Vietnam War – Operation Rolling Thunder Ended……
October 31, 1968……
U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson announces that the U.S. will cease the bombing of North Vietnam, just before the Presidential election. This would bring and end to 3½ years of Operation Rolling Thunder. The campaign had cost more than 900 American aircraft, 818 pilots dead or missing, and hundreds in captivity. Nearly 120 Vietnam People’s Air Force planes were also destroyed in air combat, accidents, or by friendly fire. According to U.S. estimates, 182,000 North Vietnamese civilians had been killed and 22,000 Chinese support personnel were also casualties of the bombing campaign.