FlyPast 03.2018

This view was reinforced by fellow
prisoner Colonel ‘Robbie’ Risner
who had spent seven and a half
years in North Vietnam prisons.
He believed the release of American
PoWs came about largely because
of Nixon’s decision to step up the

bombing and the introduction of

the B-52 raids against Hanoi and

Haiphong.

Risner said: “On December 18, I

think that was the first night of the

B-52 raids, there was never such

joy seen in our camp before. There

were people jumping up and down

and putting their arms around each

other with tears running down their

faces. We knew they were B-52s and

that President Nixon was keeping

his word, and that the communists

were getting the message.”

General Johnson summed up

the December 18 Linebacker II

raid: “Eighty-seven B-52s were

launched from Guam at one-

minute intervals and 42 were

launched from U-Tapao. There

were many problems, but all were

resolved. Everyone was determined

to make it go. Eleven days later, the

729th B-52 sortie was flown, and

Linebacker II was finished.

“The fact that so many people

coming together, often for the

first time, could accomplish the

unbelievably difficult, resulting

in the successful operation is to

me... the key that sets SAC, the

USAF and this great country apart

from all the others. Our people,

when challenged and when given

freedom to use their ingenuity,

can and do accomplish the

unbelievable.”

Although 15 B-52s were lost

during Linebacker II, the loss

rate for the 700-plus sorties was

significantly less than experienced

in several theatres during World

War Two. That Linebacker II losses

were far lower than expected can be

attributed in part to the designing

and incorporating of new and

complex air tactics in the middle of

the campaign.

March 2018 FLYPAST 25

resolved. Everyone was determined

Left

This B-52 came to the

rescue of US Marines

under siege at Nam

Phong in late 1972, during

Linebacker II. The USAF

allowed its crew to paint

the Marines’ logo on the

nose. RUSS NORVILLE

Above

Phantoms and a Douglas

A-3 Skywarrior on the USS

‘Coral Sea’ preparing for

Linebacker I missions in

May 1972. JERRY PARKS

Left

Bomb stack at U-Tapao.

JIM WOOD