AS 100 Chap 6 Lesson 2 – Vietnam War
ATT: What is the Lance P. Sijan Award?
- Awarded to people who show bravery and professionalism
- Capt Sijan fought in Vietnam War
- Shot down 2 years after graduating AFA
Cuban Missile Crisis
- Many battles during Cold War
o Bloodless Berlin Airlift
o Bloody Korean War
o Cuban Missile Crisis
 Closest we came to Nuclear War w/ Soviet Union
o Cuba became communist in 1960
o Soviets set up missile sites to intimidate US
- ACFT USED
o SAC U-2 used for reconnaissance
o Maj Rudolf Anderson Jr. shot down by SAMs
 Only American to die in this crisis
o Pres. Kennedy ordered naval blockade
 SAC prepared to deliver nuclear bombs
o 20 Soviet ships got within 500 miles of US
 Turned around cause we had more nukes
o This started the Arms Race - competition for military supremacy
Vietnam War
- Japan occupied Indochina-Vietnam, Loas, Cambodia
- France fought for control of colonies back
- Communist Ho Chi Minh led Vietnamese
- US helped France to fight against communists
- Vietnam split along 17th parallel (North were communists - Soviet/China)
- 1961 US got involved
- Vietnamese attacked USS Maddox in international waters
- Tonkin Gulf Resolution
o Allowed Pres. Johnson to retaliate
- TRAINING VIETNAMESE
o Viet Cong fought w/ guerilla warfare
o Geneva Accord prohibited fighters
 We taught with propeller acft
o Geneva Accord prohibited crossing 17th parallel but North kept crossing
 So, we used fighters anyway
- AIR POWER USED IN VIETNAM
o Tactical Air power and finished w/ strategic bombers
- Operations During Vietnam War
o Rolling Thunder 1965-1968
 Pres Johnson ordered not to hit targets linked to Soviet/Chinese
 Limited tactical strikes (Not successful) Allowed time to rebuild/repair
o Tet Offensive
 Named for Vietnam Holiday for lunar year
 Communists attacked 36 Major cities in S. Vietnam
 US airlifted troops to front lines, attacked supply routes and enemy soldiers
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o Linebacker I & II
 Pres Nixon wanted troops out of Vietnam and cut troops
 N. Vietnam attacked again and Nixon said to do whatever it takes
 Strategic bombing phase began w/ B-52s and Navy acft
 Forced treaty in 1973 and in 1975 N. Vietnam attacked again and took the South
AIRCRAFT USED IN VIETNAM WAR
o Helicopter was quiet star
 Drop off troops to prevent long hikes in jungle
 Hover while delivering supplies and pick up wounded
 UH-1 Huey was most popular
o B-26, T-28, F-105, F-4, EC-121, EB-66, F-100F
Lessons learned
o Needed consistent airpower to prevent from rebuilding
AF Gains Increasingly Significant Roles
- Lead role in Berlin Airlift (Cargo)
- Rescuing citizens (Helicopter)
- Fighters (Smaller areas)
- Avoid casualties w/ precision bombing
- US/NATO planted bombs over Europe
Operation Eagle Claw
- Islamic students raided US Embassy and took 90 US diplomats hostage
- Pres Carter ordered military rescue (cancelled)
- Pres Reagan reached agreement to free hostages
- US learned they needed joint ventures between branches
- Created US Special Operations Command
Operation Urgent Fury
- 1983 Communists of Grenada overthrew Prime Minister
- 600 American medical students at risk
- Pres Reagan sent US troops over
- AC-130, EC-130, C-141 used
Operation El Dorado Canyon
- Lybia (center of anti-US terrorism)
- Pres Reagan authorized joint mission w/ AF/Navy
- Used Britain base to launch acft
- France refused to let us fly over airspace
- F-111, KC-10, KC-135, EF-111, A-6, A-7, F-14
Operation Just Cause
- Panama Canal (50-mile route between Pacific/Atlantic
- Manuel Noriega captured buses of Americans and smuggled drugs
- Pres Bush Just Cause was to:
o Safeguard American lives
o Defend democracy in Panama
o Combat drug trafficking
o Protect integrity of Panama Canal Treaty
o Joint operations w/ AF, Navy, Army and Marines
o Noriega arrested for murder, drug trafficking, money laundering
Key Developments in Acft, Missile Capability, Nuclear Capability During Cold War
- Acft Development
o X-3 was jet driven and could take off from ground (X-1/X-2 were rocket driven)
o X-15 Rocket propelled (4,000 mph)
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o SR-71 Blackbird (fastest of all reconnaissance acft w/ 85,068 ceiling)
o F-104 Starfighter (1404 mph)
o X-5 w/ swept wings
o B-1 Lancer (twice payload of B-52)
Missile/Nuclear Developments
o German V-2 Ballistic Missiles - Free falls after self-powered flight
 Carried 2000-pd warheads
o Smart bombs
 Dropped from acft and guided to target by laser
End of Cold War
- Billions were spent on building arms
- Needs of civilians were neglected
- Weakened Soviet Union and more communist countries turned to democracies
- East/West Germany United under a democratic govt