Christmas 1972- B52 crews mutiny

[Melvin Loh]

I recall reading that during the 1972 Christmas bombing campaign against Hanoi, the morale of the B52 crews sank to an alltime low due to a perception that they were being asked to pointlessly risk their lives, with some crewmen totally refusing to fly missions. WI this disillusionment with the war among B52 crews had been more chronic and widespread ? How would overall US military morale have suffered to an even greater degree than OTL ? Or, alternatively, what about if such a breakdown of USAF aircrew morale had happened earlier in the VW, such as in 1968/69 after the Tet Offensive, and affected not just B52 men in SAC but also the crews of other major AF combat wings, esp the F4s of the TFWs ? How plausible was an earlier chronic fracturing of USAF morale, as had happened also among the other branches of the armed forces (including in the Marines and among elite Army outfits like the 1st Air Cav) during the course of Op ROLLING THUNDER ?

 

[Mike Collins]

There's a Good book out on this titled The Eleven Days of Christmas . No crews refused to sortie. However, they did strongly protest being forced to use outmoded tactics that guaranteed high attrition. The "rebellion" was narrowed down to three incidents. One tail gunner refused to fly, the General in charge of the crews flying out of Thailand sent a formal letter up the chain of command criticizing the flying in straight line formation into Hanoi (which resulted in a change in tactics and the Generals career ending), and one B52 crew intentionally bombed the bejeesus out of Gia Lam Airport which was on the "dont touch" list.

But what if there was a big mutiny? Well, the crews would go to jail and armed services morale would be even worse. However, I find the notion of B52 crews mutinying unlikely given they included very high ranking career officers. Also, B52 missions into Vietnam were not dangerous before Linebacker II. I just dont see the incentive.