Operation Linebacker II 1972: The B-52s are sent to Hanoi

by Marshall L. Michel III, Adam Tooby (Artist), Bounford.com (Artist), Paul Kime (Artist), Jim Laurier (Illustrator)

Overview

After the failed April 1972 invasion of South Vietnam and the heavy US tactical bombing raids in the Hanoi area, the North Vietnamese agreed to return to the Paris peace talks, yet very quickly these negotiations stalled.

In an attempt to end the war quickly and "persuade" the North Vietnamese to return to the negotiating table, President Nixon ordered the Air Force to send the US' ultimate conventional weapon, the B-52 bomber, against their capital, Hanoi. Bristling with the latest Soviet air defense missiles, it was the most heavily defended target in Vietnam. Taking place in late December, this campaign was soon dubbed the "Christmas Bombings."

Using specially commissioned artwork and maps, ex-USAF fighter colonel Marshall Michel describes Linebacker II, the climax of the air war over Vietnam, and history's only example of how America's best Cold War bombers performed against contemporary Soviet air defenses.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781472827609
Publisher:	Bloomsbury USA
Publication date:	09/18/2018
Series:	Air Campaign , #6
Pages:	96
Product dimensions:	7.20(w) x 9.60(h) x 0.30(d)

About the Author

Marshall L. Michel III is a native of New Orleans who attended Georgetown and Harvard Universities. He joined the US Air Force in 1966 and from 1970 to 1973 flew 321 combat missions. He was the assistant air attaché at the American embassy in Tel Aviv from 1977 to 1980, when he returned to the United States to fly F-15s at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. He later served as the Israel desk officer for the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the Pentagon, as a fellow at the Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies at Tel Aviv University, and on the NATO staff in Brussels, Belgium. He retired from the Air Force in 1992 and now lives in Biloxi, Mississippi.

Adam Tooby is an internationally renowned digital artist and illustrator. His work can be found in publications worldwide and as box art for model aircraft kits. He also runs a successful illustration studio and aviation prints business. He is based in Cheshire, UK. To buy artwork, or contact the artist, visit http://www.adamtooby.com/.

Jim Laurier is a native of New England and lives in New Hampshire. He attended Paier School of Art in Hamden, Connecticut, from 1974–78, and since graduating with Honours, he has been working professionally in the field of Fine Art and Illustration. He has been commissioned to paint for the US Air Force and has aviation paintings on permanent display at the Pentagon.

Table of Contents

Introduction 4

Chronology 6

Attackers' Capabilities 9

Defenders' Capabilities 20

Campaign Objectives 29

The Campaign 38

Aftermath and Analysis 86

Select Bibliography 93

Index 95

Editorial Reviews

Based on this insider information, Michel wrote his new book, which might be the final word on the eleven-day air-to-ground Linebacker II campaign.” —VVA Veteran

“This book provides a very enjoyable read, is a serious book, and as such deserves a dedicated effort to fully understand and absorb.” —IPMS/USA

“This is an essential book for students of the Vietnam air war, B-52s, and the SA-2 SAM … I highly recommend it.” —Aero Scale Kitmaker

“This is an essential book for students of the Vietnam air war, B-52s, and the SA-2 SAM … I highly recommend it.” —Aero Scale Kitmaker

From the Publisher