American History Tellers - History Daily: The “Christmas Bombing” of North Vietnam

Episode Date: December 18, 2023

December 18, 1972. After peace talks break down, US President Richard Nixon announces the start of the “Christmas Bombing” of North See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's the evening of December 18, 1972, in the skies over Laos, eight years into the United States' military involvement in the Vietnam War. Captain Bob Surton, a B-52 navigator, says a silent prayer as his aircraft makes an eastbound turn toward North Vietnam. Today, U.S. President Richard Nixon ordered the start of an enormous bombing campaign. This morning, Captain Certain and over a hundred fellow aviators were briefed on tonight's mission. The plan is for three waves of B-52s to attack targets across North Vietnam, including its capital, Hanoi. When Captain Certain noticed that all three groups would fly nearly identical routes in single file,

he had his doubts. Flying the same route over and over might turn the B-52s into easy targets for North Vietnam's anti-aircraft arsenal. But it's not his job to ask questions. Tonight, he's just focused on doing everything in his power to ensure his mission succeeds. The radio comes alive with reports from B-52s that have already entered the target zone. The North Vietnamese are trying to take them down with surfaced air missiles, and this news confirms Captain Certain's fears that they're in for a rocky flight. But they've been ordered to take no evasive action until they reach their target.

So Captain Certain and his fellow crewmen turn their focus from the radio and onto the path ahead. As they approach their target, the doors of the B-52 open to prepare to drop the bomber's payload. But all at once, the radar screens and other instruments on the lower deck go black. Then comes the frantic voice of the B-52's co-pilot. They've been hit. As Captain Certain looks around, he sees flames overtaking the plane. He needs to act fast, or the B-52's payload of 27 750-pound bombs will explode and take him and the rest of the crew with them.

Quickly, he and his fellow crew members release the bombs, but not knowing where they will land, they make sure to safety them first. Then, knowing it's only a matter of time before the flames reach the B-52's giant fuel tank, the crewmen prepare to jump out. Captain Certain hears the jolting sound of his fellow crew members ejecting. He steadies himself and holds his own ejection handle. Days, Captain Surton feels himself falling through the cold winter air until his parachute opens and his body jerks upward before drifting the rest of the way down. During his first term as President of the United States,

Richard Nixon brought hundreds of thousands of American soldiers home, but he also expanded U.S. operations into Laos and Cambodia. In his re-election campaign, Nixon committed to bringing about an honorable end to the war. Last month, he was re-elected in a landslide. But finding a way out of Vietnam has proved difficult. After peace talks with North Vietnam stalled earlier this month, Nixon ordered the most intensive bombing campaign of the entire war. Officially called Operation Linebacker 2, it will come to be known as the Christmas bombing. Though Captain Certain's B-52 is unable to carry out its attack, the over 100 other bombers have

more luck. Over the course of 11 days, the onslaught will continue. The overpowering assault will eventually be remembered as the coda to the United States quagmire in Vietnam because the U.S. and North Vietnam will agree to peace soon after, but not before the campaign takes the lives of almost 28 American servicemen and more than 1,600 Vietnamese after the bombs begin dropping on December 18th, 1972. You're listening ad-free on Wondery Plus. Kill List is a true story of how I ended up in a race against time to warn those whose lives were in danger.

Follow Kill List wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to Kill List and more Exhibit C true crime shows like Morbid early and ad-free right now by joining WANDERY+. From Noiser and Airship, I'm Lindsey Graham, and this is History Daily. History is made every day. On this podcast every day, we tell the true stories of the people and events that shaped our world. Today is December 18th, 1972.

The Christmas bombing of North Vietnam. It's the evening of December 18th, 1972 in North Vietnam, the same night that Captain Bob Certain's B-52 will be struck out of the sky. Dinh Tay Van, commander of the 77th Battalion of the North Vietnamese Army, lets out a deep sigh. The American B-52s have just finished a heavy bombardment, but over the radio, Van heard that the North Vietnamese were able to shoot down one of the American's B-52s and captured three of its crew members. This news fills Van with pride. He and the other members of North Vietnam's air defense have taken a stand against one of the most powerful weapons of the world's most powerful militaries. But Van is

hardly feeling celebratory. Radar shows that another wave of B-52s are on their way. And when they arrive, they will unleash another round of hell. Van can hardly recall what life was like before the war. North Vietnam has been fighting the Americans and their allies in South Vietnam for almost as long as he can remember. Over the course of the conflict, hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese have been killed. The U.S. military unleashed its most devastating weapons against North Vietnam, and the North Vietnamese have relied mainly on guerrilla tactics to fight back. But they also have some support from the Soviet Union, including surface-to-air missiles. Vann's battalion uses these Soviet missiles as a vital weapon against the United States' superior air power, including

