B52 forces in SEA

[172ndhamm]

Snake_Man,
There were about 150 B52's based at Anderson AFB in Guam during Linebacker I & II. This was the 72ndSW (provisional), comprised of the 64thBS; 65th BS; and 486th BS. These were provisional units, apparently used only in 1972 and 73. These were all units flying the 'G' model.
The 50-60 'D' models at Guam were flown by the 60th BS and the 63rd BS(provisional) of the 43rd SW.

Two thirds were the White-Bellied G model, which retained it's SIOP paint scheme even for the night raids over Hanoi.

There were also about 60 'D'models, with their SEA cammo and black bellies flying out of U-Tapao RTAFB. These planes were apparently with 364th BS (provisional) and the 365th BS (provisional) of the 307th SW.

All the U-Tapao B-52's, and about half of the Guam B52's participated in Linebacker I and II.

[This message has been edited by 172ndhamm (edited January 25, 2001).]

[Snake Man]

Guys I'm in urgent need of B-52 squadron placement data.

I tried looking with google but got pretty much everthing except what I was looking for.

Please help, what airbases should I place Buffs and how many?

PMC TFW
Snake Man

[chance]

quote: Please help, what airbases should I place Buffs and how many?

Squadrons hamm listed look about right for Linebacker II. The SAC weenies pulled TDY's and rotated in and out so things get a bit confusing. That is also the reason for the Provisional designations.

a/c #'s at begining of LB II
UT: 54 "D's"
Andersen: 99 "G's" - "53 D's"

The BUFFs flew 729 sorties, dropped about 15,000 tones of bombs, had 1240 SAMs fired at them and lost 15 birds along with 92 crew members.

For 22 Dec LB TAC Map see.null

[172ndhamm]

Nice link to map. They have many more?

Snakeman, sorry for being away so bloody long. I've been gifted with a History of the B52 published by Crowood Books that has the data you need, give me a day to look up what you want, and I'll post it. If not 1972, then Any particular year you interested in?

Hamm.

[chance]

Some UT Units:

U.S. Navy Fleet Air Support Unit FASU, Western PAC
Satellite Communications Station
TSC-54 SATCOM Site
U.S. Strategic Communications Command
U.S. Communications Command *Changed in 1973*
6th Aerial Port Squadron (APS)
6th Aerial Port Squadron, Detachment 3 (APS)
7th Bomb Wing (BW) TDY from Carswell AFB, Texas
11th United States Air Force Hospital (HOSP)
13th Air Force Liaison
17th Air Division
28th Bomb Wing (BW)
38th Aerospace Rescue & Recovery Squadron, Detachment 12 (ARR&RS)
99th SRS
100th Organizational Maintenance Squadron (OMS) *U-2*
307th Strategic Wing (SW)
307th Bomb Wing (BW)
307th Organizational Maintenance Squadron (OMS)
307th Field Maintenance Squadron (FMS)
307th Munitions Maintenance Squadron (MMS)
307th Aerospace Ground Equipment Squadron (AGES)
307th Consolidated Maintenance Squadron (CAMS)
309th Strategic Wing (SW)
310th Strategic Wing (SW)
320th Strategic Wing (SW)
374th Tactical Airlift Wing (TAW) Tdy from CCK
435th Services Squadron (SVS)
554th Civil Engineering Squadron (CES) Red Horse
555th Civil Engineering Squadron (CES) Red Horse
556th Civil Engineering Squadron (CES) Red Horse
556th Transportation ARMY
601st Photo Flight Squadron
631st Combat Support Group (CSG)
635th Combat Support Group (CSG)
635th Combat Support Group Judge Advocate (CSG/JA)
635th AEROSG/JA *?*
635th Services Squadron (SVS)
635th Transportation Squadron (TRANS)
635th Supply Squadron (SUPS)
635th Civil Engineer Squadron (CES)
635th Munitions Maintenance Squadron (MMS)
635th Security Police Squadron (SPS)
697th (?)
1985th Communications Squadron (COMM)
2085th Communication Squadron (COMM)
3502nd Combat Support Group (CSG)
3993rd Organizational Maintenance Squadron (OMS)
4134th Strategic Wing (SW)
4252nd Avionics Maintenance Squadron (AMS)
4258th Strategic Wing (SW)
4258th Field Maintenance Squadron (FMS)
4258th Organizational Maintenance Squadron (OMS)
4258th Aerospace Ground Equipment Squadron (AGES)
4258th AEMS (?)
4258th Munitions Maintenance Squadron (MMS)
4258th Supply Squadron (SUPS)
6922nd Security Service (SS)

[172ndhamm]

B52 Squadrons and Deployments into South East Asia during the Vietnam war.

