The Air War – Frustrated by lack of success on the ground, the US tried to win the war from the air. Operation Rolling Thunder that began with dropping millions of tons of High Explosive bombs on North Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh trail.

This was backed up by phosphorous and napalm bombs – the latter causing dreadful burns to thousand of innocent civilians.

When this failed to break down the jungle cover the USAF started ‘Operation Ranch Hand’ – the defoliation programme, using Agent Orange. This deadly chemical cocktail, containing dioxin, killed off millions of acres of jungle to try to weaken the VC – but left a horrendous legacy in Vietnam. The dioxin got into the food chain causing chromosome damage to humans. There were hundreds of cases of children born with deformities.

Of all aircraft, the helicopter (mainly Bell Huey) was the most useful, dropping platoons in the jungle clearings and out again. They were excellent air ambulances.

Click here to see the Vietnam Hueys