AFP 110-31: 'International Law--The Conduct of Armed Conflict and Air Operations' And the Linebacker Bombing Campaigns of the Vietnam War
Published Date: November 1, 1987
AFP 110-31, 'International Law--The Conduct of Armed Conflict and Air Operations', is the first pamphlet published by the United States Air Force on the law of war. Its purpose is to explain the principles of the law of armed conflict, particularly as they apply to air operations. Chapter 5 of the pamphlet concerns 'Aerial Bombardment' and sets forth restrictions designed to protect civilian populations from unnecessary suffering. This paper addresses these concerns by applying the standards in AFP 110-31 governing aerial bombardment to two particularly controversial aerial campaigns of the Vietnam War--Lindbacker I and Linebacker II.
