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The Naval Air War Over Vietnam: A Forgotten Front in the Cold War

Devon Mitchell

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Published in On Yankee Station: The Naval Air War Over Vietnam (Bluejacket Books)

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By John C. Reilly

The Vietnam War was a long and bloody conflict that claimed the lives of thousands of American servicemen and women. The war was fought on many fronts, both on land and in the air. One of the most important fronts in the war was the naval air war. The U.S. Navy played a vital role in the war, providing air support for ground troops, attacking enemy targets, and blockading North Vietnam.

On Yankee Station: The Naval Air War over Vietnam (Bluejacket Books)

by John B. Nichols

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
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The naval air war over Vietnam was a complex and challenging undertaking. The Navy had to operate in a hostile environment, against a determined enemy. The Navy also had to contend with the challenges of operating in a tropical climate and over unfamiliar terrain.

Despite the challenges, the Navy's air campaign in Vietnam was a success. The Navy flew more than 1 million sorties in Vietnam, and its aircraft destroyed thousands of enemy targets. The Navy also provided vital air support for ground troops, helping to save countless lives.

The naval air war over Vietnam is a forgotten front in the Cold War. However, it was a vital component of the U.S. war effort in Vietnam. The Navy's air campaign in Vietnam was a success, and it played a major role in helping to bring the war to an end.

The Early Years of the War

The U.S. Navy began flying combat missions over Vietnam in 1964. The early years of the war were marked by a series of escalating air strikes against North Vietnam. The strikes were designed to pressure North Vietnam to stop supporting the Viet Cong insurgency in South Vietnam.

The early air strikes were met with strong resistance from North Vietnamese air defenses. The North Vietnamese had a sophisticated air defense system that included anti-aircraft guns, surface-to-air missiles, and fighter aircraft. The Navy lost several aircraft in the early years of the war, but it continued to press its attacks.

The Bombing Campaign

In 1965, the U.S. Navy began a sustained bombing campaign against North Vietnam. The bombing campaign was designed to destroy North Vietnam's industrial infrastructure and to disrupt its supply lines. The Navy flew thousands of bombing missions over North Vietnam, and its aircraft dropped millions of tons of bombs.

The bombing campaign was controversial. Critics argued that it was causing widespread civilian casualties and that it was not achieving its objectives. However, the Navy maintained that the bombing campaign was necessary to pressure North Vietnam to negotiate a peace settlement.

The Air War at Sea

The naval air war over Vietnam was not limited to air strikes against North Vietnam. The Navy also conducted a number of air operations at sea. These operations included:

Carrier-based air strikes against enemy shipping and shore targets.
Patrol and reconnaissance flights.
Air support for ground troops.
Search and rescue operations.

The Navy's air operations at sea were vital to the U.S. war effort in Vietnam. The Navy's aircraft provided air cover for shipping, supported ground troops, and helped to keep enemy supply lines closed.

The End of the War

The Vietnam War ended in 1973 with the signing of the Paris Peace Accords. The naval air war over Vietnam also came to an end. The Navy's last combat mission over Vietnam was flown on January 27, 1973.

The naval air war over Vietnam was a long and bloody conflict. The Navy lost more than 1,000 aircraft and more than 2,000 sailors in the war. However, the Navy's air campaign in Vietnam was a success. The Navy's aircraft helped to pressure North Vietnam to negotiate a peace settlement, and the Navy's air operations at sea helped to keep enemy supply lines closed.

On Yankee Station: The Naval Air War over Vietnam (Bluejacket Books)

by John B. Nichols

4.5 out of 5