ipl-logo

Operation Rolling Thunder Research Papers

1669 Words7 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Air defenses role in vietnam

Operation Rolling Thunder is one of the largest US air force to strike the NVA (the North Vietnamese Army) during the Vietnam War. It was intended to destroy many industrial buildings in NVA's homeland to cripple their supplies, productions, and others. This would help to reduce the NVA's supplies to their army into the South Vietnam. However, it was the worst and ineffective ways because the NVA has a stronghold with mainly an air defense. This shows with more powerful and effective coordination plans. Even the NVA has suffered major damaged and huge lost of the civilians, it able to rebuild the productions, bridges, and others that are destroyed by the US bombers and fighters. It promoted the NVA to continue fighting more by courage and …show more content…

Well, here is several facts that the NVA has advantages. Before the Operation Rolling Thunder began, they need help from two most powerful communists country to help boosting NVA's defense and supporting their army in South Vietnam. China and Soviet Union are beginning to supplies and aid to the NVA to booster their defense in tones of ways ("The Rise of North Vietnam's Air Defenses | HistoryNet."). The NVA is different from the US and allied army because of the wiliness and courage to fight all the way to the end (Gilmore 81). One of the supplies that the NVA received is an air-defense missiles with anti-guns (“Operation Rolling Thunder”). The NVA also needs a lot of fighters to counter-enemy planes, which it created a NVA's Air force ("The Rise of North Vietnam's Air Defenses | HistoryNet."). As it continues, NVA have receive an additional airplanes from Soviet Union, like MIG 17 and MIG 21 model (Kamps 27). At the same time the Soviet and Chinese are given the NVA a training camp for the Air Force to meet standard requirement ("The Rise of North Vietnam's Air Defenses | HistoryNet."). As progress, the Soviet doe send a missile for Anti-Aircraft defense to deploy for the NVA to repeal any US fighters or bombers (Kamps 27). During the Operation Rolling Thunder, many of the NVA civilians are helping to repair the productions, rebuilding the bridges and …show more content…

One person named Jerry Hoblit is one of the US pilot that experience the closest encounter of NVA's anti-aircraft missile system (Gilmore 27). He experience when he has to get close with his bomb to mark the target while trying to avoid the missile lock from air-defense. Even he tried to evade the missile (which the flares didn't invent it that time to countermeasure), the missile continues to follow his plane until it run out of fuel (Gilmore 29). Another story from US pilot is Leo Thorsness who's respond for supporting and escort the US fighters during the Operation Rolling Thunder. However, he was under threat from multiples of enemies aircraft even incoming missile (Gilmore 30). Before the Operation Rolling Thunder have begin, a elite force Farm Gate trained most of the ARVN pilots to be skillful for operating air force of the ARVN ( Page 49). As the NVA's defense lock on the US fighters for a target, he operate his anti-defense missile, dive in and destroying it immanently (Gilmore 31). Another US pilot Leo Thorsness seen horror of his fellows taken direct hit in enemy lines and he will be next (Gilmore 35). Ed Larson was one of the US planes to escort an air force group. Then, he's evading incoming enemy fire (Gilmore 32). Ed and other pilot were hit by enemy anti-aircraft gun and escape into open sea (Gilmore 33). Next pilot who has to fly during the storm

Show More
Related
820 Words | 4 Pages

They also fought off the german attack planes on march 24, 1945. The 99th also set a record for destroying 5 enemy aircraft in less than 4 minutes. The 332nd fighter group had the most flight courses and they received 96 flying crosses medals. The 332nd flew through Italy and south parts of Europe. They wouldn't have been successful without there P-40s.

Read More
699 Words | 3 Pages

Luke was known for his legendary skill and aggressive flying style as a member of the 27th Squadron of the American First Pursuit Group known as "The Fighting Eagles”. “He shot town 18 airplanes and balloons in his short military career” (“2ND LT FRANK LUKE JR.”). Even though these accomplishments set him apart from most other American pilots in World War I, Rickenbacker proved to

Read More
1497 Words | 6 Pages

Shortly following the conclusion of the United States’ conflict in Korea, the American military once again deployed its service members to Eastern Asia to combat and contain the spread of Communism; this time in the form of the Democratic Republic of North Vietnam. While the vast majority of the American populace recalls the Vietnam War as primarily an exercise of ground forces and maneuver, an often-overlooked aspect of the war is the significant contribution to strategy and successful adaptation to threats demonstrated by Air Defense Artillery Soldiers of the era. One of the more proud moments for the Air Defense Artillery Branch was their pivotal role in the Vietnam War. From the branch’s only Medal of Honor winner, to the Duster, and

Read More
507 Words | 3 Pages

When hundreds of Japanese fighter planes attacked the Pearl Harbor naval base, AAA took up arms and were the first Army units to engage the enemy. “First to Fire” was created and stuck. Further into World War II, AAA units everywhere managed to shoot down many hostile enemy planes and earn a dozen Distinguished Service Crosses, Silver Stars, and Presidential Unit Citations.

