Operation Linebacker II

B-52 Stratofortress.

The crew of a U.S. Air Force General Dynamics F-111A from the 474th Tactical Fighter Wing stands in front of their fully-loaded aircraft at Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base before a mission in 1972.

A U.S. Navy LTV A-7E Corsair II (BuNo 157526, pilot Mike A. "Baby" Ruth) of Attack Squadron VA-195 Dambusters bombs the Hai Duong railway and highway bridge in North Vietnam. VA-195 was assigned to Attack Carrier Air Wing 11 (CVW-11) aboard the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63) for a deployment to Vietnam from 17 February to 28 November 1972.On 10 May 1972, "Operation Linebacker I" commenced, the U.S. Navy's contribution to the air offensive against North Vietnam consisted of 176 attack sorties, 60% of them flown by A-7 aircraft.

Two U.S. Navy LTV A-7E Corsair II from Attack Squadron VA-27 Royal Maces each drop eight 227 kg Mk 82 bombs over Vietnam. VA-27 was assigned to Attack Carrier Air Wing 14 (CVW-14) aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVAN-65) for a deployment to Vietnam from 12 September 1972 to 12 June 1973.

Two U.S. Navy Ling-Temco-Vought A-7A Corsair II from Attack Squadron VA-153 Blue Tail Flies and an A-7B from VA-155 Silver Foxes dropping Mk 82 227 kg bombs over Vietnam. Both squadrons were assigned to to Carrier Air Wing 19 (CVW-19) aboard the aircraft carrer USS Oriskany (CVA-34) for a deployment to Vietnam from 5 June 1972 to 30 March 1973.

F-4J Phantom of VMFA-232 at Royal Thai Air Base Nam Phong

AAD and jamming over Hanoi and Noi Bai during Operation Linebacker II (Map 3.)

Circa 150 U.S. Air Force Boeing B-52 Stratofortress bombers at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, in the fall of 1972, just before the "Linebacker II" offensive.

B-52 being loaded with bombs

Bpmbardieri B-52G del SAC schierati a Guam nella base Anderson per partecipare all'operazione Linebacker II

Boeing B-52 pilot’s window damaged by a fragment from an SA-2

B-52D bombers taking of from U Tapao Air Base in Thailand during Operation Linebacker II

A U.S. Air Force Boeing B-52D Stratofortress aircraft coming in for a landing at U-Tapao air base, Thailand, after a mission over Vietnam.

A U.S. Air Force Boeing B-52D Stratofortress bombers from the 43rd Strategic Wing await take-off at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam (USA), before a bombing mission over North Vietnam during Operation Linebacker II on 15 December 1972.

A U.S. Air Force Boeing B-52D Stratofortress from the 43rd Strategic Wing waits beside the runway at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam (USA), as a B-52G-110-BW (s/n 58-0244) from the 72nd Strategic Wing (Provisional) approaches for landing after completing a bombing mission over North Vietnam during Operation Linebacker II on 15 December 1972.

A U.S. Air Force Boeing B-52G-120-BW Stratofortress (s/n 59-2572) from the 72nd Strategic Wing (Provisional) lands at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam (USA), after a bombing mission over North Vietnam during Operation Linebacker II on 15 December 1972.

A U.S. Air Force Boeing B-52G-125-BW Stratofortress (s/n 59-2582) from the 72nd Strategic Wing (Provisional) waits beside the runway at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam (USA), as another B-52 takes off for a bombing mission over North Vietnam during Operation Linebacker II on 15 December 1972. Note the exhaust from the eight J57 engines.

Bomb damage assessment of Bach Mai Airfield, North Vietnam

A collapsed bridge near Duong Phuong Thuong, Vietnam. The bridge was bombed by U.S. Navy aircraft from the aircraft carrier USS Hancock (CVA-19), 27 April 1972. The photo was taken by a Douglas A-4F Skyhawk.

500lb bombs lined up at Anderson Air Force Base, Guam as preparations are made for Linebacker Operations over North Vietnam.

Maintenance and support vehicles are used to provide maintenance to parked B-52 Stratofortress aircraft, assigned to the Strategic Air Command (SAC), during Linebacker Operations over North Vietnam.

A view of Strategic Air Command's parked B-52 Stratofortress aircraft at Anderson Air Force Base, Guam, prior to their participation in Linebacker Operations over North Vietnam.

U.S. Navy Douglas A-4F Skyhawk of Attack Carrier Air Wing 21 (CVW-21) are parked on the flight deck of the attack aircraft carrier USS Hancock (CVA-19), armed for a mission over Vietnam on 25 May 1972. Skyhawks NP-501 (BuNo 155046), -505 (BuNo 154996), and -510 were assigned to Attack Squadron 55 (VA-55) "Warhorses", NP-316 to VA-212 "Rampant Raiders", NP-412 and NP-416 to VA-164 "Ghost Riders". The aircraft are armed with Mk 82 (500 lb/227 kg) and Mk 83 (1000 lb/454 kg) bombs. CVW-21 was assigned to the Hancock for a deployment to Vietnam from 7 January to 3 October 1972.

A U.S. Navy LTV A-7E Corsair II (BuNo 157526, pilot Michael A. Ruth, call sign "Banjo") of Attack Squadron VA-195 Dambusters bombs the Hai Duong railway and highway bridge in North Vietnam. VA-195 was assigned to Attack Carrier Air Wing 11 (CVW-11) aboard the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63) for a deployment to Vietnam from 17 February to 28 November 1972.On 10 May 1972, "Operation Linebacker I" commenced, the U.S. Navy's contribution to the air offensive against North Vietnam consisted of 176 attack sorties, 60% of them flown by A-7 aircraft.

Aerial reconnaissance photo of Hanoi Hilton/Hỏa Lò Prison and surrounding area

Hanoi PW detention centre N-53 Cu Loc