New Podcast Covers Linebacker II – ending the Vietnam War and bringing the POWs home
Learning about the Vietnam War is like peeling a forty year old onion. One that keeps growing. And, many people don’t like onions. But anyone trying understand world politics today without at least knowing the basics of The Vietnam War is trying to make onion soup without…well, onions. The Vietnam War was that big of a deal — it challenged, changed and channeled so much of the world, it’s almost impossible to know when/where/why to begin.
Andersen AFB with B-52G models and a C-130 in foreground
The Right Time To Study, Learn, and Heal
Nevertheless, now is a good time to start peeling as one of the top layers is about to be remembered by many — Operation Linebacker II of December, 1972. 2022 will see the moment’s fiftieth anniversary.
Like virtually all-things-Vietnam-War, the controversy starts immediately. To the Vietnamese, it’s the “Dien Bien Phu of the Air,” referring to the ridiculous defeat of the French at said site in 1954.
To their point, the United States lost twenty eight aircraft including fifteen of the moment’s iconic B-52s. Yet, in the words of five-year POW Gene Smith, “When we heard about the B-52s over Hanoi, we knew we were going HOME!”
Put another way, nothing unleashed hell like a fully laden B-52. Linebacker II saw 129 of them over Hanoi and Haiphong military targets on the first night alone. Indeed, it was the largest strategic bombing mission since WWII. Strong enough to convince the North Vietnamese leaders to abandon their successful strategy of diplomatic cat & mouse and agree to peace terms and give up their most precious game piece, the steadily accumulating rank of POWs languishing in their infamous prison system.
Break-Break: Why We Study The War
There are many reasons why people get heartburn over the Vietnam War. But getting back to the many-layered onion analogy, it’s the one that makes most sense because ultimately, there just so much to digest. Giving the Vietnam War its due is continually challenging. The easy conclusions just aren’t there for minds used to watching a Hollywood movie for History Class.
But, for a little while yet, there are plenty of experts who can help the rest better understand what went wrong and what went right (there are plenty of those, btw) — veterans. From both sides. Linebacker II is a brilliant place to begin on account of its impact on the war as well as the fact that it lead to one of the greatest Happy Endings to any war, the return of the POWs (which was awarded its own operative name, Operation Homecoming).
Back to airplanes. And back to 1968.
President Johnson ordered a halt to bombing targets in “the North” on Halloween, 1968. In a nutshell, the goal of ceasing air strikes was an olive-branch of some sort to encourage peace negotiations between the North, the South and of course, the South’s great benefactor, The United States.
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Up until then, a three year combined-branch Operation called “Rolling Thunder” resulted in constant tactical pressure on North Vietnam. Over 300,000 sorties were flown, delivering 860,000-some tons of ordnance on target. Of course, war is expensive — during Rolling Thunder, the United States lost over 920 aircraft and 1,050-some casualties. And generated the majority of the 775-some POWs.
“… the United States would stop its bombardment of North Vietnam when that would lead promptly to productive discussions, and that we would assume that North Vietnam would not take military advantage of our restraint.”
Excerpt from President Johnson’s Address to the Nation, 3/31/68
It should be obvious that Operation Rolling Thunder was costly. It should also be obvious that stopping Operation Rolling Thunder didn’t quite work as four years later, the war was still going on and people were raging against it more than ever.
Why Didn’t The US Just Leave Vietnam?
The intention to extricate from Southeast Asia was a crucial campaign promise of President Johnson’s successor, President Richard Nixon. To those unfamiliar with politics, diplomacy and military operations, it is childishly simple to simple think, “Why didn’t the US just leave?” That particular onion/question is devilishly tearful. However, do yourself a favor and pick up the book, “Street Without Joy” by French journalist, Bernard Fall. It was published about the time the United States was just getting serious about a long-term presence in Southeast Asia and describes France’s quagmire, and the U.S.’s future challenges. It won’t answer the question but it will help with appreciation of the problems political leaders face.
Nevertheless, after three years of trying to find an elegant path out of Vietnam, Nixon decided that force was going to be more effective than diplomacy. In May of 1972, he authorized resumption of tactical strikes against North Vietnamese military targets with Operation Linebacker. The ostensible goal was to force the North Vietnamese to be conciliatory at intended Peace Talks sometime in the near future.
Linebacker I
Linebacker was a full-on aerial drive down the field for a Peace Talk touchdown. Military targets such as power plants, bridges, transport hubs and supply depots were hit hard. Sixty-some North Vietnamese aircraft were destroyed (to a combat loss number of 104 American/South Vietnamese Air Force aircraft). But most importantly, the message was clearly made that the United States was deadly serious about forcing peace (irony alert). Largely, Operation Linebacker was a success, accomplishing much within its four months of operation, certainly eclipsing any real success that Operation Rolling Thunder might have garnered.