their B-52 bombers. As a commander in the air defense, it's Vann's job to track the B-52s and try to shoot them down. But there's a big obstacle. The B-52s are armed with technology that jams North Vietnam's tracking systems. So as the Americans carry out their second attack, Van and his crew scrutinize their radar screens. All they see is a scramble of static. Until there's a moment when the static clears up. In a matter of seconds, the screen goes back to its previous state of disorder, but Van and his crewmates realize there must be a temporary opening in the jamming, making the B-52s vulnerable. By the time the next wave of enemy aircraft arrives, Van and his crew are prepared. They wait patiently for the mere seconds when the jamming dies down,

then they fire two missiles which find their target. Over the radio, Van receives a report that a B-52 has crashed in the suburbs of Hanoi. The next day, the Vietnamese survey the destruction left behind by the U.S. bombing strike. Despite the intensity of the campaign, Van and the air defense crew take some comfort in knowing they were able to shoot down several B-52s. The following night, though, the air defense crews are unable to repeat their success. The mood of the North Vietnamese Army turns bleak. Van and the other commanders are reprimanded for their failures. And as darkness falls on December 20th, the North Vietnamese brace for a third night of American bombing. This time, they resolve to take advantage of the Americans'

predictable routine. When the first wave of B-52s arrive, the North Vietnamese Air Command battalions are ready. They wait for the moment when their radars are effective and then strike. One B-52 is brought down and then another. The second B-52 is hit just as it is about to deploy its bombs. The explosion is so bright, it can be seen from 80 miles away. A few hours later, the Vietnamese wait for the arrival of a second wave of bombers. The Americans have been flying identical routes every night, making them easy to predict. But tonight, the second round of B-52s never arrives. After the chaos unleashed by the North Vietnamese, the U.S. has called off the

night's second raid on Hanoi. But in a twist, the Americans return for their usual third strike of the night. When they do, the North Vietnamese use what they've learned to target more B-52s. And by the time the night is over, six aircraft have been shot down. In response to these terrible losses, the United States Strategic Air Command is forced to rethink their strategy. Air Command insists that the B-52s continue to fly predictable, identical routes, but they try a slight change in tactic by altering the way the bombers turn at the end of their routes. But after two more B-52s are struck down, U.S. military leaders call off the raids on Hanoi for the next several nights. They will have to devise a new strategy.

Their goal is to demonstrate overwhelming military strength. They want to pound the North Vietnamese into submission, but it has to be done without costing American lives. So back in the United States, the losses incurred in this latest offensive in a prolonged war will have consequences. Americans all across political lines have grown tired of the war. Anti-war protesters, families of American prisoners of war, and many others who have been waiting for President Nixon to sign a peace deal will all be dismayed by this new escalation. Some will take their anger into the streets and demand an immediate ceasefire. Richard Bandler revolutionized the world of self-help all thanks to an approach he developed

called neuro-linguistic programming. Even though NLP worked for some, its methods have been criticized for being dangerous in the wrong hands. Throw in Richard's dark past as a cocaine addict and murder suspect, and you can't help but wonder what his true intentions were. I'm Sachi Cole. And I'm Sarah Hagee. And we're the hosts of Scamfluencers, a weekly podcast from Wondery that takes you along the twists and turns of the most infamous scams of all time, the impact on victims, and what's left once the facade falls away. We recently dove into the story of the godfather of modern mental manipulation, Richard Bandler, whose methods inspired some of the most toxic and criminal self-help movements of the last two decades. Follow Scamfluencers on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can listen to Scamfluencers and more Exhibit C true crime shows like Morbid and Kill List early and ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus. Check out Exhibit C in the Wondery app for all your true crime listening. In November 1991, media tycoon Robert Maxwell mysteriously vanished from his luxury yacht in the Canary Islands. But it wasn't just his body that would come to the surface in the days that followed. It soon emerged that Robert's business was on the brink of collapse. And behind his facade of wealth and success was a litany of bad investments, mounting debt, and multi-million dollar fraud. Hi, I'm Lindsey Graham, the host of Wondery Show Business Movers. We tell the true stories of business leaders who risked it all, the critical moments that define their journey, and the ideas

