Operation Linebacker II - The B-52s go to Hanoi, 1972 - Animated

Summary by Krater

An animated historical analysis of Operation Linebacker II, the massive 11-day U.S. B-52 bombing campaign against North Vietnam in December 1972 that forced a return to peace negotiations.

From the video

Answers: How did Operation Linebacker II unfold during the Vietnam War?

• Operation Linebacker II aerial bombing campaign
• B-52 bomber tactics and electronic countermeasures
• Surface-to-air missile defense systems in North Vietnam
• Paris Peace Talks and 1972 U.S. presidential election

What it concludes

• Operation Linebacker II was launched to force North Vietnam back to the Paris peace negotiating table.
• Early B-52 vulnerabilities were exploited by SAM sites using manual tracking when radar jamming proved effective against front-facing equipment.
• Adjustments in tactics and routing during the 11-day campaign ultimately overwhelmed North Vietnamese air defenses and achieved peace negotiation objectives.