By the end of October, Nixon’s National Security Advisor, Henry Kissinger announced that “Peace was at hand.” But it wasn’t.
Manipulation Led To More War
The North Vietnamese had become utter masters at media and diplomatic manipulation (if you think today’s celebrity-centric tantrums are a product of 21st Century social media, look up “Hanoi Jane”). With campaign promises to fulfill and the return of an unfriendly Congress in January of 1973, Nixon had to act and quickly. On December 14, Henry Kissinger threw down the gauntlet that the North Vietnam had 72 hours to sign for peace; they didn’t. Thus, on 18 December, 129 B-52s became the blunt-force to traumatize the North Vietnamese into crying uncle and meaning it. For eleven more days — the final LBII missions flown on December 29 — Nixon made his point devastatingly clear.
The Paris Peace Accords (PPA) were signed on January 27, 1973.
The PPA signing alone is worthy of remembering Linebacker II. But to the POWs and their families, Linebacker II has far deeper, personal importance. Two weeks later, February 12 to be exact, three C-141 Starlifters were winging their way back to Hanoi as part of the Operation that everyone wanted all along, Operation Homecoming, the return of POWs to America. By April 4, the Operation was complete. Five hundred ninety-some POWs were returned. In this regard, Linebacker II may be America’s most successful game play of the Vietnam War. Linebacker II’s legacy is no mere field goal, it’s a touchdown.
Author note – “I Interview Old Guys And Draw Their Airplanes”
I have two mantras. The first is that “I interview old guys and draw their airplanes.” I’m no great aviation artist. Instead, my drawing is simply a way to experience the stories of people who’ve seen history up-close and personal including many from the Vietnam War.
Linebacker II has often been mentioned as a particular point of ‘closure’ for Vietnam veterans of all years, all branches. Thus, I’ve made mental note of how each airplane I’ve drawn connects to December 1972’s decisive moment.
For this article, I’ve selected three pieces:
Gene Smith’s “Rolling Thunder” F-105
Gene Smith’s “Rolling Thunder” F-105 represents the aggressive tactical efforts against North Vietnam. That Gene became a POW in 1967 also represents the aggressive defense that the North Vietnamese offered in return.
The F-105 was the only aircraft to be pulled from combat on account of its loss rate — nearly half of all the 830-some F-105s were combat losses. Whenever I need a sense a bit of entitlement creeping into my psyche, I remember Gene and the F-105 “Thud drivers” and a bit of perspective comes to mind. Gene was released “from jail” and boarded his Operation Homecoming flight home on March 14, 1973.
Robert Certain’s B-52G
Robert Certain’s B-52G was the first combat loss of Operation Linebacker II. “Charcoal 01” – the call sign for Certain’s particular aircraft – also represents the operation’s first American deaths.
Pilot Donald Rossi, co-pilot Robert Thomas and gunner Walter Ferguson were killed. Electronic warfare officer Richard Simpson, radar navigator Richard Johnson and navigator Robert Certain became POWs. Ironically, Robert Thomas’ young son Derrick Thomas ended up becoming a star football player for the Kansas City Chiefs as a Linebacker. Bob’s Operation Homecoming flight left March 29, 1973.
C-141 Starlifter, A “Hanoi Taxi”
C-141 Starlifter, A “Hanoi Taxi” but this image is from a series I did as part of a project with POW Charlie Plumb (hence the “…and back” name). This airplane is a physical representation of hope as well as the POW code of ethic, “Return with honor.” Today, the remaining POWs exist as an extraordinarily close band of brothers. Their legacy of leadership and ancillary affects are at once reminders of the best humanity can accomplish and the worst it can endure.
A few years ago, I minted a slogan (at least I think I did), “History is nutritious. It feeds your brain.” Interviewing combat veterans has changed my life in brilliant ways. I’m not smart enough in history to draw great conclusions on anything except for knowing the utter importance of hearing a veteran/witness express themselves.
Want To Learn More? Here’s John’s Podcast:
The Linebacker II Libraries podcast can be accessed on the website of the Distinguished Flying Cross Society. Each Podcast features a downloadable educator’s supplement featuring photos, maps and a glossary of some expressions veterans of the era might say. However, one remarkable feature of each podcast is that they begin and ends with short clips of Linebacker veterans and families recalling memories of the times. You can learn more about John’s work and efforts to preserve history at JohnMollison.com.
