Editing Operation Arc Light (section)

== Operational use ==
The bombers were first used in [[Southeast Asia]] on June 18, 1965. Flying from Andersen AFB, Guam, 27 aircraft dropped {{convert|750|lb|round=5|adj=on}} and {{convert|1000|lb|round=5|adj=on}} bombs on a [[Viet Cong]] stronghold.<ref name=usaf/> During this mission two B-52Fs were lost in a mid-air collision on June 19, 1965,<ref name=satgens>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xShQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0AwEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7177%2C1314151 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |agency=Associated Press |title=B52 performance satisfies generals |date=June 20, 1965 |page=2}}</ref> while circling over the South Pacific Ocean, approximately {{convert|250|mi}} offshore at the point of the [[Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone|Demilitarized Zone]] (DMZ), unable to conduct mid-air refueling in awaiting arrival of [[Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker|KC-135A]] tankers for pre-strike air refueling.

Missions were commonly flown in three-plane formations known as "cells". Releasing their bombs from the [[stratosphere]], the B-52s could neither be seen or heard from the ground. B-52s were instrumental in destroying enemy concentrations besieging [[Battle of Khe Sanh|Khe Sanh]] in 1968,<ref name=usaf/> and in 1972 at [[Battle of An Loc|An Loc]] and [[Battle of Kontum|Kontum]].

[[File:Bombs from B-52 Arc Light strike exploding.jpg|thumb|Bombs from B-52 Arc Light strike exploding]]

Arc Light was re-activated at Andersen on February 8, 1972, when [[President of the United States|President]] [[Richard Nixon]] resumed bombing of [[North Vietnam]] in an effort to move peace talks along. Operation Bullet Shot saw over 15,000 men were sent to Andersen on temporary duty over the next 90 days. With limited barracks and other facilities, tents were set up for use by men working 80-hour weeks. Bullet Shot included B-52-D and B-52-G aircraft.{{citation needed|date=June 2017}}

Arc Light missions continued until the cessation of hostilities by U.S. forces on August 15, 1973. Between June 1965 and August 1973, 126,615 sorties (B-52D/F/G) were flown over Southeast Asia. During those operations, the U.S. Air Force lost 31 B-52s; 18 were lost from hostile fire over North Vietnam and 13 from operational causes.{{citation needed|date=June 2017}}

The typical full bomb loads were:{{citation needed|date=June 2017}}

* B-52D: 108 500-lb. bombs, or a mixed load of 84 500-lb. bombs in the bomb bay and 24 750-lb. bombs on underwing pylons.
* B-52F: 36 {{convert|500|lb|round=5|adj=on}} and {{convert|750|lb|round=5|adj=on}} bombs in a mixed load, or 51 500-lb. bombs, 27 in the bomb bay and 24 on underwing pylons.
* B-52G: 27 bombs, all in the bomb bay, no external bombs were carried.