COLLECTIONS: 1966 Vietnam War "TYPE ONE" Operation Rolling Thunder U.S. 2nd Air Division Aircraft Aerial Mission Photographs
This extremely rare and museum-grade Vietnam War artifact collection comprises original TYPE ONE “Operation Rolling Thunder” aerial mission photographs taken during the gradual and sustained aerial bombardment campaign conducted by the United States (U.S.) 2nd Air Division (later Seventh Air Force), U.S. Navy, and Republic of Vietnam Air Force (RVNAF) against the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam), China and North Korea from 2 March 1965 until 2 November 1968, during the Vietnam War. These TYPE ONE mission photographs were developed directly from the negative image taken from the U.S. aircraft aerial camera during the mission. These Operation Rolling Thunder photographs were developed immediately after the aircraft returned to their operating airfields where the photographs were developed and used for multiple purposes. These images were first used to analyze the post-damage-assessment success of the bombing mission as well as to update any maps and counter-intelligence of the area for future missions both on land and in the air.
Operation Rolling Thunder (March 1965 through November 1968) it is estimated that the U.S. lost 922 aircraft and 1,054 killed in action, wounded, or captured. Losses for North Vietnam as estimated to be 20,000 soldiers killed, 120 aircraft destroyed, and 14 North Korean pilots killed.
*These TYPE ONE Vietnam War Operation Rolling Thunder aerial mission photographs are extremely rare and seldom surface in the public market. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to own a rare piece of U.S. Air Force Vietnam War history from the most famous air offensive by the U.S. during the Vietnam War.
