Khe Sanh: A Success in the Use of Combined Airpower

The siege of Khe Sanh lasted 78 days from 20 January 1968 to 8 April 1968. During that time, the Marines were cut off from all ground resupply making them totally reliant on airpower for all their needs. Khe Sanh is a study in the use of total combined airpower. There was a single manager for all fixed-wing air operations. Kinetic and non-kinetic aircraft supported each other in an effort deliver supplies to the besieged Marines. A combined team of United States Air Force and Marine assets provided aerial resupply throughout the siege allowing the Marines to survive. In the end, over 22,000 fighter-bomber sorties dropped almost 40,000 tons of ordinance supporting 1,061 airlift sorties delivery over 12,400 tons of supplies allowing the Marines to hold Khe Sanh in face of an enemy five times their numbers.