The Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club

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The 'Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club' was a tongue-in-cheek nickname for the US Seventh Fleet stationed off Vietnam, and this book chronicles the US Naval air campaign during the Vietnam War from 1965 to 1975. It begins with the Gulf of Tonkin incident on August 2, 1964, involving the USS Maddox, which escalated America's involvement in the conflict. Supporting the Maddox were four F-8E Crusaders from the USS Ticonderoga, marking the start of the Navy's air war commitment. The narrative covers operations from the Maddox through to the fleet's withdrawal after South Vietnam's collapse in 1975. Task Force 77, part of the Seventh Fleet, operated with up to six carriers and 70-100 aircraft each, providing essential air support for ground troops and participating in major operations against North Vietnam, including Rolling Thunder and Linebacker I and II, all amid a hostile environment of flak, missiles, and MiGs. The story is enriched by dramatic first-hand accounts from participants, many gathered through interviews conducted by the author. The Vietnamese perspective is also included, utilizing official accounts of the air war. The author, who served with the Seventh Fleet at age 20, brings a personal connection to this dramatic history.