<text id=00he2108><title>The BUFFs Bomb Hanoi and Haiphong</title>
<history>US Air Force: Events History</history>
<article><hdr>The BUFFs Bomb Hanoi and Haiphong</hdr><body>
<p>Linebacker II began for the big B-52Y at Andersen AFB, Guam, at 2:51 p.m. local time on 18 December 1972. The first eight-jet bomber began its takeoff run down the 2-mile (3.2-km) runway, black smoke plumes streaming from its nacelles. It gained speed, lifted free and headed for Hanoi. Behind it, bomber after bomber moved to the runway, ran up to full power and began its cumbersome acceleration to gain flying speed.
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<p>The 'BUFF' force was a mixed group of B-52D and G models; the former had been modified in the 'Big Belly' program to carry 108 of the 500-lb bombs. The G models generally were armed with 27 of the 750-lb bombs
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<p>The crews were given three specific rules of engagement, pertinent only to the B-52s. First, they were to try to avoid the defenses wherever possible; they were known to be formidable. Second, if they had to penetrate defended areas, and it was a foregone conclusion that their targets would surely be defended, they were to try to confuse, spoof, and degrade those defenses with the onboard electronic countermeasures equipment that the big bombers carried in quantity; in that task, they would be aided by other USAF airplanes with ECM equipment, and by a number of Navy Grumman EA-6B Intruders that had enormous and versatile ECM capabilities. Third, if the defenses weren't fooled, they were to strike them and destroy them.
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<p>As the planes from Andersen headed for Vietnam, other B-52s based at U-Tapao Royal Thai AFB were being readied for the mission. They took off after a planned interval to join the Andersen force on the trip northward. Tankers dotted the approach routes to the targets, laying well off to refuel the B-52s, and moving in closer to handle the myriad of tactical aircraft that would be headed for Hanoi.
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<p>The two forces joined and formed three waves of bombers, Andersen's force in the first and third, sandwiching the U-Tapao B-52s. They came in over Hanoi and dropped their bombs on targets.
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<p>Salvos of SAMs blasted up to meet them. One returning pilot was asked how many missiles he had spotted. "Hundreds," he said. Another pilot vividly described the way the missiles looked. "Hold your hand at arm's length, fingers bunched and pointed toward your eyes," he said "Now imagine that your fingertips are little points of light, and each one of those lights is a rocket motor on a missile. Now move your hand toward your face, fast, and spread your fingers. Those damned SAMs look like that going by."
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<p>Another pilot said that he could have read by the light of the rocket engine as the missile sped past. His co-pilot, he reported, counted 22 missiles on his side alone, and he himself saw 18.