The majority (99%) of B52 missions in SEA were in South Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. Most of those missions were of a CAS nature to support troops on the ground in a manner that would normally use tactical fighters. One of the earliest instances was on 11 november, 1965, when 18 B-52s struck a NVA counterattack on the 1st Air Cav in the Ia Dang valley. This was the battle dramatized in the recent Mel Gibson movie, "We were soldiers...".

It seems to me, as near as I can decipher from the information I've found, that for most of the conflict SAC kept the same B-52's in theatre in provisional Bomber Wings, and rotated aircrews from its other B52 wings into combat on short term TDY assignments. (Usually for durations just short of the number of days necessary for aircrew to qualify for an overseas deployment.)

Here's how the figures look to me. Don't treat this as gospel. Chance, let me know if you know better:

ArcLight strikes from Anderson AFB in Guam began in 1965. Sorties peaked at about 1800 per month. They went from about 30 bombers in 1966 to almost 70 in Guam and UT by 1970.

Roughly from 1966 to 1972 SAC used the Big-Belly B52D's of the 43rd SW, (Strategic Wing) Creating the provisional 4133rd BW(P) Provisional BomberWing at Anderson AFB for this purpose.
GUAM: 1966-1973
43rd SW, 4133rd BW(P) By 1972 50 B-52Ds.
4258th SW, KC-135s (don't know how many)

U-TAPAO: 1967 to 1973
43rd SW, 4133rd BW(P) 54 B-52Ds by 1972

KADENA: 1968-1970
43rd SW, 4252 SW, 15 B-52Ds

LineBacker I and II.

In 1972 100 B-52Gs were added to Anderson AFB in Guam. Sorties peaked at 3150 per month.
GUAM:
63rd BS(p); 72nd BS(p); 64th BS(p); 65th BS(p); and the 486th BS(p)

Generally, the B-52Ds wore SEA camoflaged plumage on their uppper surfaces, and were Black on the sides and undersurfaces.

The B-52Gs wore SEA camoflage on their sides and upper surfaces, with white on the undersurfaces.


Historical Hamm.

[Snake Man]

Here is the current airbase list exported directly out of the v0.8 theater files.

Its not sorted out yet by Red Dog the Airbase Specialist

So keep that in mind, send any corrections or notes you might have. The list is here:

