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Casualty Info
Home Town Gibsland, LA
Last Address U-Tapao RTAFB
Casualty Date Dec 19, 1972
Cause MIA-Finding of Death
Reason Air Loss, Crash - Land
Location Vietnam, North (Vietnam)
Conflict Vietnam War
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
Vietnam War/Cease-Fire Campaign (1972-73)/Operation Linebacker II
From Month/Year
December / 1972
To Month/Year
December / 1972
Description Operation Linebacker II (18–29 December 1972) was a US Seventh Air Force and US Navy Task Force 77 aerial bombing campaign, conducted against targets in the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) during the final period of US involvement in the Vietnam War. The operation was conducted from 18–29 December 1972, leading to several of informal names such as "The December Raids" and "The Christmas Bombings".
Unlike the Operation Rolling Thunder and Operation Linebacker interdiction operations, Linebacker II, would be a "maximum effort" bombing campaign to "destroy major target complexes in the Hanoi and Haiphong areas which could only be accomplished by B-52s." It saw the largest heavy bomber strikes launched by the US Air Force since the end of World War II. Linebacker II was a modified extension of the Operation Linebacker bombings conducted from May to October, with the emphasis of the new campaign shifted to attacks by B-52 Stratofortress heavy bombers rather than smaller tactical fighter aircraft.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
December / 1972
To Month/Year
December / 1972
Last Updated: Mar 16, 2020
Personal Memories
Memories Charlie's aircraft was shot down on 19 Dec. 1972 while on a bombing mission against targets in and around Hanoi N. Vietnam by a surface to air missle. Only 3 of the 6 man crew survived and were taken prisoner. Charlie's remains were returned to US soil in Oct 2003 and interred at the family plot in Bossier City La and Arlington National Cemetary.
