The bombings were part of the U.S. Secret War in Laos to support the Royal Lao Government against the Pathet Lao and to interdict traffic along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. The bombings destroyed many villages and displaced hundreds of thousands of Lao civilians during the nine-year period.
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Why did the US drop so many bombs on Laos?
American bombers dropped more than two million tons of bombs over the country as part of a covert attempt to wrest power from communist forces. American bombers dropped more than two million tons of bombs over the country as part of a covert attempt to wrest power from communist forces.
What is the most bombed country ever?
Laos
Between 1964 and 1973, Laos became, per capita, the most heavily bombed country in the world, with over two million tonnes of bombs dropped during the Vietnam War — a tonne for each person living in Laos at the time.
How many times did the US bomb Laos?
From 1964 to 1973, as part of the Secret War operation conducted during the Vietnam War, the US military dropped 260 million cluster bombs – about 2.5 million tons of munitions – on Laos over the course of 580,000 bombing missions.
When did the US begin bombing Laos?
Operation Barrel Roll | |
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Date 14 December 1964 – 29 March 1973 Location Northeastern Laos Result Strategic US failure Failure to interdict the Ho Chi Minh Trail | |
Belligerents | |
United States Republic of Vietnam Thailand Kingdom of Laos | Democratic Republic of Vietnam Pathet Lao |
Commanders and leaders |
What was the most bombed place in ww2?
Malta
Making history in 1942, Malta became the most bombed place on earth. Ever. In total, 15,000 tonnes of bombs were dropped on this archipelago.
Why did we bomb Vietnam?
The four objectives of the operation (which evolved over time) were to boost the sagging morale of the Saigon regime in the Republic of Vietnam; to persuade North Vietnam to cease its support for the communist insurgency in South Vietnam without sending ground forces into communist North Vietnam; to destroy North
Why was the secret war in Laos a secret?
The existence of the conflict in Laos was sometimes reported in the U.S., and described in press reports as the CIA’s “Secret War in Laos” because details were largely unavailable due to official government denials that the war existed.
What is Laos known for?
Laos: a landlocked country in Southeast Asia with some of the shortest people in the world! Laos is also famous for having the tallest treehouse in the world, the oldest human fossil in Southeast Asia, and is considered one of the fastest-growing economies in all of Asia.
How old is Laos?
Laos was founded in the 14th century with the kingdom of Lan Xang, which means “Land of a Million Elephants.” The kingdom ruled until the 18th century, after which Laos came under Siamese (Thai) rule. After a period of French rule, Laos gained its independence in 1949.
Is Vietnam still communist?
The Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a one-party state. A new state constitution was approved in April 1992, replacing the 1975 version. The central role of the Communist Party was reasserted in all organs of government, politics and society.
Is Lao and Laotian the same language?
Lao language, also called Laotian, one of the Tai languages of Southeast Asia, and the official language of Laos. Lao occurs in various dialects, which differ among themselves at least as much as Lao as a group differs from the Tai dialects of northeastern Thailand.
Where is General Vang Pao buried?
A committee unanimously voted against a request to bury Vang Pao at Arlington National Cemetery; he was subsequently buried near Los Angeles at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Glendale, California.
Is Lao a communist country?
The Lao People’s Democratic Republic is one of the world’s few socialist states openly endorsing communism. The only legal political party is the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP).
What did the CIA do in Laos?
The CIA was responsible for directing natives of Laos to fight the North Vietnamese. Although such efforts were ended at the signing the Paris Peace Accords, the CIA believed it a success as it managed to fight the enemy to a standstill and combat the communist threat. They saw it as a victory and as an accomplishment.
How many bombs were dropped in Vietnam compared to ww2?
By the time the United States ended its Southeast Asian bombing campaigns, the total tonnage of ordnance dropped approximately tripled the totals for World War II. The Indochinese bombings amounted to 7,662,000 tons of explosives, compared to 2,150,000 tons in the world conflict.
Who nuked Japan?
It killed about 80,000 people when it blew up. When the Japanese didn’t surrender after the “Little Boy” bomb destroyed Hiroshima, President Truman ordered that a second atomic bomb, called “Fat Man”, be dropped on another city in Japan.
How many Maltese died in WWII?
Malta
Full Name | Dominion of Malta |
---|---|
Possessing Power | United Kingdom |
Entry into WW2 | 3 Sep 1939 |
Population in 1939 | 269,000 |
Civilian Deaths in WW2 | 1,300 |
How badly was Vienna bombed in WW2?
52 times
The city of Vienna in Austria was bombed 52 times during World War II, and 37,000 houses of the city were lost, 20% of the entire city. Only 41 civilian vehicles survived the raids, and more than 3,000 bomb craters were counted.
Why did the US not bomb Vietnam?
The US did not resort to using nuclear weapons in Vietnam for a variety of reasons: fear of the damage it would cause to the US’s international reputation, domestic political considerations, a reluctance to break the ‘tradition’ of non-use, and a realization that, although there were plenty of viable targets such as
How many tons of bombs were dropped during the Vietnam War?
Between 1965 and 1975, the United States and its allies dropped more than 7.5 million tons of bombs on Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia—double the amount dropped on Europe and Asia during World War II. Pound for pound, it remains the largest aerial bombardment in human history.