Operation Linebacker II was initiated in December 1972 as a response to the stalled peace negotiations between the United States and North Vietnam. The objective of this operation was to pressure the North Vietnamese government to come back to the negotiation table, aiming to bring an end to the long and costly Vietnam War. On December 26, 1972, in one of the most significant aerial campaigns, 120 B-52 Stratofortress bombers were deployed in a concerted strike against Hanoi, the capital of North Vietnam. This included 78 bombers that launched from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam, marking the largest single combat launch in the history of the Strategic Air Command.The bombing campaign targeted various strategic sites in Hanoi, including military installations, railways, and supply centers, with the intent of disrupting North Vietnam's war-making capabilities. The operation faced substantial anti-aircraft defenses, and it was conducted despite concerns over the ethical implications of bombing densely populated urban areas. The intense bombardments lasted for 12 consecutive days, resulting in extensive damage to infrastructure and significant casualties among the local population. These actions heightened tensions and led to a temporary surge in anti-war sentiments in the United States.The impact of Operation Linebacker II was both immediate and lasting. Following the campaign, North Vietnam agreed to resume peace talks, ultimately leading to the Paris Peace Accords a few months later. The extensive use of B-52s and the level of commitment demonstrated by the U.S. military highlighted the escalating nature of the air war over Vietnam and signified the desperate measures taken by U.S. forces to achieve their political objectives before finally withdrawing from Vietnam.