Vietnam Theater Airbase list :
North Vietnam: DONG HOI Airbase
China: MYITKYINA
China: NAMPONG
China: BHAMO
China: MOMEIK
China: LASHIO
China: MANDALAY
China: KENGTUNG
China: SHANTE
China: NAMSANG
China: Heho
China: TACHILEK
China: Loikaw
China: MINGALADON
China: PA AN
China: MOULMEIN
China: TAVOY
China: MERGUI
China: KAWTHAUNG
Cambodia: SIEM REAP
Cambodia: BATTAMBANG
Cambodia: KAMPONG THUM HIWAY STRIP
Cambodia: KAMPONG CHHNANG WEST
Cambodia: POCHENTONG
China: GANZHOU
China: YUANMOU
China: ZHANYI
China: Yanglin
China: YANGDANG
China: GUILIN/LI CHIA TSUN
China: BAOSHAN
China: GANHAIZI
China: SHAOGUAN
China: LULIANG
China: KUNMING/WUCHIA PA
China: HUANJIANG
China: CHENGGONG
China: LIANXIAN
China: LIUZHOU
China: GUANGNAN
China: Bose
China: PINGYUANJIE1
China: PINGYUANJIE
China: TIANYANG
China: Mengzi
China: GUIPING/MENGHSU
China: XIANGSHUI HSU
China: GUANGZHOU/BAIYUN
China: GUANGZHOU EAST
China: GUANGZHOU/SHADI
China: HUIYANG
China: SIMAO NORTH
China: NANNING-WUYU
China: NINGMING
Laos: MENGLA
China: SUIXI
China: ZHANJIANG
China: HAIKOU
Laos: Boun Neua
Laos: MUONG XAI
Laos: SAM NEUA
Thailand: BAN HOUAYXAY
Laos: LOUANGPHRABANG
Laos: BAN XIENG KEO
Laos: MUANG PHONSAVAN
Laos: XIENG KHOUANG
Laos: BAN NA THEN
Laos: PA DOUNG
Laos: LONG TIENG
Laos: PHA KHAO
Laos: BAN XON
Laos: VANG VIENG
Laos: MOUNG CHA
Laos: BAN DONE
Thailand: PAK SANE
Laos: RITAVILLE
Laos: Ban Keun
Laos: Ban Nape
Laos: GROVE JONES
Thailand: VIENTIANE
Laos: THAKHEK
Laos: Seno
Thailand: SAVANNAKHET
Laos: BAN NA KALA HIGHWAY STRIP
Laos: PAKSE
Thailand: CHIANG RAI
Thailand: Chiang Kham
Thailand: MAE HONGSON
Thailand: NAN
Thailand: CHIANG MAI INTERNATIONAL
Thailand: LAMPANG
Thailand: PHRAE
Thailand: UTTARADIT
Thailand: Loei
Laos: NAKHON PHANOM
Thailand: SAKON NAKHON
Thailand: BHUMIPHOL DAM
Thailand: Sa
Thailand: NAM PHUNG DAM NORTH
Thailand: TAK NEW
Thailand: LOM SAK
Thailand: PHITSANULOK
Thailand: MAE SOT
Thailand: NAM PHONG
Thailand: KHON KAEN
Thailand: KHON KAEN NEW
Thailand: Phu Khieo
Thailand: LOENG NOK THA
Thailand: SAPHAN NAK
Thailand: KOKE KATHIEM
Thailand: AMPHOE NANG RONG
Thailand: KAMPHAENG SAEN
Thailand: PRACHINBURI
Thailand: Watthana Nakhon
Thailand: PRACHUAP KHIRI KHAN
Thailand: SAMUI
Thailand: SURAT THANI
Thailand: NAKHON SI THAMMARAT
Thailand: PHUKET INTL
North Vietnam: Dien Bien Phu
North Vietnam: KEP
North Vietnam: NOI BAI
North Vietnam: NA SAN
North Vietnam: HA NOI GIA LAM
North Vietnam: HOA LAC
North Vietnam: HANOI/BAC MAI
North Vietnam: HAI PHONG CAT BI
North Vietnam: HAI PHONG KIEN AN
North Vietnam: Bai Thuong
North Vietnam: VINH
South Vietnam: HUE-PHU BAI
South Vietnam: MARBLE MOUNTAIN
South Vietnam: HA TAN
South Vietnam: AN HOA
South Vietnam: BALDY
South Vietnam: TAM KY
South Vietnam: Tien Phuoc
South Vietnam: Kham Duc
South Vietnam: CHU LAI
South Vietnam: CU LAO RE
South Vietnam: HA THANH
South Vietnam: MO DUC
South Vietnam: MINH LONG
South Vietnam: MANG BUK
South Vietnam: DUC PHO
South Vietnam: BA TO NEW
South Vietnam: Gia Vuc
South Vietnam: DAK SEANG
South Vietnam: DAK TO 2
South Vietnam: PLATEAU GI
South Vietnam: POLEI KLENG
South Vietnam: KONTUM
South Vietnam: VINH THANH
South Vietnam: PLEIKU AREA
South Vietnam: PLEI DJERENG
South Vietnam: AN KHE
South Vietnam: PHU CAT
South Vietnam: BA GI
South Vietnam: HENSEL
South Vietnam: PLEI DO LIM
South Vietnam: OASIS
South Vietnam: DUC CO
South Vietnam: Van Canh
South Vietnam: SONG CAU
South Vietnam: CHEO REO
South Vietnam: DONG TRE
South Vietnam: PHU TUC
South Vietnam: BUON BLECH
South Vietnam: TUY HOA NORTH
South Vietnam: PHU HIEP
South Vietnam: BAN ME THUOT CITY
South Vietnam: BAN ME THUOT EAST
South Vietnam: Duc My
South Vietnam: DUC LAP
South Vietnam: BUON TSUKL
South Vietnam: BU KRAK
South Vietnam: BU PRANG
South Vietnam: CAM RANH BAY
South Vietnam: DALAT/CAM-LY
South Vietnam: LOC NINH
South Vietnam: SONG BE
South Vietnam: DUC PHONG
South Vietnam: DALAT/LIEN KHUONG
South Vietnam: BUNARD
South Vietnam: THIEN NGON
South Vietnam: TONLE CHAM
South Vietnam: TAN PHAT
South Vietnam: BAO LOCK
South Vietnam: DONG XOAI
South Vietnam: CHI LINH
South Vietnam: TAY NINH WEST
South Vietnam: PHUOC VINH
South Vietnam: SONG MAO
South Vietnam: LAI KHE
South Vietnam: PHU LOI
South Vietnam: CU CHI
South Vietnam: DUC HUE
South Vietnam: XUAN LOC
South Vietnam: Di An
South Vietnam: SANFORD
South Vietnam: PHAN THIET
South Vietnam: BINH THANH THON
South Vietnam: DON PHUOC
South Vietnam: LONG THANH NORTH
South Vietnam: DUC HOA
South Vietnam: TAN SON NHUT
South Vietnam: MOC HOA
South Vietnam: Ham Tan
South Vietnam: CHAU DUC
South Vietnam: THUY DONG
South Vietnam: THAT SON
South Vietnam: LONG HAI
South Vietnam: HA TIEN
South Vietnam: BINH DUC
South Vietnam: DONG TAM
South Vietnam: LONG XUYEN
South Vietnam: TRUC GIANG
South Vietnam: CEMENT PLANT
South Vietnam: VINH LONG
South Vietnam: BINH THUY
South Vietnam: CAN THO
South Vietnam: KIEN GIANG
South Vietnam: TRA VINH
South Vietnam: SOC TRANG
South Vietnam: NAM CAN
South Vietnam: CONSON

