1965 Vietnamese Map of Bombarded Areas in North Vietnam

A South Vietnamese map highlighting part of Operation Rolling Thunder, the largest aerial campaign of the Cold War.

This is a 1965 Phạm Thăng infographic map of bombarded areas in North Vietnam. The map depicts the region from China to Da Nang in South Vietnam and from Thailand to Hainan Province in China. Aerial bombing campaigns undertaken by the forces of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) and the United States are highlighted by red bomb bursts. The entire area from Vinh Linh near the border between North and South Vietnam north to Thanh Hoa is surrounded by this bomb burst imagery and a caption states that the region was intensely bombed. Other targeted areas include Bach Long Vi Island in the Gulf of Tonkin, which was bombed once. However, airstrikes were forbidden within sixty kilometers of Hanoi and nineteen kilometers of Haiphong, which are illustrated by concentric circles. Surface-to-air missile (SAM) emplacements in the region are illustrated by the triangles and the small plane near Hanoi symbolizes an airbase equipped with MiG-III aircraft. The ships illustrated off the coast of South Vietnam is the U.S. Seventh Fleet. The Ho Chi Minh Trail, North Vietnam's famous supply route for men and supplies into South Vietnam is also illustrated.

Operation Rolling Thunder

This map was created during the first few months of Operation Rolling Thunder, an aerial bombardment campaign undertaken by the United States and South Vietnam against targets in North Vietnam from March 1965 until November 1968. The operation's stated objectives were to boost support for the faltering South Vietnamese regime, decrease support for the government of North Vietnam, destroy infrastructure and manufacturing centers in North Vietnam, and end the flow of men and supplies from North Vietnam south. Even though this was the most intense campaign waged during the Cold War, it was not an effective campaign and did not achieve its aims.

Publication History

This map was created by Phạm Thăng and published in the Thân Dân newspaper in 1965.

Cartographer

Phạm Thăng (fl. c. 1965 - 1967) was a Vietnamese mapmaker and graphic artist active in Saigon during the mid-1960s. There are several city plans and infographic maps from the Vietnam War Era attributed to this figure, although it remains unclear who he was. There is a well known artist by this name, however, it is uncertain if they are related in any way.   Further Details...

Condition

Very good. Closed margin tears professionally repaired on verso. Group of closed tears extending one half inch into printed area professionally repaired on verso. Blank on verso.