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Tidal Wave (1943)
Encyclopedia
Operation Tidal Wave was an air attack by bombers of the United States Army Air Forces
(USAAF) on nine oil refineries
around Ploiești
, Romania
on 1 August 1943, during World War II
. It was a strategic bombing mission
and part of the "oil campaign
" to deny petroleum
-based fuel to the Axis
. The mission resulted in "no curtailment of overall product output", and so was unsuccessful..
This mission was one of the costliest for the USAAF in the European Theater, with 53 aircraft and 660 aircrewmen lost. It was the worst loss ever suffered by the USAAF on a single mission, and its date was later referred to as "Black Sunday". Five Medals of Honor
and numerous Distinguished Service Crosses
were awarded to Operation Tidal Wave crew members.
).
Operation Tidal Wave was an air attack by bombers of the United States Army Air Forces
(USAAF) on nine oil refineries
around Ploiești
, Romania
on 1 August 1943, during World War II
. It was a strategic bombing mission
and part of the "oil campaign
" to deny petroleum
-based fuel to the Axis
. The mission resulted in "no curtailment of overall product output", and so was unsuccessful..
This mission was one of the costliest for the USAAF in the European Theater, with 53 aircraft and 660 aircrewmen lost. It was the worst loss ever suffered by the USAAF on a single mission, and its date was later referred to as "Black Sunday". Five Medals of Honor
and numerous Distinguished Service Crosses
were awarded to Operation Tidal Wave crew members.
).ROMANIAN OIL INDUSTRY: History, Romanian Consulate, Boston
Operation Tidal Wave was an air attack by bombers of the United States Army Air Forces
(USAAF) on nine oil refineries
around Ploiești
, Romania
on 1 August 1943, during World War II
. It was a strategic bombing mission
and part of the "oil campaign
" to deny petroleum
-based fuel to the Axis
. The mission resulted in "no curtailment of overall product output", and so was unsuccessful..
This mission was one of the costliest for the USAAF in the European Theater, with 53 aircraft and 660 aircrewmen lost. It was the worst loss ever suffered by the USAAF on a single mission, and its date was later referred to as "Black Sunday". Five Medals of Honor
and numerous Distinguished Service Crosses
were awarded to Operation Tidal Wave crew members.
).ROMANIAN OIL INDUSTRY: History, Romanian Consulate, BostonHISTORY, ANEIR - Foreign Trade Promotion Centre S.A. , National Association of Romanian Exporters and Importers (ANEIR), aneir-cpce.ro In 1943, crude and refined oil from the Ploiești oil fields provided about 35% of all Axis oil supplies.
General Alfred Gerstenberg
built one of the heaviest and best-integrated air defense networks in Europe. The defenses included several hundred large-caliber—88 mm (3.46 in) and 105 mm (4.1 in)—anti-aircraft guns, and many more small-caliber guns. The latter were concealed in haystacks, railroad cars, and mock buildings.Schultz, Duane. Into the Fire Westholme Publishing, 2008, p.64-65 A Luftwaffe air command center in Lipesk controlled three fighter groups within flight range of Ploiești (52 Bf 109
fighters and Bf 110
night fighter
s, and some Romanian IAR-80 fighters). Gerstenberg also counted on warnings from the Luftwaffe signals intelligence station in Athens
, which monitored Allied preparations as far away as North Africa.
(98th and 376th Bombardment Groups) was responsible for the overall conduct of the raid, and the partially formed Eighth Air Force
provided three additional bomb groups (44th, 93rd
, and 389th). All the bombers employed were B-24 Liberator
s.
Colonel Jacob E. Smart
planned the operation, based on HALPRO's experiences. HALPRO had encountered minimal air defenses in its raid; so the planners decided Tidal Wave would be executed by day, and that the attacking bombers would approach at low altitude to avoid detection by
German radar
. Training included extensive review of detailed sand table
models, practice raids over a mock-up of the target in the Libya
n desert and practical exercises over a number of secondary targets in July to prove the viability of such a low level strike. The bombers to be used were re-equipped with bomb bay fuel tanks to increase their fuel capacity to 3,100 gallons.
The operation was to consist of 178 bombers with a total of 1,751 aircrewmen, being one of the largest commitments of American heavy bombers and crewmen up to that time.http://www.lipper.cc/8th_AF/pages/TidalWaveRoster.html retrieved 2010-4-30 The planes were to fly from airfields near Benghazi, Libya. They were to cross the Mediterranean and the Adriatic Sea
, pass near the island of Corfu
, cross over the Pindus Mountains in Albania
, cross southern Yugoslavia
, enter southwestern Romania, and turn east toward Ploiești. Reaching Ploiești, they were to locate pre-determined checkpoints, approach their targets from the north, and strike all targets simultaneously.
