"Dien Bien Phu in the Air" (Operation Linebacker II)
When: December 18–29, 1972 (12 days and nights).
Who: North Vietnam versus the United States.
What Happened: The U.S. launched a massive air campaign, using B-52 strategic bombers to heavily bomb Hanoi and Haiphong to force North Vietnam into signing the Paris Peace Accords.
The Outcome: The Vietnamese air defense forces fought back fiercely, shooting down numerous advanced aircraft, including 34 B-52s.
Significance: The heavy losses forced the U.S. to halt the bombings, return to the negotiating table, and sign the Paris Peace Accords on January 27, 1973, ending direct U.S. military involvement in the war