The so-called Easter Offensive began in April 1972, prompting the last combat between US and North Vietnamese aviators over North Vietnam. The People's Army of Vietnam (North Vietnamese Army) cut through most Army of the Republic of Vietnam units like the proverbial hot knife through butter, demonstrating the emptiness of President Richard Nixon's 'Vietnamization' programme (designed to withdraw US forces from the war but without explicitly saying so). By early May, the US decided its best option was to bomb North Vietnam again to slow the rapid advance. This operation, named Linebacker, led Nixon to privately declare: "These bastards have never been bombed like they're going to be bombed this time!" The campaign began on May 10, 1972, with day-long alternating strikes by USAF units from Thailand and Navy aircraft flying from four aircraft carriers operating off the Tonkin Gulf. The main air force strike was against the Paul Doumer Bridge, which had been hit repeatedly in 1967 but had since been repaired. On May 10, the bridge was targeted by 16 F-4 Phantoms from the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, using first-generation 'smart' bombs. Each of the Phantoms in the lead flight carried two 2,0001b electro-optical guided bombs (EOGBs), while the second and third flights each carried two Mk.84 2,0001b laser-guided bombs (LGBs). All eight EOGBs missed the target, some by wide margins. The LGBs fared much better, scoring several direct hits that displaced one span without dropping it, rendering the bridge impassable to wheeled traffic. On May 11, four Phantoms paid a return visit and concentrated their LGBs on the damaged section, dropping it into the river.
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