Warbird Information Exchange

Greetings
Was wondering when was the First Bombing Mission for the B-52's how many were used ? Is then they were based at Guam ? during 65-67 or later ?

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Always Keep Em Flying !

Glen

Lookie Capt Jim! Wham! Wham! ...............................Termights

June 18, 1965



SAC B-52s are used for the first time in South Vietnam

For the first time, 28 B-52s fly-bomb a Viet Cong concentration in a heavily forested area of Binh Duong Province northwest of Saigon. Such flights, under the aegis of the Strategic Air Command (SAC), became known as Operation Arc Light. The B-52s that took part in the Arc Light missions had been deployed to Andersen Air Force Base in Guam and more bombers were later deployed to bases in Okinawa and U-Tapao, Thailand.

In addition to supporting ground tactical operations, B-52s were used to interdict enemy supply lines in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos, and later to strike targets in North Vietnam. Releasing their bombs from 30,000 feet, the B-52s could neither be seen nor heard from the ground as they inflicted awesome damage. B-52s were instrumental in breaking up enemy concentrations besieging Khe Sanh in 1968 and An Loc in 1972. Between June 1965 and August 1973, 126,615 B-52 sorties were flown over Southeast Asia. During those operations, the Air Force lost 29 B-52s: 17 from hostile fire over North Vietnam and 12 from operational causes.

Your wrong

the Buff first bombing mission was as i recall the B-52B Tender Tap which dropped nuclear devices on Bikini Atoll in 1956?

Now that is the first ever combat mission as it was a live bomb in my opinion.. sadly not a good bombing mission...nuclear weapons are not what we need theses days, im all for conventional tho

Shame B52 never dropped 12,000lb bomb on vietnam would of been great made the war end alot quicker.

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Fighters pilots are born to make movies , bomber pilots make HISTORY, cargo crews haul their material and fame.

No your wrong....officially, this was the first COMBAT mission in which it engaged enemies, testing Atom bombs does not count.

You"re both right, but since Paul has better legs I think we whould give him the win.

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"I knew the jig was up when I saw the P-51D-20-NA Mustang blue-nosed bastards from Bodney, and by the way the blue was more of a royal blue than an indigo and the inner landing gear interiors were NOT green, over Berlin."

A C-130 did drop a "daisy cutter" on a VC bunker under the control of a FAC.

The C-130 was originally fragged to clear an LZ for an insertion. The insertion was cancelled, and the Herc was off to the water to drop. A FAc was having a herd time getting some VC in a mountain bunker, and heard the Herc had an extra DC. Some quick negotiations on the radio, and the herc was winging his way. The FAC marked the target, and the Herc dropped "down the chute". No more bunker!

Like most things, it depends on the question...

'First bomb drop by a B-52' would be in the test phase...

'First bombing mission' would, IMHO, include test of bombs, e.g. nuclear - after all they are 'missions' and 'operational' if not 'combat or 'front line'.

But the implied content of the question is 'first operational bombing mission in combat.'

It's always the weasel words and precise wording that catches you out! "Probably the best lager in the world"

EDIT: Of course the term 'operational' and 'operations' has meant different things to different forces at different times; I may be off beam on USAF usage / meaning.


Shesh. Look at the figures, sd. The tonnage of bombs dropped on Vietnam was beyond any conception except statistically. Another 12,000lb was neither here not there and unarguably wouldn't have affected the end result.

Cheers

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James K

"Switch on the underwater landing lights"
Emilio Largo, Thunderball.

www.VintageAeroWriter.com

Below the Hard deck doesn't count.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

Ok OK Guys didnt intend to get every all caught up in the Prop Wash.
I want to clarafie what my ? was WHAT WAS THE FIRST (COMBAT ) Mission for the B-52 ? and I do appericate ALL the responce that I got such a the Dropping of the Big one in the fiftys as a test . I have learned that Nobody is WRONG if the person ( ME) is asking the RIGHT way in the first place . Again thankyou I now know more than I did before I posted it last night .

_________________
Always Keep Em Flying !

Glen

Lookie Capt Jim! Wham! Wham! ...............................Termights