to hostilities in Southeast Asia. That the enemy was in the end dishonest in his signing of a so-called “peace agreement” demonstrates beyond any doubt that if he had had the means to effectively resist the aerial onslaught of Linebacker II, he would have done so. For 11 days out of 11 years, the United States was anything but a paper tiger, as bombs rained virtually around the clock on the enemy homeland.
While at Blytheville AFB, Arkansas, I interviewed Brigadier General James R. McCarthy, who is now commander of the 42nd Air Division.
This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members.
A monthly membership is only $5.99 or save with our annual plans.
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