that transform the way we live our lives. In our latest series, a young refugee fleeing the Nazis arrives in Britain determined to make something of his life. Taking the name Robert Maxwell, he builds a publishing and newspaper empire that spans the globe. But ambition eventually Thank you. free on the Amazon Music or Wondery app. It's December 21st, 1972, in New York City's Times Square, three days after President Richard Nixon's Christmas bombing campaign began. A crowd of protesters marches toward 43rd Street and Broadway. Above the blare of traffic and street vendors, they shout at the top of their lungs while holding signs and banners with phrases like, ceasefire, Nixon's a liar. Over the course of the Vietnam War, its unpopularity has only grown. Driven by the military draft and the

high death toll, the war has deeply divided Americans. But now, even initial supporters have started growing tired of what they hoped would be a much shorter conflict. Four years ago, when Nixon was inaugurated for his first term, he expected to be able to end U.S. involvement in Vietnam within a year. He tried to use bombings in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia to pressure North Vietnam into capitulation, but the war dragged on. In 1972, a potential end to the conflict finally emerged. And earlier this month, talks with North Vietnam brought new possibilities of peace. But America's commitment to South Vietnam was a sticking point.

South Vietnam's president rejected peace agreements that recognized North Vietnam's legitimacy and matters reached an impasse with negotiators walking away. Just days later, President Nixon began one of the most destructive bombing campaigns of the war. And as these bombs drop on North Vietnam, anti-war protesters have grown enraged. Tonight, they're in the streets to make their voices heard yet again. Under the bright lights of Times Square, tourists and last-minute holiday shoppers watch as the thousand-strong crowd of demonstrators steps into one of the city's busiest intersections. As the protesters block traffic, the usual sound of horns grows louder and louder. But the demonstrators stand firm,

yelling and displaying their signs for all drivers and passers-by to see. Soon, mounted policemen arrive and order the crowd to disperse, but the protesters refuse. They continue their chanting, and if anything, they only shout louder. In response, the officers ride their horses into the crowd, swinging clubs. The marchers cry out and scatter to avoid getting hurt, but there's still no stopping the demonstration. Moments after being forced from the street, the protesters regroup and move back to blocking the flow of traffic. For the next two hours, activists and police battle for control of the streets, until finally the police find a way to corral the crowd into a traffic island a block away. By the time the night's over, 15 demonstrators have been arrested. But the crowd in Times Square is not alone in opposing the Christmas bombing. That same day,

a peaceful sit-in takes place at the United Nations building, along with other rallies in cities across the country. These demonstrations are smaller than just a year ago, when the anti-war movement was at its peak, but organizers commit to pressuring Nixon to keep his promise to end the war. They announce plans to picket outside his home on Christmas and plan a large-scale protest for Nixon's inauguration day in January. And in addition to these anti-war protests, criticism comes from powerful institutions, too. The New York Times runs an editorial denouncing the Christmas bombing campaign as barbaric.

One Republican senator, an ally of the president, wonders if Nixon has lost his senses. There is backlash to the offensive overseas as well. The prime minister of Sweden even compares the assault to infamous war crimes from history. But President Nixon is undeterred. He keeps the U.S. military focused on outmaneuvering the North Vietnamese anti-aircraft attacks, which have now brought down 11 B-52s since the bombing campaign began. For several nights, bombers do not raid Hanoi while air command re-strategizes. But the day after Christmas, the U.S. resumes its attacks. This

time, the B-52s don't fly in small groups along identical routes. Instead, the U.S. swarms their targets with over 110 bombers from all directions. Within 15 minutes, the aircraft drop over 8,000 bombs, destroying thousands of homes and killing hundreds. The North Vietnamese still manage to shoot one B-52 down, but they realize they are outmatched by the Americans' new strategy. The next day, the North Vietnamese reach out to American negotiators and ask to resume peace talks. The U.S. agrees, but Nixon does not stop the bombing. B-52s continue to strike Hanoi for three more nights.

On December 27th, the North Vietnamese manage to shoot down two more B-52s continue to strike Hanoi for three more nights. On December 27th, the North Vietnamese managed to shoot down two more B-52s, but in the following two nights of bombing, the U.S. completes its raids without losing a single aircraft. Then, on December 29th, Operation Linebacker 2 will come to an end, 11 days after it began. In early January, peace talks will resume in Paris. Both sides will be eager to come to an agreement. North Vietnam will want to keep its troops in South Vietnam without further U.S. involvement. The U.S. will want to bring its prisoners of war home and end the war with

a semblance of honor. It will take weeks of negotiation, but eventually a deal will be brokered, and President Nixon will announce an end to the American involvement in Vietnam at last. caught up on a murder rap, accused of committing war crimes, look no further than Paul Bergeron. All the big guys go to Bergeron because he gets everybody off. You name it, Paul can do it. Need to launder some money? Broker a deal with a drug cartel? Take out a witness?

