My father survived the raid after jumping from the b24, g. The most notable of these for us was the third one, on monday, july 12 to reggio dcalabria. Michael manford mcgreer is managing editor of and writes. Black sunday the disastrous ploesti raid in photos and video. Zaloga, steve noon pdf download bestseller author of epub ploesti 1943. The two nose art sets together cover 28 liberators that attacked the oil refineries at ploesti, campina, and brazi, romania, on 1 august 1943. Good photos and confirmed participation in tidal wave. Operation tidal wave was an air attack by bombers of the united states army air forces usaaf based in libya and southern italy on nine oil refineries around ploie. Operation tidal wave takes aim at ploesti warfare history. If it is granted that the successful destruction of the target would warrant the possible expenditure of the entire force. It required 24 highaltitude missions and cost many lives. Ploesti in his article published in military history quarterly in autumn 20 titled the pilot, the prince, and the rescue.
The five b24 groups selected for the 2,600mile trip were a mixed bag. Motion picture director, writer, and producer of the 1920s through. Officially known as operation tidal wave the ploesti raid was organized targeting romanian oil refinery complexes around the town of ploesti which was a major center for the production of axis petroleum products being used in the war. Oil storage tanks at the columbia aquila refinery in flames after a raid by b24 liberator bombers of the united states army air force date createdpublished. Nov 30, 2015 ploesti was liberated by soviet troops in august 1944 putting an end to the german utilization of the oil. In addition to the 10 refineries at ploesti, which produced perhaps onethird of germanys oil, there was a wide network of targets like giurgiu. It is the first raid, however, that is better rememberedas the bloodiest and most gruesomely fought bomber raid in history.
Every morning we flew lowaltitude formation from fifty feet down. The great raid on hitlers romanian oil refineries by steven j. Although badly damaged after the november 1940 earthquake, the city was a significant 1 source of oil for nazi germany during much of world war ii. My intent is mainly to relate the stories of the individual aircraft and crews lost this day as well as those returning with dead or. Tidalwave, the august 1943 raid on ploesti 60th anniversary 81. Kiley, a writer for stars and stripes wrote, it seemed likely that the raid. My intent is mainly to relate the stories of the individual aircraft and crews lost this day as well as those returning with dead or injured crewmembers.
A b24 flying over a burning oil refinery at ploesti, rumania, 1 august 1943. Consolidated b24d35co sn 4240182 porky ii, 44th bg, 66th bs, shot down by a fighter in a ploesti raid, august 1, 1943, 8 kia1 pow and douglastulsa b24h1dt sn 4128411 airplanes suitable for long, overwater missions consolidated and douglastulsa b24 liberators. Minor air attacks by the russians in 1941 and the united states in 1942 were ineffective. Eyewitness to the raid on ploesti a pilots detailed firsthand account describes the mission to bomb romanias oil refineries in august 1943. The mission resulted in no curtailment of overall product output. Stewart, pilot of the b24 utah man, who participated and survived operation tidal wave in ploesti. All five groups 44th, 93rd, 98th, 376th, and 389th were doing the same thing. Map of eastern mediterranean shows roumania and oifields. Operation tidal wave was one of the boldest and most controversial air raids by the united states army air forces usaaf. Our target was the railroad yards, ferry slips, and bridges. Refineries located near ploesti, romania, provided onethird of the oil supply of the axis forces in world war ii, making the oil fields a crucial allied target. It was a strategic bombing mission and part of the oil campaign to deny petroleumbased fuel to the axis powers.
In the afternoon and evenings we studied the target, for by now we knew we were making a lowlevel attack on the ploesti oil fields in rumania. Ploesti air raids on romania oil fields world war ii. The army air forces operations against ploesti and. House of representatives us government publishing office. Ploesti provided the allies with a substantial choke point. Wwii medal of honor awarded for actions during the ploesti raid. To quickly jump to a page in the document click on. Of the three, minicrafts b24d is the most recent and the best.
