Operation Linebacker I 1972, the First Hi-Tech War by M.L.Michel III: NEW Osprey Air Campaign Series (Copy)

Condition: ONS, NEW, Fine, Mint

O.N.S.= OLD NEW STOCK and refers to an item which, for whatever reasons, has not been offered for sale from the date of publication to the date of this listing. It is NEW but old stock and should be in New condition. Any deviation from the new condition will be detailed separately.

Arguably the first 'modern' air campaign, this is the story of Linebacker I which brought laser-guided bombs, electronic warfare and anti-radar missiles to bear on North Vietnam's invading army.

At Easter 1972, North Vietnam invaded the South, and there were almost no US ground troops left to stop it. But air power reinforcements could be rushed to the theater. Operation Linebacker's objective was to destroy the invading forces from the air and cut North Vietnam's supply routes – and luckily in 1972, American air power was beginning a revolution in both technology and tactics.

Most crucial was the introduction of the first effective laser-guided bombs, but the campaign also involved the fearsome AC-130 gunship and saw the debut of helicopter-mounted TOW missiles. Thanks to the new Top Gun fighter school, US naval aviators now also had a real advantage over the MiGs.

This is the fascinating story of arguably the world's first “modern” air campaign. It explains how this complex operation – involving tactical aircraft, strategic bombers, close air support and airlift – defeated the invasion. It also explains the shortcomings of the campaign, the contrasting approaches of the USAF and Navy, and the impact that Linebacker had on modern air warfare.