Air operations against North Vietnam: Difference between revisions

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During the [[Vietnam War]], the United States conducted extensive '''air operations against North Vietnam''', but few, until 1972, had decisive effect. Earlier in the war, the objectives, and to a large extent the tactics, were dictated by political leaders without understanding of [[air warfare planning|air warfare]], and, to a significant extent, a lack of understanding of the [[Vietnamese Communist grand strategy]] and how the leadership interpreted U.S. actions.
==Aftermath of the [[Gulf of Tonkin incident]]==
==Aftermath of the [[Gulf of Tonkin incident]]==
While aircraft attacked North Vietnamese [[fast attack craft]] in international waters, Operation PIERCE ARROW was the formal name for the retaliatory attack against naval bases, and an oil refinery at [[Vinh]].
While aircraft attacked North Vietnamese [[fast attack craft]] in international waters, Operation PIERCE ARROW was the formal name for the retaliatory attack against naval bases, and an oil refinery at [[Vinh]].

Revision as of 11:34, 18 February 2011


During the Vietnam War, the United States conducted extensive air operations against North Vietnam, but few, until 1972, had decisive effect. Earlier in the war, the objectives, and to a large extent the tactics, were dictated by political leaders without understanding of air warfare, and, to a significant extent, a lack of understanding of the Vietnamese Communist grand strategy and how the leadership interpreted U.S. actions.

Aftermath of the Gulf of Tonkin incident

While aircraft attacked North Vietnamese fast attack craft in international waters, Operation PIERCE ARROW was the formal name for the retaliatory attack against naval bases, and an oil refinery at Vinh.

Intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance

There was substantial use of unmanned aerial vehicles, principally for imagery intelligence but possibly also for signals intelligence. A limited number of SR-71 Blackbird sorties were flown for strategic imagery, and fighter-reconnaissance aircraft flew battle damage assessment missions.

RC-135 COMBAT SENT aircraft collected electronic intelligence and mapped with side-looking radar.

The time of signaling

Commitment to major strikes