The War in South Vietnam: The Years of the Offensive, 1965-1968 (The United States Air Force in Southeast Asia)

This volume, published by the Office of Air Force History in the United States Air Force in Southeast Asia series, looks at the Air Force’s support of the ground war in South Vietnam between 1965 and early 1968. The book covers the period from the time when the United States began moving from an advisory role into one of active involvement to just before the time when the United States gradually began disengaging from the war. The final scene is the successful air campaign conducted during the Communists’ siege of the Marine camp at Khe Sanh. While the actual siege lasted from late January to the middle of March 1968, enemy preparations for the encirclement-greatly increased truck traffic and enemy troop movements- were seen as early as October 1967Air Force assistance in South Vietnam during the war was principally of two kinds: close air support of troops on the battlefield, by both tactical fighters and B-52s, and the airlift of supplies and personnel. In addition to close air support and airlift, the Air Force performed many other important missions ancillary to the ground war, including reconnaissance, intelligence, psychological warfare, defoliation, destruction of enemy reinforcements and supplies, medical evacuation, and pacification and civic action.Historically, close air support has occupied a lower priority in the hierarchy of Air Force missions than strategic bombing and interdiction. In theory since the 1930s, and in actuality since World War 11, the Air Force has seen itself primarily as the strategic deliverer of destructive force on the industrial and economic heartland of an enemy. Preventing the flow of enemy reinforcements by interdicting them far from the battlefield was also considered an inherently important and effective function of air power. Close air support, for a variety of historical and doctrinal reasons, had been deemed a less fruitful use of air resources. As a consequence, more attention has been paid by historians of the conflict... Set in the time of the greatest intensity during the Southeast Asia war. The War in South The Years of the Offensive 1965-1968 describes men and machines living and working in an alien environment. In 1965, when the United States first began to take a full-scale combat role in the war in Southeast Asia, the Air Force was called on to provide direct fire support and airlift to the ground forces. Men and planes adapted admirably, ultimately flying more missions, dropping more bombs, and delivering more men and supplies, with a lower loss rate than in any previous conflict. The aircraft involved in this war ranged from ancient lumbering propeller planes to sleek supersonic jets. While most aircraft flew traditional missions, others found new roles - huge intercontinental nuclear bombers performed close aircraft performed close air support and transport aircraft were used as gunships. Because of this war and the way airmen accomplished their tasks. Air Force thinking was modified, and the realization of the need for a response to all levels of conflict set the tone of future Air Force doctrine. 15 maps. 3 charts. 70 photographs. 11 tables. 6 appendices. Front......Page 2 Cover......Page 1 Foreword......Page 4 Preface......Page 6 Author......Page 8 Index......Page 10 Photographs......Page 11 Introduction - The Advisory Years 1955-1964......Page 16 I. End of the Advisory Period, November 1964-April 1965......Page 30 II. Beginning of Direct Involvement, April-June 1965......Page 50 III. U.S. Assumes Major Role, June-September 1965......Page 72 IV. Air Force Deployments and Air Operations, September-December 1965......Page 100 V. Settling In and Sorting Out, January-April 1966......Page 128 VI. Setbacks for Centralized Air Power, May-December 1966......Page 154 VII. The "Frontier" Spirit, 1966......Page 182 VIII. Air Operations, 1966......Page 208 IX. Refinements of Aircraft and Munitions, 1967......Page 238 X. Air Operations, January 1967-March 1968......Page 264 XI. Conclusion......Page 304 Appendices......Page 326 2. Sorties versus Tasks......Page 332 3. Planning Factors for the Tactical Air Buildup......Page 337 4. Psychological Warfare Leaflets......Page 346 5. USAF Tactical Sorties in South Vietnam, 1965-1967......Page 356 6. USAF Support of Major Ground Operations, 1965-1967......Page 362