Barksdale museum to commemorate Linebacker II

Air Force Global Strike Command Public Affairs

11/16/2012 - BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- The 8th Air Force Museum Association will commemorate the 40th anniversary of OPERATION LINEBACKER II Dec. 7-8 with a veterans' reception and Memorial Monument Dedication at Barksdale's Global Power Museum.

The commemoration event kicks off with a welcome reception for Linebacker II veterans Dec. 7 from 5-9 p.m. at the Stripes Club on Barksdale AFB.

The dedication ceremony takes place at 10 a.m. Dec. 8 in the museum Air Park.

December 2012 marks the 40th Anniversary of this now historic event, which took place Dec. 18-29, 1972. After peace negotiations with representatives for the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) broke down Dec. 16, B-52D and B-52G aircrews operating from U-Tapao Air Base, Thailand, and Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, flew a total of 729 missions against targets in North Vietnam.

Launching large salvos of surface-to-air-missiles, the North Vietnamese struck 24 B-52s, and of those, 15 were lost. One of the B-52Ds hit by an enemy SAM is currently part of the Barksdale Global Power Museum. Following the bombing campaign, the North Vietnamese returned to the negotiating table, and a peace accord was signed Jan. 27, 1973.

Linebacker II is just one of many B-52 milestones that have been recognized during 2012, which was designated the Year of the B-52 in Air Force Global Strike Command. The Year of the B-52 marked the 60th anniversary of the first flight of the B-52 Stratofortress on April 15, 1952, as well as the 50th anniversary of the production of the last B-52 in October.

Those interested in attending the dedication ceremony may RSVP by clicking here.

For more information on the event, contact Terry Snook, museum association president, at (972) 489-0602.