Ploesti raid into the smoke and flames officially known as operation tidal wave the ploesti raid was organized targeting romanian oil refinery complexes around the town of ploesti which was a major center for the production of axis petroleum products being used in the war. Each of our five groups was assigned one of the thirteen oil refineries around bucharest, and each of the five. Publication 528 veterans and the military on stamps about usps. Of the three, minicrafts b24d is the most recent and the best, having delicate recessed panel lines and good interior detail. The great raid on hitlers romanian oil refineries air campaign book 12. Compton, formerly deputy group commander to colonel edward timberlake when timberlake was commander of the 93d group. The first citation was awarded after the group bombed oil refineries at ploesti, romania, on may 18, 1944. So wrote major general lewis brereton, the us ninth air force commander in the middle east, as the planners contemplated the options of a high or low level attack on the oil refineries at ploesti in rumania. Army air forces strategic bombing of european targets. Incredible pictures of damaged b24 liberators that made it home. Onethird of the b24s were lost on this missionand the 98th bomb group lost onehalf of its crews and planes. One of historys best examples of this is the neardisastrous usaaf air raid against the germanrun oil refineries in ploesti, romania on aug. May 01, 2004 the ploesti raid through the lens book.
Stewart, pilot of the b24 utah man, who participated and survived operation tidal wave in ploesti, romania. Mar 15, 2011 smart, the principle architect and planner for operation tidalwave, proposed, in complete antithesis of usaff bombing policy, a lowlevel massed raid on the nine most important ploesti refineries by five b24 bomb groups, two from north africa and three borrowed from eighth air force in england. For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty, 23 june 1944 near ploesti, rumania, while flying as bombardier of a b17 type aircraft. Aug 07, 2015 the tokyo raid a few weeks before had been more for propaganda value than for military purposes. In may 1944, while documenting his fifth raid against the oil refineries at ploesti, his aircraft was disabled by antiaircraft fire and morrell bailed out as the aircraft exploded. World war ii sep 12, 2018 micheal chimaobi kalu, guest author officially known as operation tidal wave, the ploesti raid occurred on 1 august 1943, and because it marked the second highest loss suffered by the united states army air force usaaf in a single operation, it was afterward nicknamed black sunday. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
Let me give you a personally painful example of this. Little did we know what a difference this simple transfer was to make for us in the raid to come. If it is granted that the successful destruction of the. The great raid on hitlers romanian oil refineries air campaign book 12 kindle edition by zaloga, steven j. All ploesti b24s were the early d model with the glazed greenhouse nose. It was thought that if a sizable force of bombers could fly to. Jan 09, 2020 the operation is described well by historian and author duane schultz author of into the fire. Ploesti raid high resolution stock photography and images alamy. Its a story which reads like something out of a hollywood movie and worthy of good treatment in any media. One of the most daring wwii air raids targeted hitlers.
At the casablanca conference in january 1943, the allied leaders agreed on goals for a strategic bombing offensive against german industry and its population. Zaloga, steve noon pdf download new ebook or audio book available for download. Following is an excerpt from an account of the august 1, 1943, ploesti raid written by vagabond king pilot john mccormick. The authors could find, during 195961, no complete official roster of the approximately 1,733 men who took off for ploesti on 1 august 1943. Ploesti raid consolidated and douglastulsa b24 liberators. The movie stars benjamin bratt, joseph fiennes, james franco, connie nielsen and martin csokas. American bomber squadrons convene in the middle east. The latest ploesti volume is this 2007 volume by military writer duane schultz for westholme publishing. Oil storage tanks at the columbia aquila refinery burning after the raid of b24 liberator bombers of the united states army air force. The operation is described well by historian and author duane schultz author of into the fire. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading ploesti 1943. Jul 29, 2020 the target of the raid was the oil refineries near ploesti, romania, which provided about onethird of all the oil used by nazi germany and the other axis powers. They were the source of sixty percent of germanys crude oil supply, ten million tons of oil each year, including 90octane aviation fuel, the highest quality in europe.
