Operation Rolling Thunder 1965-68
put military pressure on North Vietnam’s communist leaders and reduce their capacity to wage war against the U.S
First sustained assault on NV territory, beginning of Americanisation of war
Ground troops soon placed in V, intended to defend SV air bases
Failed- the inflicted pressure was not effective, costly with 900 US aircraft lost, created domestic opposition to war through its 90,000 victims and damage over $300 million
justified more aid from USSR and China,
threat of soviet SAM missiles given to north, had to avoid attacking their bases in north and the chinese buffer zone
limited in scope and success