**Finished**

PMC TFW
Snake Man

[brewskie]

Well, now that the theater truly encompasses the SEA region, Snakeman can add the Thai bases http://www.pmctactical.org/f4/cgi-bin/u ... 2&t=000149

Hamm, outstanding B-52 list, U-Tapao Thailand was the only Airbase in SEA for the BUFFS.

[172ndhamm]

Yup, but I included Guam and Kadena because the Buffs did fly out of both for ARC LIGHT strikes. In fact, most ARC Lights were from Guam, despite the minimum 7 hour duration.

As for the airfields list, wow. Most of the the list has to be small strips that can't handle jet traffic, right? The ones in Laos and Cambodia have to be Lima sites I'll bet. I hope we aren't going to be listing the dirt strips as emergency landing areas for our mighty phantoms, are we? Here's a pic of Lima site 20, west of the Plain de Jars. Note it's a dirt strip. Some of the Lima sites were paved but...


These pics and others are at http://skyraider.org

[chance]

quickies:

Vietnam Theater Airbase list :

Thailand: PAK SANE - should read Laos
Thailand: VIENTIANE - should read Laos
Thailand: SAVANNAKHET - should read Laos
Laos: NAKHON PHANOM - Should read

None of the "L" or "LS" sites were suitable as emergency recovery strips for fighter a/c, first stop coming back from the north was NKP.

Common misconception that LS meant Landing Site. "Lima" as phonetic for L stands for Laos. L-x signifies a paved or improved runway, while LS-x designated an unimproved strip (generally). While Lima #'s were commonly used in Laos similar designators for Vietnam (Victor Sites), Thailand (Tango) and Cambodia (Charlie) were only used, for the most part, by Air America.

Examples: NKP, T-55, Channnel 89; DaNang V-3, Channel 37; Pochentong, C-01, Channel 85.