The bombing campaign, which ultimately lasted three years, was intended to force North Vietnam to cease its support for the Vietcong (VC) by threatening to destroy North Vietnam's air defenses and industrial infrastructure.
[2] Between March 1965 and November 1968, "Rolling Thunder" deluged the north with a million tons of missiles, rockets and bombs.
Other aerial campaigns, such as Operation Commando Hunt, targeted different parts of the VC and People's Army of Vietnam infrastructure.
[4] The United States Air Force, United States Navy and their South Vietnamese allies, the Republic of Vietnam Air Force, fielded a large array of technologically advanced ground attack and bomber aircraft.
Upon occasion, the Lockheed C-130 Hercules was used to drop M-121 bombs that were too large to be carried by smaller aircraft.