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In September 1968 Colonel Felices deployed the 306th Bomb Wing to Southeast Asia for 179 days. The 306th became part of the 4133 Bomb Wing (Provisional) (SAC), Eighth Air Force at Anderson AFB, Guam. Eighth Air Force replaced Third Air Division in June 1968. Nine B-52Ds and 26 combat ready crews of the 367th BS were initially deployed to Anderson AFB. Fifteen KC-135s and 23 combat ready crews of the 919th ARS augmented the 4252nd Strategic Wing and Kadena AFB, Okinawa. The 306th ARS did not deploy to Arc Light, and continued to support SR-71 air refueling (Senior Crown), reflex operations involving ground alert at Goose AB, Laborador, Young Tiger operations in the Pacific and the Spanish Tanker Task Force.
Bomber air crews continued to rotate between Anderson AFB, Kadena AB and U Tapao Royal Thai Airfield allowing for the maximum number of sorties from the crew force. A major ongoing objective in September of 1968 was interdiction of the supply routes from North to South Vietnam to preempt a logistics buildup and offensive campaign by the enemy. The B-52 effort was concentrated in the areas of Ban Karai and Mu Gia Passes and Ban Laboy Ford. From mid-May through mid-September, it was estimated that over 1,800 trucks moving supplies South crossed the Ban Laboy Ford. The ford consisted of a prepared ford, a cable bridge and a cable ferry/pontoon bridge across the Nam Ta Le River. On 18 September, 18 B-52s and 12 F-105s attacked the Ban Laboy Ford destroying the pontoon bridge and damaging the cable bridge. The main ford, however, remained intact. From 20 September until 1 October, Tac Air continued to pound the ford but was unable to destroy it. On 1 October, six B-52s salvoed 108 bombs each, resulting in bomb trains of 780 feet and a direct hit on the ford. For the first time in three years the Ban Laboy Ford was closed. Repair efforts were thwarted by continuous Tac Air and Arc Light strikes.
On 18 March 1969Arc Light operations were expanded by a highly classified strike, Operation Menu, against the Viet Cong/NVA sanctuaries in Cambodia. B-52s continued to bomb targets in the Parrot's Beak and Fishhook areas of Cambodia, and in early May supported an invasion of US and ARVN ground forces.
In April 1969, the 306th Bomb Wing was re-deployed to McCoy AFB after completing its second unit deployment. Colonel Felices received the following message when the 306th returned home:
Please express to the members of your command my appreciation and thanks for their outstanding performance during your recently completed tour in SEA. Your staff, aircrews, maintenance and all support personnel have again demonstrated the true professionalism and dedication of the 306th Bomb Wing. Your efforts continue to enhance the image and prestige of the Strategic Air Command. Welcome home and to all personnel in your organization, thanks for a job well done.
General Bruce K.Holloway Commander-in-Chief Strategic Air Command
On 12 April 1969, Colonel Howard P. McClain relieved Colonel Felices as Commander, 306th Bomb Wing. The Wing resumed its primary mission of deterrence through B-52 nuclear and KC-135 air refueling ground alert. The Wing immediately started to preparate for its third unit deployment to the Western Pacific. On 24 July Lieutenant General William B. Kieffer, Eighth Air Force Commander, presented Colonel McClain the coveted "Golden Bomber Award" recognizing the 367th BS as the best bomber squadron in Eighth Air Force for the period 1 January through 30 June 1969. On 13 October the 919th ARS received the Saunders Trophy as the best KC-135 squadron in SAC. General Bruce K. Holloway, SAC Commander in Chief, presented the award at the Combat Competition Awards Ceremony at Fairchild AFB, Washington, .
In October 1969 Colonel McClain deployed the Wing to Southeast Asia for 179
days. Colonel McClain became the Commander, 4133 Bomb Wing (Provisional) (SAC). Two other
SAC units deployed to Arc Light at this time, the 28th BW, Ellsworth AFB, South
Dakota and the 7th BW, Carswell AFB, Texas. The overall commitment of Arc Light
units deploying was dependent on the monthly sortie rate flown against targets in Vietnam.
This rate had been 1,800 monthly sorties prior to 10 July 1969, but reduced to 1,600
monthly sorties at that time. Bomber Arc Light operations continued to be flown from
Anderson AFB, Guam, Kadena AB, Okinawa and U Tapao Royal Airfield Thailand. Tanker Arc
Light operations continued to be flown from Kadena AB. The 367th BS deployed 22
combat ready crews to the 4133d Bomb Wing at Anderson AFB, and the 919th ARS
deployed 21 combat ready crews to the 4252 Strategic Wing, Kadena AB. The 306th
ARS augmented the Young Tiger operation with crews assigned for up to 90 days TDY.
