The Tale of Two Bridges, and The Battle for the Skies over North Vietnam
Washington, DC: U. S. Government Printing Office, 1976. Presumed First Edition, First printing. Trade paperback. 24 cm. xi, [1], 193, [1] pages. Wraps. Illustrations. Maps. Glossary. Index. Some wear and soiling to covers. This is USAF Southeast Asia Monograph Services, Volume I, Monographs 1 and 2. Among the first monograph authors are: Colonel Delbert Corum and Lt.-Cols. Glenn Griffith, James Jones, Keith Krause, Ronald Lord, Robert Martin, Malcom Winter and David Young. The authors of the second monograph are Majors Paul Burbage, Eli Gateff, James Hoffman, Blaine Lotz, Addison Rawlins, Barry Swarts, Ron Walker and Rudolph Zuberbuhler. Among the activities discussed are: F-105 Thunderchief, F-4 Phantom, Wild Weasel, Aerial Reconnaissance, Air Refueling, Thanh Hoa Bridge, Interdiction, Walleye Glide Bomb, Paul Doumer Bridge, Operation Freedom Dawn, Operation Rolling Thunder, Operation Linebacker, Air Superiority, Air Power, and Combined Air Defenses. Many documents, articles, and stories have been written about U.S. Air Force operations in Southeast Asia (SEA). However, given the critical in-depth coverage commensurate with our level of involvement. This volume, the first in a USAF Southeast Asia Monograph series, is an attempt to document the story of AIR-POWER -- and the people behind it -- in our nation's longest armed conflict. For eight years American airman fought with a multitude of missions, evolving weaponry, ever changing tactics and maybe most notable --constantly changing constraints. In this volume, authors from the Air War College and Air Command and Staff College who actually fought there have combined for two excellent monographs of the people and weapons in SEA. The authors’ breadth of combat experience provides a penetrating account of airpower brought to bear --with all the emotion, frustrations, bravery and confusion of real life. For the general reader, these stories tell of airpower in human terms and should give some understanding of the spirit, courage, and professionalism of our U.S. airmen. To the student of airpower interested in improving the effectiveness of our Air Force, the monographs make an excellent case study of tactical air doctrine. The entire series is dedicated to ALL who served.
This is a story of war. A parable of men and machines, of friend and foe. A drama of moves and countermoves, played out in the skies over North Vietnam and having for its backdrop two bridges — the majestic Paul Doumer and the infamous bridge at Thanh Hoa.
These bridges know well the script of war. The silent contrails high in the blue, the growing dialogue of anti-aircraft fire, the scream of engines, the thunder of bombs, all building to a crescendo. Then subsiding, only to start again in another act on another day. An old play that reopens regularly with new actors — and therein lies our tale. The curtain went up at the Thanh Hoa Bridge in April 1965, and, as the Vietnam drama unfolded, many new players made their acting debut. Fighters named “Thunderchief” and “Phantom,” missiles known as SAMs and SHRIKEs, bombs called “Walleye” and “Smart,” and the credits go on. Wild Weasel, Jolly Green, Young Tiger, and MIG Cap — all starred in our long running play as did such names as Carolina Moon and Flaming Dart. Names that flashed brightly across the stage and then were gone. Actors in a historical play that has now passed into history — leaving us to tell THE TALE OF TWO BRIDGES. Condition: Good.
Keywords: Vietnam War, MiG's, Surface to Air, Missiles, Wild Weasel, Aviation, F-105 Thunderchief, F-4 Phantom, Aerial Reconnaissance, Air Refueling, Thanh Hoa Bridge, Interdiction, Walleye Glide Bomb, Paul Doumer Bridge, Operation Freedom Dawn, Operation Rol
[Book #27285]
Price: $45.00