At the time, the romanian ploesti oil fields produced about a third of all axis oil, and was germanys single most important fuel source. He was captured by german troops upon landing and was held prisoner in bucharest until released by. History of the raid on the german oil supply in ploesti the oil fields and eight massive refineries that surrounded ploesti, romania, spread over about eighteen square miles. His report a copy of which was apparently later sent to the family of each man who participated in that mission paints a vivid portrait of one of the most costly bombing missions in history. The combined bomber offensives destruction of germanys. The lessons of this event resonate with relevance and verity to this day.
So wrote major general lewis brereton, the us ninth air force commander in the middle east, as the planners contemplated the options of a high or low level attack on the oil refineries at ploesti. The harsh truth as 1943 drew to a close was that the germans were maintaining air superiority over germany and preserving their fighter forces strength in order to contest the expected crosschannel invasion. A good example of this is lloyd pete hughes medal of honor b24d. Ironically, ploesti s first refineries had been built with american backing, but nine decades later bucharest was allied with berlin. Dragged through the mouth of hell at ploesti tidal wave. In may 1944, while documenting his fifth raid against the oil refineries at ploesti, his aircraft was. To my knowledge, three b24d kits have been produced. Ive got all the ploesti books, including some pretty obscure ones, but you never know if a crewman has privately published something you havent heard about.
The lead group, the 376th liberandos, was led by colonel keith k. By lyndon shubert on august 1, 1943, a consolidated b24d liberator bomber named the vagabond king and its american crew took part in a massive bombing raid on the oil refinery complex at ploesti, romania. It borders the blejoi commune in the north, barcane. The page numbers in this roster pertain to random house and brasseys printing. The citation was presented to the unit on november 7, 1944 in the name of the president of the united states, by order of the secretary of war and general george c. Ploesti oil complex, romania the great groundair battle of ploesti has been told in numerous publications so there is no need to expand on it here. When we did the research and artwork for my pynup decals ploesti heroes decal set, brian flavelles wongo wongo was a lock. The ploesti raid through the lense is a brief but comprehensive volume which takes the reader from the origins and importance of romanian oil production to a final recapitulation of the destruction of those facilities with the emphasis being, quite naturally, on the august 1, 1943 low level raid. In the end, the second campaign succeeded in pummeling the refineries to dust. He also provides some good historical context on low level raids before ploesti and the development of air power in the 20s and 30s. American raid on the romanian oil refineries at ploesti in august 1943.
Apr 09, 2020 as far as this web log writer knows, the first american prisoners of war in romania arrived by air on sunday, 1 august 1943 during operation tidal wave. Two of our engines were shot out, a third was damaged by antiaircraft fire over our target. Highly decorated wwii combat pilot robert sternfels provides a first hand account of piloting his b24 sandman bomber in a raid on oil refineries in ploesti. Dragged through the mouth of hell at ploesti tidal wave 1. Winston churchill once remarked, in war, nothing ever goes according to plan except occasionally, and then, only by accident. We talk of missions to ploesti, but actuality they were missions to different parts of the ploesti area. Raid in ruins ploesti raid america in wwii magazine. B24 liberator during a lowlevel attack of the ploesti. Tings is tuff douglastulsa b24h15dt liberator sn 4128931 724th bomb squadron, 451st bomb group, 15th air force. This vintage newsreel documents the daring bombing mission over the oil fields of nazicontrolled ploesti, romania. A real campaign against ploesti was not mounted until the following year. I guess we received the most complete and detailed briefing of any air raid in history.
290 1634 7 442 1078 1510 1477 910 713 1303 275 78 846 1165 100 674 324 1111 872 654 180 1227 968 149 599 1389 648 1543 1242 1328