To Hanoi and back : the United States Air Force and North Vietnam, 1966-1973

By the summer of 1966, the U.S. Air Force's reputation had hit rock bottom in Vietnam. After nearly eighteen months of the limited bombing campaign called Operation Rolling Thunder, North Vietnam's airfields, principal port, and capital city remained largely unscathed. In 1972 the two Linebacker campaigns joined with other air operations to make a dramatic, although temporary, difference. Wayne Thompson draws upon twenty years of research in classified records to present a full history of the Air Force role in the war against North Vietnam. He provides an unprecedented view of the motivations and actions of the people involved—from aircrews to generals to politicians—in every phase of the air campaigns. By The Summer Of 1966, The U.s. Air Force's Reputation Had Hit Rock Bottom In Vietnam. In 1972 The Two Linebacker Campaigns Joined With Other Air Operations To Make A Dramatic, Although Temporary, Difference. While They Unleashed Powerful B-52 Area Bombers, The Campaigns Also Demonstrated The Efficacy Of Newly Developed Laser-guided Precision Bombs. Drawing Upon Twenty Years Of Research In Classified Records, Wayne Thompson Integrates Operational, Political, And Personal Detail To Present A Full History Of The Air Force Role In The War Against North Vietnam.--jacket. 1. Puzzle -- 2. New Tactics, Old Strategy -- 3. Gradualism On Trial -- 4. Season Of Discontent -- 5. Rolling Thunder Subsides -- 6. Protective Reaction -- 7. Prisoners And Other Survivors -- 8. The Lavelle Affair -- 9. Linebacker -- 10. B-52s At Last -- 11. Reverberations. Wayne Thompson. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 363-398) And Index. "By the summer of 1966, the U.S. Air Force's reputation had hit rock bottom in Vietnam. In 1972 the two Linebacker campaigns joined with other air operations to make a dramatic, although temporary, difference. While they unleashed powerful B-52 area bombers, the campaigns also demonstrated the efficacy of newly developed laser-guided precision bombs.". "Drawing upon twenty years of research in classified records, Wayne Thompson integrates operational, political, and personal detail to present a full history of the Air Force role in the war against North Vietnam."--BOOK JACKET.