The conflict came to an end with an 11-day strategic bombing campaign over North Vietnam
On Dec. 16, 2016, at Andersen Air Force Base (AFB), Guam, the United States Air Force (USAF) held a commemorative ceremony to remember those who served in Operation Linebacker II.
The operation took place 44 years ago on Dec. 18-29, 1972, as told by Airman 1st Class Jacob Skovo of the 36th Wing Public Affairs in his piece Honoring the past: Linebacker II commemorative ceremony where the 11-day strategic bombing campaign over North Vietnam signaled the conclusion of the conflict.
Seventy-five Airmen died in support of the mission, with 33 of them dying in the 15 B-52 Stratofortress bombers that were shot down during Operation Linebacker II. More than 700 sorties were flown out of Andersen AFB and U-Tapao Royal Thai Airbase in Thailand during the operation, often known as the 11-Day War or 11 Days of Christmas. By the end of the operation, a total of 15,000 tons of explosives had been dropped, mostly on military targets in North Vietnam.
“The operation proved successful,” said Jeffrey Meyer, 36th Wing historian. “North Vietnam was brought back to the negotiation table, officially ending direct U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War and obtained the release of 591 prisoners of war in February 1973.”
The runways at Andersen AFB were crowded with 153 B-52 bombers and numerous support planes to prepare for the flights. To accommodate the increased bomber presence, the base’s population grew to over 15,000 Airmen and support staff, allowing more than 700 long-distance missions to be launched in just 11 days.
“With over 15,000 Airmen working on Andersen, the base was taxed beyond its limits,” Meyer said. “Two-man rooms became six-man rooms. Every military dorm on this island was filled to capacity.”
For more than a decade, Andersen AFB Airmen have kept a rotational strategic bomber presence on Guam, bolstering regional security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific area.
Two B-1B Lancer aircrews from the 34th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron did a commemorative fly-over in honor of past and present Andersen Airmen, completing the ceremony with a loud roar.
The B-1B is the aircraft currently stationed in Guam to support the continuous bomber presence (CBP).
Photo by Airman 1st Class Jacob Skovo / U.S. Air Force
