Operation Rolling Thunder: Strategic Implications Of Airpower Doctrine

Download or read book Operation Rolling Thunder: Strategic Implications Of Airpower Doctrine written by Colonel John K. Ellsworth and published by Pickle Partners Publishing. This book was released on 2014-08-15 with total page 51 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This SRP examines Operation ROLLING THUNDER (1965-1968) bombing campaign in the context of military Principles of War and their applications. It analyzes accomplishment of strategic objectives and future implications for applications of airpower doctrine. It reviews the pre-Vietnam strategic situation, discussing its military, political, social, global, and doctrinal characteristics. It then analyses Operation ROLLING THUNDER by phases, focusing on its controversial aspects. This analysis concludes that Operation ROLLING THUNDER failed to accomplish most of its strategic objectives. It offers several contributing factors to account for this failure. This SRP concludes with examination of the lessons learned about airpower doctrine and of the strategic implications of Operation ROLLING THUNDER for the overall war effort in Vietnam.