OPERATION LINEBACKER II BEGINS OVER NORTH VIETNAM

Operation Linebacker II begins over North Vietnam

On December 18th, 1972, United States bombers and supporting aircraft began a concentrated air offensive often known as the “Christmas bombing” of North Vietnam. The operation followed a breakdown in peace negotiations and was designed to pressure the other side back to the table by striking targets in and around Hanoi and Haiphong. Crews flying large, heavily loaded aircraft faced dense anti-aircraft fire, surface-to-air missiles, and the psychological strain of repeated night missions over defended cities. Losses in the early days of the campaign prompted adjustments in tactics, routing, and escort arrangements. For many airmen, Linebacker II represented one of the most intense periods of flying in the entire conflict. The campaign remains a subject of debate regarding its necessity and effectiveness, but it clearly signaled that American airpower could still be brought to bear at scale even as ground combat was winding down.