Read More
574 Words | 3 Pages

The president has made statements to invade Iraq since 2002.Stating that "Iraq continues to flaunt its hostility toward America and to support terror," and even adding that “states like these, and their terrorist allies, constitute an axis of evil, arming to threaten the peace of the world. By seeking weapons of mass destruction, these regimes pose a grave and growing danger.” is Bush during his speech to invade Iraq. Saddam Hussein -was president of Iraq from 1979 to 2003. In his time in office Saddam suppressed the groups that opposed him.

Read More
974 Words | 4 Pages

Although the guys insisted there were no planes available, the lieutenant had them take the B-24 Green Hornet. “There was only one ship, the Green Hornet,” “We were very reluctant, but Phillips finally gave in for the rescue mission”( Hillenbrand 96). After taking flight, the plane began to experience engine problems and began to go down. The men prepared for crash landing into the Pacific Ocean. Louie, Phil and Mac survived the crash, but were stranded on a raft.

Read More
427 Words | 2 Pages

They proved that they were capable of not only flying but also fighting against the enemy. The airmen flew countless missions over enemy territory, providing escort for bombers and conducting ground-attack missions. They achieved an impressive record, shooting down 109 enemy planes in the skies of Europe and North Africa. They also received numerous medals and honors for their achievements, including the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Silver Star, and the Congressional Gold Medal.

Read More
1037 Words | 5 Pages

Rough Draft: The Things They Carried The Vietnam War, was a nightmarish place. It caused paranoia, and made some soldiers insane. Death could come at any moment in any place leaving men in constant fear knowing they could be next. Some men feared it so much they would self inflict wounds in hopes of getting discharged, and others would change their viewpoints on the war and change their actions completely.

Read More
783 Words | 4 Pages

They escorted the bombers to their targets and back to the

Read More
694 Words | 3 Pages

In document “Japanese Kamikaze Pilots”, it states, “The Japanese pilots became “guided” missiles taking out American ships”. Japan's strategy with the kamikaze pilots

Read More
1421 Words | 6 Pages

World War Two was a war very different from World War One; new technology developed during World War Two made the previous world war look ancient and primitive. With the start of World War Two, man-on-man combat was a thing of the past, as advanced technology such as airplanes became necessarily dominant. Countries were fighting to get ahead of each other in technology, as the more technologically advanced the opponent was, the greater the advantage they had. The development of technology grew exponentially, as any affluent country that even began to lag behind industrially was utterly demolished. Therefore, because the war was dependent on the use of highly-advanced machinery and devastating weapons, the development of technology was exceedingly

Read More
360 Words | 2 Pages

OPERATION ROLLING THUNDER -SUCCESS OR FAILURE? Operation rolling thunder was a strategic and gradual bombing campaign undertaken by the united states military and the republic of south Vietnam. The aim of the campaign was mainly to prevent the north Vietnamese from invading the south Vietnamese and spreading communism. Over Three years the USA and south Vietnam dropped 643,000 tons of bombs on the north and spent around 900 million dollars. The operation was seen as ineffective as it did not meet the initial objectives as men, North Vietnamese guerrillas and materials continued to travel from the north to the south via a sophisticated network of paths and the ho Chi Minh trail which also ran through neighbouring countries such as Laos

Read More
939 Words | 4 Pages

America’s involvement in the bombing was a crucial moment in military history. It was the American Kittyhawk planes which were used to combat the Japanese air force, and the assistance given helped to prove America’s worth and reliability to the people of

Read More
1593 Words | 7 Pages

Between 1965 and 1968, Over 1,400 U.S warplanes were shot down over North Vietnam with many of these aircraft were involved in Air raids on either Hanoi and Haiphong. (“War in the air,

Read More
1164 Words | 5 Pages

The Air Defense Artillery soldier are those who fought or still fight with weapons and equipment designed to combat air targets from the ground. The Army was to use this equipment in the Vietnam War. The missions of the brigade is to train and maintain a strategic crisis response. Air defense artillery brigade are capable of deploying worldwide, on short notice, to provide air defense force protection from air breathing threats and tactical ballistic missiles, as well as allowing freedom. A bombing campaign known as operation Rolling Thunder, the United States military aircraft attacked targets throughout North Vietnam.

Read More

More about Operation Rolling Thunder Research Papers

Related Topics

Open Document