Audio by NMUSAF PA | National Museum of the U.S. Air Force | 12.31.1969
At the beginning of the Cold War, the United States needed to deter and contain communist aggression and the U.S. Air Force needed something to keep the “bear” at bay. “Bear” was a term used to describe the Soviets. The Strategic Air Command, or SAC, was a major focus for the expanding Air Force. In order to surround a potential enemy, SAC acquired facilities around the world and by......
Audio by NMUSAF PA | National Museum of the U.S. Air Force | 12.31.1969
Just after World War II, America – and most of the world – entered a new phase in history. What came to be called the Cold War dominated the second half of the 20th century. This confrontation grew out of the ideological clash between the Western democracies - led by the United States - and communist nations - led by the Soviet Union. The threat of nuclear weapons made this period the most......
Audio by NMUSAF PA | National Museum of the U.S. Air Force | 12.31.1969
The peace agreement signed in Paris in 1973 ended U.S. combat operations in Vietnam. The cease-fire, initialed on January 23 by Henry Kissinger for the United States and Le Duc Tho for the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, formerly North Vietnam, took effect five days later. The agreement specified troop withdrawal and the return of prisoners of war. American troops were to leave South Vietnam......
Audio by NMUSAF PA | National Museum of the U.S. Air Force | 12.31.1969
Although the U.S. Air Force began sending advisory personnel to South Vietnam in 1961, and carried out combat missions in South Vietnam shortly thereafter, U.S. forces did not initially strike North Vietnam. The North Vietnamese Navy attack in the Tonkin Gulf in August 1964, however, led to retaliatory raids by U.S. Navy aircraft. The U.S. Air Force made its first strike against North Vietnam......
Audio by NMUSAF PA | National Museum of the U.S. Air Force | 12.31.1969
The confused situation caused by the civil war in Laos permitted North Vietnam to use southern Laos - known as the “Panhandle” - to move troops and supplies to South Vietnam. In 1959, the communists began traveling along the same network of paths through the Panhandle’s mountains and jungles used against the Japanese in World War II and the French afterward. In 1961, the communists......
Audio by NMUSAF PA | National Museum of the U.S. Air Force | 12.31.1969
In response to a Laotian request for assistance, the U.S. initiated covert operations to keep “neutral” Laos from falling to the communist offensive across the Plain of Jars. The U.S. ambassador in Laos assumed control of all U.S. operations in northern Laos, including the CIA-operated Air America fleet, and approved all targets struck by U.S. forces. Barrel Roll was the code name for this......
Audio by NMUSAF PA | National Museum of the U.S. Air Force | 12.31.1969
In 1954, the Geneva Peace Accords established Laos as an independent state led by the Royal Lao government. Shortly thereafter, opposing groups, including the North Vietnamese-supported communist Pathet Lao, started a civil war. The U.S. sent a small number of advisors to assist the Royal Lao government. A 1962 peace treaty signed by the U.S., Soviet Union, North Vietnam and other nations,......
Audio by NMUSAF PA | National Museum of the U.S. Air Force | 12.31.1969
During the last half of 1965, the Viet Cong launched several large-scale attacks against South Vietnamese and U.S. positions. In each instance, U.S. airpower made a significant contribution against the enemy efforts. Still, the elusive Viet Cong moved at night and attacked lines of communication at will. By 1966, U.S. strength had grown to 385,000 personnel, reinforced by troops from South......
