The start of an air campaign -- Way down south on Dixie Station -- Rescuing downed aviators -- Countering the SAMs -- The bombing campaign heats up -- The POL strikes -- Air war at its deadliest -- Tet and Rolling Thunder -- Learning from the Rolling Thunder experience -- Sidebars -- Attack aircraft -- Fighter aircraft -- Tragedy aboard ship -- Frustrated warrior: Admiral Ulysses S.G. Sharp -- Homer Smith and the debut of PGMs -- Recce aircraft -- Abbreviations and terms.