How many B 52's were lost in Vietnam?

A total of 18 B-52s were lost in combat during the Vietnam War, most as a result of surface-to-air missile (SAM) strikes over North Vietnam. Further, 12 aircraft were lost in other operational circumstances, including the two lost on July 7, 1967.

How many bombers were shot down in Vietnam?

Only one other B-52 tail gunner had scored a successful kill against a Vietnamese fighter, though more than 30 B-52s had been shot down throughout the conflict.

Has a B-52 been shot down?

Fifteen B-52s – the pride of America's fleet – were shot down, six in one day alone, and 33 airmen lost. Tragically, some believe all these deaths were largely in vain, with historians to this day debating the extent of the operation's influence on the wider conflict.

How many F 105 were lost in Vietnam?

The F-105 was one of the primary attack aircraft of the Vietnam War; over 20,000 Thunderchief sorties were flown, with 382 aircraft lost including 62 operational (non-combat) losses (out of the 833 produced).

How many US helicopters were lost in Vietnam?

According to the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association, a total of 11,846 helicopters were shot down or crashed during the war, resulting in nearly 5,000 American pilots and crew killed. Of those servicepeople, 2,382 were killed while serving aboard UH-1 Iroquois, better known as the ubiquitous “Huey.”

B-52 Shot Down During Linebacker II in Vietnam

How many Cobra helicopters were shot down in Vietnam?

A sobering statistic: Out of 1,419 Loaches built, 842 were destroyed in Vietnam, most shot down and many others succumbing to crashes resulting from low-level flying. In contrast, of the nearly 1,100 Cobras delivered to the Army, 300 were lost.

Does a B-52 have a toilet?

Given the lack of space on board the Bombers, there is no sitting toilet, and crew members must defecate into bags and dispose of the waste when they land. The Bombers are used for long-haul missions and can stay airborne for up to 40 hours.

How many MiG 21s were shot down in Vietnam?

US pilots and aircraft were clearly superior, and they had an overwhelming advantage in numbers. Even so, the small, quick-turning MiGs proved to be formidable opponents. American airmen shot down 196 MiGs—137 by the Air Force, 59 by the Navy and the Marine Corps—and sustained 83 losses.

Who shot down the most planes in Vietnam?

The North Vietnamese Air Force (VPAF) had between 60 and 75 aircraft in service at most points during the war. Yet the MiG-17s, MiG-19s, and MiG-21s shot down 67 USAF aircraft against a loss of 137 of their own, leaving the US Air Force with barely a two-to-one exchange ratio over the course of the war.

How many F 4s were lost in Vietnam?

During the Vietnam War, the USAF lost a total of 528 F-4s (of all types) to enemy action with the majority being down by anti-aircraft fire or surface-to-air missiles.

Did soldiers fall out of helicopters in Vietnam?

One of the most enduring yet baseless myths of the Vietnam War alleges that communist prisoners were thrown out of high-flying helicopters to induce others to talk.

How many POWs are still in Vietnam?

There are no known living POWs left in Vietnam from the American War. Many veterans and survivors of those terrible years have returned to the country to visit and pay respects to their peers left behind.

How many F 111 were lost in Vietnam?

Ten United States F-111s were lost during combat action in Vietnam, Libya and Iraq. Nine crews are memorialized at the "Vark” Memorial in Clovis, New Mexico.

Are there any female B-52 pilots?

Flinn was born in St. Louis, Missouri, the youngest of five children. She decided to become a pilot after attending Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama. She attended the U.S. Air Force Academy, undergraduate pilot training, and follow-on B-52 bomber training, becoming the first female B-52 pilot in the USAF.

How long can a B-52 stay in the air?

The B-52 was designed in a hotel room over one weekend (and will probably fly for 100 years) America's legendary B-52 Stratofortress first took to the skies more than 70 years ago and will likely remain in service beyond its century mark.

What was life expectancy of a helicopter gunner in Vietnam?

Over 10% of Vietnam casualties were helicopter crew members, and most of those were the door gunners that protected the helicopter, its crew, and its transports, from their exposed position. The average lifespan of a door gunner on a Huey in Vietnam was just two weeks.

How many US soldiers were bitten by snakes in Vietnam?

The United States Archives and other sources suggest that between 25 and 50 American soldiers a year were bitten by snakes during the war in Vietnam. Some 10,786 American soldiers died of non-combat causes, including 9,107 by accidents and 938 due to illness. Snake bites were not specified.

What was the average lifespan of a helicopter pilot in Vietnam?

Being a helicopter pilot in Vietnam was one of the most dangerous jobs in the military at the time. The military used 12,000 helicopters in the Vietnam War. Over 5,000, or nearly half, were destroyed. The average lifespan of a pilot in Riede's position was 30 days.

What was the bloodiest battle in Vietnam?

Hue was the single bloodiest battle of the Vietnam War.

For an entire month, U.S. Marines and soldiers, along with ARVN troops, waged battles throughout the city, often going house to house to remove Hue from North Vietnamese control. It was the first time Marines had engaged in urban combat since the Korean War.

What was the bloodiest day in the Vietnam War?

The deadliest day of the Vietnam War for the U.S. was 31 January at the start of the Tet Offensive when 246 Americans were killed in action.

What were the bloodiest years of the Vietnam War?

According to the Vietnamese government's official history, one of the deadliest years was 1972, where they lost over 100,000 dead. Estimates for PAVN deaths in the Easter Offensive alone vary from 40,000 to 130,000 in western sources.