Rolling Thunder

Rolling Thunder was a sustained aerial bombing campaign by the United States against North Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Initiated in February 1965, it was intended to boost South Vietnamese morale, pressure Hanoi to negotiate, and degrade its ability to supply forces in the South. The campaign followed a graduated approach, with targets and attack frequency increasing over time, but was closely managed by the White House to avoid provoking China or the Soviet Union. Despite extensive bombing, Rolling Thunder had little direct impact on the ground war in South Vietnam, where communist forces continued to gain ground. The strategy ultimately failed to cripple North Vietnam's war-making capabilities, as much of its war effort was supplied by China and the Soviet Union.12