“I launched two heat-seeking missiles from a distance of 2 kilometers. Big flames were visible around the second B-52 when I broke sharply to the left and descended to 2,000 meters.” Pham Tuan, former NVAF MiG-21 pilot
In reaction to North Vietnam’s “Easter Offensive” in South Vietnam in 1972, President Nixon suspended the peace negotiations on May 8 and authorized Operation Linebacker, which involved renewed bombings of North Vietnam and the aerial mining of its harbors and rivers. When North Vietnam appeared willing to discuss peace in October, Nixon ordered yet another cessation of bombing. However, North Vietnam hesitated for two months regarding the cease-fire terms. Consequently, Nixon eradicated the sanctuaries and initiated the most intense bombing of the entire conflict against Hanoi and Haiphong, known as Operation Linebacker II.
Starting on December 18, the U.S. Air Force (USAF) carried out extensive bombing of military and transportation sites using B-52 bombers and tactical fighter jets. After 11 days of heavy bombardment, the North Vietnamese ultimately agreed to resume discussions at the peace negotiations in Paris. As a result, the U.S. limited its airstrikes on North Vietnam to regions south of the 20th parallel.
On January 15, 1973, the United States declared a cessation of all mining, bombing, and other offensive actions against North Vietnam.
A total of seventy-five Airmen lost their lives while supporting the operation, with 33 fatalities occurring in the 15 B-52 Stratofortress bombers that were shot down—the main bomber used in Operation Linebacker II.
Based on Vietnamese historical records, during the night of December 27, 1972, North Vietnamese Air Force (NVNAF) pilot Pham Tuan employed MiG-21MF No.5121 to shoot down a USAF B-52D Stratofortress bomber above Moc Chau.
Pham Tuan departed from Noi Bai and shortly afterward arrived at Yen Bai, aided by the Ground Control Interception (GCI) located in Moc Chau and Son La. He remembers in István Toperczer’s book, MiG Aces of the Vietnam War:
“At 22:20 hours, I was given the order to take off from Yen Bai at a heading of 200 degrees and broke through the low, heavy cloud layer at 200-300 meters only to find F-4s in the vicinity. In the meantime, I was informed that the B-52s were approaching Moc Chau, and the GCI at Son La and Moc Chau were constantly updating me on the distance of the bombers: 60 kilometers, 50 km, and 40 km. As planned, I jettisoned the fuel tank and climbed to 7,000 meters while applying the throttle to increase the speed. The radars were plotting the route of the B-52s and also warned me of the escort F-4s following them. When I saw a yellow light in front of me, I turned left to 40 degrees, increased my speed to 1,200 km/h, and climbed to a 10,000-meter altitude where the B-52s were cruising. I radioed to the command, ‘I have the target in sight, tally target, request order for the attack.’ The response of the GCI was, ‘You have permission to fire twice and then escape quickly.’ The Americans were holding formation, keeping approximately two to three kilometers of separation. I made last-minute checks on my missiles, and when I reached the level of the third B-52, I pushed the fire button on the control stick. I launched two heat-seeking missiles from a distance of 2 kilometers. Big flames were visible around the second B-52 when I broke sharply to the left and descended to 2,000 meters before landing at Yen Bai. The attacking formation of B-52s immediately dropped their load and returned to base.”
The USAF never confirmed the loss of Capt. Mize’s B-52D bomber (56-0599) due to MiG activity, asserting instead that the bomber was hit by a SAM.
MiG Aces of the Vietnam War is published by Schiffer Publishing and is available to order here.
Photo by U.S. Air Force and Wikipedia
Additional source: National Museum of the U.S. Air Force
