Linebacker II.......40 years ago

[Buffalo Six]

Today 40 years ago today the last U.S. battle of the Vietnam war began in the sky over Hanoi. From Dec. 18th to Dec. 29th, B-52 crews flew 729 nighttime sorties. Their Air Force and Navy fighter escorts provided another 769 sorties for suppression of air defenses, combat air patrol against MiGs, escort, and chaff dispensing. The price was high. Communist defenses downed 15 B-52s, containing 92 bomber crew members. According to airpower historian Walter J. Boyne, eight of these airmen were killed in action or later died of their wounds. Twenty-five were missing in action. Thirty-three became prisoners of war.

My father flew 3 missions during Linebacker II, on the 19th, 27th, and 29th. He as flying a B-52D out of U Tapao RTAB, Thailand at that time.