How effective are the Soviet-made surface-to-air (SAM) missiles that ring Hanoi? Not nearly so effective as had been feared originally, report U.S. air men returning from raids near the North Vietnamese capital. In the six months since the first sites became operational, Red missilemen have fired 150 missiles at U.S. aircraft. Only nine U.S. planes have been hit.
Still, the rockets are treated with respect. Whenever possible, U.S. airmen fly outside their 28-mile range. And when the U.S. is attacking a SAM-defended area, rocket-firing fighter-bombers streak in before the main force to...
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