SUMMER 2019 - Volume 66, Number 2 WWW.AFHISTORY.ORG know the past .....Shape the Future The Air Force Historical Foundation Founded on May 27, 1953 by Gen Carl A. “Tooey” Spaatz MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS and other air power pioneers, the Air Force Historical All members receive our exciting and informative Foundation (AFHF) is a nonprofi t tax exempt organization. Air Power History Journal, either electronically or It is dedicated to the preservation, perpetuation and on paper, covering: all aspects of aerospace history appropriate publication of the history and traditions of American aviation, with emphasis on the U.S. Air Force, its • Chronicles the great campaigns and predecessor organizations, and the men and women whose the great leaders lives and dreams were devoted to fl ight. The Foundation • Eyewitness accounts and historical articles serves all components of the United States Air Force— Active, Reserve and Air National Guard. • In depth resources to museums and activities, to keep members connected to the latest and AFHF strives to make available to the public and greatest events. today’s government planners and decision makers information that is relevant and informative about Preserve the legacy, stay connected: all aspects of air and space power. By doing so, the • Membership helps preserve the legacy of current Foundation hopes to assure the nation profi ts from past and future US air force personnel. experiences as it helps keep the U.S. Air Force the most modern and effective military force in the world. • Provides reliable and accurate accounts of historical events. The Foundation’s four primary activities include a quarterly journal Air Power History, a book program, a • Establish connections between generations. biennial symposium, and an awards program. Summer 2019 -Volume 66, Number 2 WWW.AFHISTORY.ORG know the past .....Shape the Future Features The Air War against North Vietnam: the Thanh Hoa Railroad and Highway Bridge (Part 3) Theo van Geffen 5 Comparing and Contrasting USAFCENT’s Air Advising Mission in Iraq and Afghanistan, 2005-2015 Forrest L. Marion 15 U.S. Mini-air War Against North Vietnam: Protective Reaction Strikes, 1968-1972 Theo van Geffen 31 Terror Night over Vinh Kenneth S. Katta 45 Book Reviews Airlines at War: British Civil Aviation 1939-1944 By British Air Ministry . Review by Frank Willingham 50 The Secret History of RDX: The Super-Explosive that Helped Win World War II By Colin F. Baxter Review by Steven D. Ellis 50 A Tale of Ten Spitfires: The Combat Histories of Spitfire VCs AR501 to AR510 By Andrew Critchell Review by Gary Connor 51 Junkers Ju 87 STUKA By Martin Derry & Neil Robinson Review by Tony Kambic 51 Eagles Over Husky: The Allied Air Forces in the Sicilian Campaign, 14 May to 17 August 1943 By Alexander Fitzgerald-Black Review by Frank Willingham 52 Knights of the Battle of Britain: Luftwaffe Aircrew Awarded the Knight’s Cross in 1940 By Chris Goss Review by Gary Connor 4553 One Nation, Under Drones: Legality, Morality, and Utility of Unmanned Combat Systems By John E. Jackson Review by Golda Eldridge 53 Aerial Warfare: The Battle for the Skies By Frank Ledwidge Review by Frank Van Haaste 54 Open Cockpit By Arthur Gould Lee Review by Paul Jacobs 55 Forging a Total Force: The Evolution of the Guard and Reserve By Forrest L. Marion & Jon T. Hoffman Review by Steven Agoratus 55 Focke Wulf Jet Fighters By Justo Miranda . Review by Arthur B. Chausmer 56 Soviet Strategic Bombers: The Hammer in the Hammer and Sickle By Jason Nicholas Moore Review by Jeffrey P. Joyce 57 The Chaco Air War 1932-35 By Antonio Sapienza Review by Frank Van Haaste 57 Reconnaissance Planes Since 1945 By Frank Schwede Review by Golda Eldridge 58 Luftwaffe Eagle: A WWII German Airman’s Story By Erich Sommer & J. Richard Smith, ed. Review by Gary Connor 58 All the Factors of Victory: Adm. Joseph Mason Reeves and the Origins of Carrier Airpower By Thomas Wildenberg Review by Frank Willingham 59 Journey: Memoirs of an Air Force Chief of Staff By Norton A. “Norty” Schwartz Review by Scott A. Willey 60 Departments President’s Message 4 In Memoriam—Henry S. Bausum 61 Upcoming Events 62 New History Mystery 64 COVER: F–105G Wild Weasels line up at Korat in 1972. The Air Force Historical Foundation The Journal of the Air Force Historical Foundation Summer 2019 Volume 66 Number 2 Editor Richard I. Wolf Editor Emeritus Jacob Neufeld Air Force Historical Foundation Book Review Editor P.O. Box 790 Scott A. Willey Clinton, MD 20735-0790 (301) 736-1959 Advertising Jim Vertenten E-mail: [email protected] On the Web at http://www.afhistory.org Circulation Angela J. Bear Board of Directors Patron Members Lt Gen Christopher D. Miller, USAF (Ret.) Col Gerald F. Christeson, USAF (Ret.) Chairman Maj Gen Charles J. Dunlap, Jr., USAF Lt Gen Nicholas B. Kehoe, USAF (Ret.) Dr. John Farquhar Air Power History (ISSN 1044-016X) is pro- First Vice Chairman Lt Col Raymond Fredette, USAF (Ret.) duced for Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter by Lt Gen Charles R. Heflebower, USAF (Ret.) Dr. Rebecca Grant the Air Force Historical Foun dation. Second Vice Chairman Dr. Jerome V. Martin Prospective contributors should consult the Dr. Rebecca Grant, Lt Gen George D. Miller, USAF (Ret.) Brig Gen William L. Shields, USAF (Ret) GUIDELINES FOR CONTRIBUTORS at Secretary the back of this journal. Unsolicited manu- Brig Gen Wade R. Smith Col Thomas A. Owens, USAF (Ret.) scripts will be returned only on specific Treasurer President’s Circle request. The Editor cannot accept responsibil- Douglas Birkey ity for any damage to or loss of the manu- Col Scott C. Bishop, USAF (Ret.) script. The Editor reserves the right to edit Col Wray Johnson, USAF (Ret.) Col Christopher J. Brunner, USAF (Ret) manuscripts and letters. Lt Col (Dr.) Dik Daso, USAF (Ret.) Lt Col Kenneth W. Sublett, USAF (Ret.) Gen Ralph E. Eberhart, USAF (Ret.) Address LETTERS and manuscripts to: Lt Gen Robert J. Elder, USAF (Ret.) Benefactor Lt Col Steven Gress, Jr., USAF (Ret.) Air Power History Maj Gen Charles W. Lyon, USAF (Ret.) Mr. Darrell Dvorak 3043 Sunny Ridge Drive Col Stephen E. Newbold, USAF (Ret.) Lt Gen Charles R. Heflebower, USAF (Ret) Odenton, MD 21113 e-mail: [email protected] MSgt Keith A. Reed, USAF (Ret.) Lt Gen Nicholas B. Kehoe, USAF (Ret) Maj Gen Roger Teague, USAF (Ret.) DONATIONS Correspondence regarding missed issues or changes of address should be addressed to Emeritus the CIRCULATION OFFICE: Maj Gen Dale W. Meyerrose, USAF (Ret.) Col Eugene Deatrick, USAF (Ret.) Chairman Lt Gen Charles R. Heflebower, USAF (Ret.) Air Power History Lt Gen Nicholas B. Kehoe, USAF (Ret.) P.O. Box 790 John Kreis Clinton, MD 20735-0790 Editor, Air Power History Gen James P. McCarthy, USAF (Ret) (301) 736-1959 Richard I. Wolf Maj Gen Dale W. Meyerrose, USAF (Ret.) e-mail: [email protected] Lt Gen Christopher Miller, USAF (Ret.) ADVERTISING Editor Emeritus, Air Power History Col Stephen E. Newbold, USAF (Ret.) Jacob Neufeld Gen Lloyd W. Newton, USAF (Ret.) Robert and Kim Nimmons Jim Vertenten Curt Weil P.O. Box 790 Clinton, MD 20735-0790 Staff (301) 736-1959 Lt Col James A. Vertenten, USAF (Ret.) CORPORATE SPONSORS e-mail: [email protected] Secretary to the Board and Executive Director Boeing Copyright © 2019 by the Air Force Historical Mrs. Angela J. Bear, Office Manager General Electric Aviation Foundation. All rights reserved. Lockheed Martin Periodicals postage paid at Clinton, MD L3 Technologies 20735 and additional mailing offices. Northrop Grumman Pratt & Whitney Postmaster: Please send change of address to the Circulation Office. 2 AIR POWER History / SUMMER 2019 From the Editor Once again, we are very much concentrated on the conflict in Southeast Asia. Three of our offerings deal with that conflict, and our fourth has a twenty-first century focus. First up is part 3 of Theo van Geffen’s series on the many attempts to destroy the Thanh Hoa Bridge. This time he covers the latter half of the 1960s into the next decade, and talks about the bombing halt, technological developments, and U.S. Navy efforts during the time period. He also offers a lovely collection of photos. Our second article is by a repeat contributor also, Forrest Marion, who offers compar- isons and contrasts between the air advising missions in Iraq and in Afghanistan. It’s a much more current subject, and quite interesting. Our third article is another offering by Theo van Geffen, as he discusses the protective reaction strikes of the early 1970s that culminated in the dismissal of Gen. John Lavelle, a seeming injustice that is still controversial and also under review. Our final article is by a first time contributor, Kenneth Katta, a crew member on a B–52 that flew in Operation Linebacker. He offers the first-person account of a true participant, and Distinguished Flying Cross recipient. As usual, we have a great crop of seventeen book reviews, including a review of a very recent autobiography by retired USAF Chief of Staff General Norton Schwartz. At the back of the reviews, we offer an In Memoriam to a former editor of Air Power History, Henry Bausum, who passed away in January at the age of nearly 94. His stewardship bridged the gap between Robin Higham and the beginning of the current editors in 1993. He was a fine man of an older generation. Don’t miss the President’s Message on page 4 and General Miller’s discussion of the state of the Air Force Historical Foundation. This is an outgrowth of the most recent Annual Meeting of the Board of Trustees in May 2019.