On 11 April 1966, the USAF started using B-52D (more than likely) Stratofortresses as God and Boeing intended, striking targets in North Vietnam. Specifically hit was the Mu Gia Pass, which constituted an entry point for the infamous Ho Chi Minh Trail. I think they would have been drawn from the 28th Bomb Wing, if my sources are right. These strikes were ordered by General William C. Westmoreland, with their targets being in the southernmost area of North Vietnam.
A number of B-52D units had been modified to the BIG BELLY standard, which gave them the ability to carry nearly 60,000 pounds of ordnance to targets in Southeast Asia. The raids against the Mu Gia Pass took place on 11 and 26 April, for a total of 44 sorties. Sorry, Charlie; death from above, baby!
I added A Collection of Thoughts to the blogroll a while back, because she's a gal who writes about AC-47s and B-52s. Any gal who's at home with a minigun-toting cargo plane or the most excellent conventional & nuclear bomber in all of history can't be bad, now can she?
Tip of the Wisconsin hat to Miss Jennifer Martinez.
Posted by Country Pundit at April 12, 2004 11:32 PM