From Wondery, the makers of Dr. Death and Over My Dead Body, comes a new series about a lawyer who broke all the rules. Isn't it funny how witnesses disappear or how evidence doesn't show up or somebody doesn't testify correctly? In order to win at all costs. If Paul asked you to do something, it wasn't a request. It was an order. I'm your host,

Brandon James Jenkins. Follow Criminal Attorney on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to Criminal Attorney early and ad free right now by joining Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to Criminal Attorney early and ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts. Now streaming. Welcome to Buy It Now, the show where aspiring entrepreneurs get the opportunity of a lifetime. I wouldn't be chasing it if I didn't believe that the world needs this product. In each episode, the entrepreneurs get 90 seconds to pitch to an audience of potential customers.

This is match point, baby. If the audience liked the product, they pitched them in front of our panel of experts. Gwyneth Paltrow. Anthony Anderson. Tabitha Brown. Tony Hawk. Christian Seriano. These panelists are looking for entrepreneurs whose ideas best fit the criteria of the four P's.

Pitch, product, popularity, and problem-solving ability. I'm going to give you a yes. I want to see it. If our panelists like the product, it goes into the Amazon Buy It Now store. You are the embodiment of what an American entrepreneur is. Oh, my God.

Are we excited for this moment? Ah! I cannot believe it. Woo! Buy it now. Stream free on Freeview and Prime Video. It's the evening of January 23rd, 1973, at the White House in Washington, D.C., three days after President Richard Nixon was inaugurated for his second term. Inside the Oval Office, Nixon looks into the camera facing him

and waits for the light to signal that he's being broadcast. After two weeks of talks, the United States, North Vietnam, and South Vietnam have come to an agreement. Finally, after years of conflict and diplomacy, Nixon can announce an end to America's war in Vietnam. Nixon sees the signal that he's live. He looks directly into the camera and attempts to project dignity and strength. Good evening. I have asked for this radio and television time tonight for the purpose of announcing that we today have concluded an agreement to end the war and bring peace with honor in Vietnam and in Southeast Asia. Nixon goes on to explain the terms of the agreement.

A ceasefire will go into effect on January 27th. Then, within 60 days, all American prisoners of war will be returned home and the U.S. will withdraw all of its troops. Nixon expresses a commitment to the sovereignty of South Vietnam, as well as hopes for peace with North Vietnam. He assures the American people that the agreement is one that honors the sacrifice of the two and a half million Americans who have served in Vietnam. But Nixon is unable to fully deliver on the sacrifice of the two and a half million Americans who have served in Vietnam. But Nixon is unable to fully deliver on the promises of his address. After the United States withdraws from Vietnam, fighting between North and South continues. While Nixon vowed to continue supporting the South Vietnamese,

an anti-war Congress and the Watergate scandal block him from following through on this commitment. In spring of 1975, North Vietnam launches a major offensive that ends the conflict. This leaves opinions around the impact of Nixon's Christmas bombing divided. Some historians will credit the campaign with forcing the Vietnamese back to the bargaining table, but others will note that President Nixon signed a deal that was practically identical to the one negotiators had walked away from earlier. Regardless, by the time the war is over, it will have lasted two decades and taken the lives of 55,000 Americans, half of them only 17 or 18 years old. It will also have claimed millions of lives in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. And whether the bombings brought about peace or were just a

final display of military might in the face of defeat, Nixon's Christmas bombing campaign will always be remembered as the last and largest bombing of America's war in Vietnam, inflicting enormous devastation after its start on December 18, 1972. Next on History Daily, December 19th, 1675. During King Philip's War, colonial militias wage a devastating attack against the Narragansett tribe in Rhode Island. From Noiser and Airship, this is History Daily. Hosted, edited, and executive produced by me, Lindsey Graham. Audio editing by Mohamed Shazi. Sound design by Molly Bach. Music by Lindsey Graham.

This episode is written and researched by Ruben Abrams-Brosby. Executive producers are Alexandra Curry-Buckner for Airship and Pascal Hughes for Noiser. If you like American history tellers, you can binge all episodes early and ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts. Prime members can listen ad-free on Amazon Music. And before you go, tell us about yourself by filling out a short survey at wondery.com slash survey.