In April 1970 the Wing was re-deployed to McCoy AFB, completing its third unit deployment. Many air crew members who had participated in four Arc Light deployments were transferred to other SAC bases in the Summer of 1970, and replaced by crew members transitioning from other B-52 models to the B-52D. With the exception of the initial B-52 bombing missions in Vietnam, the B-52D was used exclusively for Arc Light bombing missions to this point.
On 4 May 1970, Colonel William A. Temple relieved Colonel McClain as Commander, 306th Bomb Wing. The Wing resumed its nuclear and air refueling alert force posture while continuing to train to maintain the capability to conduct long-range bombardment using assigned weapons, and the capability to engage in effective air refueling operations. The transition from the 306th BWs third Arc Light and Young Tiger unit deployment was plagued with both aircraft and aircrew availability. Alert sortie degrades became the rule rather than the exception, with three B-52s and one KC-135 on alert at McCoy in October. One additional B-52 and one KC-135 from the Wing maintained satellite alert at Albany Naval Air Station, Georgia during this period. The 306th BW continued to plan for and test its ability to disperse B-52s to Eglin AFB, Florida and KC-135s to Cecil Naval Air Station, Florida. On 1 October 1970 the 367th BS and 919th ARS were awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device for exceptionally meritorious service in support of military operations from 30 September 1969 to 4 April 1970.
SAC no longer deployed units to Arc Light, but relied on in place Arc Light forces
assigned to Eighth Air Force, Anderson AFB, Guam, supported by TDY augmentation
from all SAC units. As many as four B-52 crews from McCoy were deployed to Arc Light for
four month tours at all times. A major change in tanker deployment policy occurred in late
1970 when SAC discontinued tasking KC-135Q aircraft and crews to support Young Tiger. The
Wing’s commitments to support the Eielson and Spanish Tanker Task Forces and other
tanker operations increased. In September the 306th BW participated in the
redeployment of 96 F-100’s of the 31st Tactical Fighter Wing from Tuy Hoa,
South Vietnam, to Cannon AFB, New Mexico. This operation, Coronet Badger, involved 15
KC-135s and crews as well as maintenance personnel. Tankers and crews from the 306th
BW supported many tactical aircraft redeployments from Europe and Southeast Asia during
this period.
On 16 August 1971, Colonel Glen L. Pugmire relieved Colonel Temple as Commander, 306th
Bomb Wing. From February 1972 to October 1973 all 367th BS crewmembers were TDY
in support of Arc Light operations. They returned to McCoy periodically for rest and
relaxation then were sent back to the Southeast Asia bases to participate in the build up
toward the final large scale bombing campaigns in Vietnam, Linebacker I and Linebacker II.
During this period B-52 crew members from across SAC participated in Arc Light.
Crewmembers from other B-52 models were sent to a Replacement Training Unit (RTU) at
Castle AFB, California to cross qualify in the B-52D.
By early 1972 all Arc Light sorties were flown by the 307th Strategic Wing out of U Tapao Royal Airfield, Thailand. The 60th Bomb Squadron at Anderson AFB was assigned the primary mission of B-52D nuclear alert, and maintained proficiency to support a conventional contingency plan for B-52 operations. In February 1972, in response to the increased infiltration by the North Vietnamese into South Vietnam, Operation BULLET SHOT was initiated. B-52Ds, crews, and staff from the 7th BW, Carswell AFB, Texas deployed to Anderson AFB, Guam and were followed by the 306thBW and 96th BW, Dyess AFB, Texas. This was the start of a buildup that would eventually involve every B-52D unit. SAC B-52G aircraft, crews and staff were deployed TDY to Arc Light during this period and assigned to the 72nd Strategic Wing (Provisional), Anderson AFB. By July a force of almost 50 B-52Ds, 100 B-52Gs and over 12,000 personnel were bedded down at Anderson AFB. Every available building on Anderson was converted to quarters including old tin buildings that were being used as retail concessions and MWR activities. Tin City, as it was called, was soon joined by Tent City which was soon filled requiring personnel to be quartered at other military facilities and commercial hotels on Guam.
The Arc Light sortie rate had been reduced to 1,000 per month in July 1971, and was increased to 1,200 per month in February 1972. When BULLET SHOT was complete the 200 assigned B-52s were capable of 3,150 sorties a month. A major North Vietnamese, NVA, offensive was initiated in late March 1972 in three areas, Quang Tri City, Kontum and An Loc. The NVA infiltrated across the DMZ and Cambodia to attack South Vietnamese forces, ARVN, in an attempt to occupy these strategic areas. The NVA achieved initial success in each area. B-52s supported the ARVN with close in bombing and enemy and material moving into these areas. Heavy fighting, including B-52 support of ARVN forces, continued until June when the major NVA forces withdrew.
On 10 July 1972, Colonel John J. Murphy relieved Colonel Pugmire as Commander, 306th Bomb Wing.
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