Operation Linebacker II: An Analysis in Operational Design

Linebacker 2, an eleven day air operation during the Vietnam War whose objective was to force the government of Hanoi back to the negotiations table. Although Linebacker 2 is universally considered to have been a successful operation, this case study highlights the problems associated when operational planners failed to adequately apply proper operational design. The paper's emphasis is on the planning and execution of the bombing operation. Chapter 1 provides an historical sequence of events leading up to the commencement of Linebacker 2 beginning with the failure of the Paris peace talks. Chapter Two discusses preparations and plans with a in depth analysis of the various aspects of operational design. Chapter 3 details the execution of the operation. Lastly, Chapter 4 provides lessons learned from the conflict which remain even more applicable today.