Two B-52 units, the 320th Bomb Wing and the 2nd Bomb Wing, had their aircraft modified to carry conventional high explosive bombs. Each B-52 used in Vietnam could carry eighty-four 500-pound bombs internally and twenty-four 750-pound bombs on underwing racks, for a 3,000-mile nonstop range.

The first B-52 raids against a target in South Vietnam (and the first war action for the B-52) took place on June 18, 1965. The target was a Vietcong jungle sanctuary. The results were not encouraging. Two B-52s collided in flight to the target and were lost in the Pacific Ocean. The results of the bombing could not be evaluated because the area was controlled by the Vietcong.

The most effective use of the B-52 in Vietnam was for tactical support of ground troops. B-52s were called in to disrupt enemy troop concentrations and supply areas with devastating effect. From June 1965 until August 1973, when operations ceased, B-52s flew 124,532 sorties which successfully dropped their bomb loads on target. Thirty-one B-52s were lost: eighteen shot down by the enemy, and thirteen lost to operational problems.

BA MOI BA

(barmy bar)

The beer had the number 33 on the label and the Vietnamese for 33 is Ba Moi Ba.

Around the label was written *BA M'BA BGI*BEER*BIERE*BIER*BIRRA