The relentless pounding of North Vietnam by American B-52 bombers finally came to an end on this day, marking the conclusion of Operation Linebacker II. It was an 11-day campaign that saw over 100 sorties drop more than 20,000 tons of bombs on Hanoi and Haiphong, forcing North Vietnam back to the negotiating table. Amidst mounting international pressure and domestic protests, President Nixon ordered a halt to the operation, paving the way for the Paris Peace Accords in January 1973. This brutal yet crucial chapter in the Vietnam War finally drew to a close.