Bomber aircraft played a pivotal role in the Vietnam War, despite the controversy of their use at the time. Bombing raids in densely forested areas and North Vietnamese cities led to civilian casualties and immense destruction. However, these raids were effective in damaging military infrastructure within the region.
Apple TV+ just announced that it will produce a docuseries about the Vietnam War entitled Vietnam: The War That Changed America. The series will explore the Vietnam War and the indelible impact it left on the United States. One aspect of this project will focus on the use of American bombers throughout the conflict. Here, 24/7 Wall St. is taking a closer look at the American bombers that were used in the Vietnam War.
To identify the American bomber aircraft of the Vietnam War, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed a catalog of American aircraft from Military Factory, an online database of arms, vehicles, and aircraft used in militaries worldwide. We ordered these bombers chronologically and included supplemental information from the Military Factory regarding the type of aircraft, year introduced, manufacturer, top speed, and armament.
One of the most iconic of these bombers was the B-52 Stratofortress. This behemoth of a jet could carry massive amounts of conventional bombs and cluster bombs, which were aimed at destroying North Vietnamese infrastructure. The B-52s were used in Operation Rolling Thunder, which was a bombardment campaign that lasted multiple years.
There were many other iconic bombers that had a hand in the war as well. And although their legacy may be controversial, there is still much to learn from this conflict at large.
Here is a look at the American bombers that fought the Vietnam War:
Why Are We Covering This?
The Vietnam War was one of the first modern military conflicts to employ helicopters and fighter jets. As such, the tactics and strategies used throughout the conflict would be studied and refined for years to come. Understanding this facet of the conflict gives context to the overall conflict and provides insight into the evolution of military doctrine.
Here is a look at the American bombers that fought in the Vietnam War.
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