Although the U.S. command refuses to confirm publicly the location of targets, U.S. B-52 bombers reportedly begin bombing North Vietnam for the first time since November 1967. The bombers struck in the vicinity of Vinh, 145 miles north of the Demilitarized Zone. It was later acknowledged publicly that target priority during these attacks had been given to SAM-2 missile sites, which had made raids over North Vietnam increasingly hazardous. U.S. officials called Hanoi's SAM-2 defenses "the most sophisticated air defenses in the history of air warfare." These defenses consisted of advanced radar and lethally accurate air defense missiles.
Also on This Day
- Lead Story
- ASPCA is founded, 1866
- American Revolution
- John Paul Jones sets out to raid British ships, 1778
- Automotive
- Hertz rental car founder born, 1879
- Civil War
- General Lee gives final address to troops, 1865
- Cold War
- U.S. table tennis team visits communist China, 1971
- Crime
- A torture chamber is uncovered by arson, 1834
- Disaster
- Atomic submarine sinks in Atlantic, 1963
- General Interest
- Zapata assassinated in Mexico, 1919
- Bataan Death March begins, 1942
- Chaplin receives Oscar, 1972
- Hollywood
- First color 3-D film opens, 1953
- Literary
- The Gift of the Magi is published, 1906
- Music
- Paul McCartney announces the breakup of the Beatles, 1970
- Old West
- Civilian Conservation Corps created, 1933
- Presidential
- FDR creates Civilian Conservation Corps, 1933
- Sports
- Tiger Woods wins fourth Masters, 2005
- Vietnam War
- Poll reveals that public approval of Vietnam policy is down, 1970
- B-52s begin bombing North Vietnam, 1972
- World War I
- Congress of Oppressed Nationalities closes in Rome, 1918
- World War II
- Croatia declares independence, 1941
Apr 10, 1972:
B-52s begin bombing North Vietnam
Fact Check We strive for accuracy and fairness. But if you see something that doesn't look right, contact us!
This Week in History, Apr 10 - Apr 16
- Apr 10, 1970
- Poll reveals that public approval of Vietnam policy is down
- Apr 10, 1972
- B-52s begin bombing North Vietnam
- Apr 11, 1963
- Troops from Hawaii sent to South Vietnam
- Apr 11, 1972
- B-52s strike North Vietnamese positions
- Apr 12, 1961
- Rostow recommends escalation of effort
- Apr 12, 1975
- U.S. Embassy in Cambodia evacuated
- Apr 13, 1966
- SCLC passes resolution about South Vietnam
- Apr 13, 1972
- North Vietnamese launch major attack on An Loc
- Apr 14, 1965
- 173rd Airborne Brigade ordered to South Vietnam
- Apr 14, 1975
- Operation "Baby Lift" concludes
- Apr 15, 1967
- Antiwar protests held in New York and San Francisco
- Apr 15, 1970
- U.S. 1st Infantry Division withdraws from Vietnam
- Apr 16, 1968
- Johnson arrives in Honolulu
- Apr 16, 1972
- United States resumes bombing of Hanoi and Haiphong
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