Until now there was no overview of the air war in Vietnam and the debate it has produced-a debate in which some historians argue that the U.S. could have won the war if it had employed more air power. Frankum fills this gap by deftly tying together the air campaigns over North Vietnam, South Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.

FLAMING DART. COMMANDO HUNT. ROLLING THUNDER.

With dramatic names right out of a Hollywood blockbuster, these strike operations conducted by the United States Air Force were part of an aerial campaign that spanned over a decade, sprawled over four countries, and involved the dropping of countless tons of bombs.

In this insightful and lively book, distinguished scholar Ronald B. Frankum, Jr. captures the full extent of the struggle. The first brief overview of the air war in Vietnam, Like Rolling Thunder examines each theatre of operation-South Vietnam, North Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia-and explores the extent to which the aerial campaigns aided U.S. tactics and strategy. Comprehensive yet concise, the work is a fresh look at this conflict's bitterly contested and hard fought air war.