Portal:United States Air Force/article/2007May

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Operation Linebacker II was a U.S. Air Force Seventh Air Force and U.S. Navy Task Force 77 maximum effort aerial bombardment campaign, conducted against targets in the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV or North Vietnam) during the final period of the American commitment to the Vietnam War. The operation, which contrasted with Operation Rolling Thunder's (1965-1968) graduated bombing, was conducted from 18 December to 29 December 1972, and saw the largest heavy bomber strikes launched by the U.S. Air Force since the end of the Second World War. Linebacker II was a resumption of the Operation Linebacker bombings conducted from May to October, with the emphasis of the new campaign shifted to attacks by B-52 Stratofortress bombers rather than tactical fighter aircraft.