1965 - Operation Rolling Thunder

Summary

KEY POINTS:

1. Began on February 24, 1965, to deter Ho Chi Minh's ambitions.
2. Aimed to boost South Vietnamese morale and demonstrate U.S. determination.
3. Carefully chosen targets to avoid provoking China and the Soviet Union.
4. The campaign's purpose shifted to impede the enemy's supply lines.
5. Ended in 1968, paving the way for negotiations in Paris.

References

• VIETNAM AIR WAR COLLECTION | The Runway (airforce.gov.au)
• MILITARY HISTORY GENERAL ARTICLES | The Runway (airforce.gov.au)
• The War in South Vietnam: The Years of the Offensive 1965-1968 (defense.gov)
•  Air War Over South Vietnam, 1968-1975. 
• Air Power and the Ground War in Vietnam: Ideas and Actions (af.edu)
• The Limits of Airpower or the Limits of Strategy: The Air Wars in Vietnam and Their Legacies > National Defense University Press > Publications | NDU Press

Source Information:

• Article Source: Air Force Historical Support Division > Home (af.mil)
• Media Check:  Air Force Historical Support Division >(HIGH CREDIBILITY)
• RAAF RUNWAY: RATIONALE, GUIDELINES, LEARNING OUTCOMES, ETC