For political reasons, the Allied planners decided to avoid the city of Ploiești, so it would not be bombed by accident.
. Large amounts of dust kicked up during take-off caused limited visibility and strained engines already carrying the burden of large bomb loads and additional fuel. These conditions contributed to the loss of one aircraft during take-off, but 177 of the planned 178 aircraft departed safely.
The formation reached the Adriatic Sea
without further incident; however aircraft #28 "Wongo Wongo" belonging to the 376th Bombardment Group (the lead group, about 40 B-24s) and piloted by Lt. Brian Flavelle began to fly erratically before plunging into the sea due to unknown causes. Lt. Guy Iovine—a personal friend of Flavelle and piloting aircraft #23 Desert Lilly—descended from the formation in order to look for survivors, narrowly missing aircraft Brewery Wagon piloted by Lt. John Palm. No apparent survivors were seen, and due to the additional weight of fuel, Iovine was unable to regain altitude to rejoin the formation and resume course to Ploiești.
The resulting confusion was compounded by the inability to regain cohesion due to strict radio silence maintained as per mission guidance. Ten other aircrews opted to return to friendly air fields following the incident and those aircraft which remained faced the 9000 ft (2,743.2 m) climb over the Pindus
mountains, which were shrouded in cloud cover. Although all five groups made the climb around 11000 ft (3,352.8 m), the 376th and 93rd, using high power settings, began to lose the trailing formations, causing variations in speed and time which disrupted the careful synchronization of the group attacks deemed so important by Smart.
The possible threat to successful execution was deemed to be of secondary concern to the operational security of the mission by senior leadership. The American leaders were unaware that while their intentions were not precisely known, their presence had been duly noted by the Germans. Although the need to rebuild their formations was clear and well within the contingency for breaking radio silence, the strike would proceed without correction, a judgment that would later prove costly.
Although now well strung out on approach to Piteşti
, all five groups would make the navigational check point 65 mi (104.6 km) from Ploiești. At Câmpina
, the 389th Bomb Group departed as planned for its separate but synchronous approach to the mission target. Continuing from Piteşti
, Col. Keith K. Compton and Gen. Ent made a navigational judgment that would prove especially costly. At Târgovişte
, halfway to the next check point at Floreşti, Compton followed the incorrect railway line for his turn toward Ploiești, setting his group and Lt. Col. Addison Baker's 93rd Bomb Group on a course for Bucharest
. In the process, Ent and Compton went against the advice of their airplane's navigator and the Halverson Project (HALPRO) veteran Cpt. Harold Wicklund. Now in the face of an impending disaster, many crews chose to break radio silence and draw attention to the navigational error. Meanwhile, both groups flew headlong into Gerstenberg's extensive air defenses around the Bucharest area, which they would now face in addition to those still awaiting them around Ploiești.
Despite Compton and Ent's lead, Baker in his aircraft "Hell's Wench" realized the navigational mistake and quickly made appropriate course adjustments, resuming a proper heading toward Ploiești. This decision would place Baker and the 93rd well off of the original route now maintained by the three trail groups and now placed his group both on a different heading on approach and time into the target area. Compton would continue farther toward Bucharest, before finally admitting his error and also resuming course for Ploiești. The 93rd now led the attack into Ploieşti, alone and with German and Romanian defenses well-prepared for their arrival.
for maintaining their successful approach to Columbia Aquila and their efforts to save the crew of "Hell's Wench."
Maj. Ramsay D. Potts flying "The Duchess" and Maj. George S. Brown aboard "Queenie", encountering heavy smoke over Columbia Aquila, would take two additional elements of the 93rd and successfully drop their payloads over the Astra Romana, Unirea Orion, and Columbia Aquila refineries. In all, the 93rd lost 11 aircraft over their targets in Ploiești.
from the east, and five headed directly into the already smoldering conflagration over the Concordia Vega refinery. At Campina
, air defenses on overlooking hills were able to fire down into the formation, and IAR 80
aircraft downed 376th aircraft.
of the 98th Bomb Group and Col. Leon W. Johnson
of the 44th Bomb Group made their prescribed turn at Floresti and proceeded to their respective targets at the Asta Romana and Columbia Aquila refineries. Both groups would find German and Romanian defenses on full alert and faced the full effects of now raging oil fires, heavy smoke, secondary explosions, and delayed-fuse bombs dropped by Baker's 93rd Bomb Group on their earlier run. Both Kane and Johnson's approach, parallel to the Floresti-to-Ploiești railway had the unfortunate distinction of encountering Gerstenberg's disguised flak train. At tree-top level, around 50 ft (15.2 m) above the ground, the 98th would find themselves to the left and the 44th on the right. The advantage, however, would rest with the 98th and 44th, whose gunners quickly responded to the threat, disabling the locomotive and killing multiple air defense crews.
With the effects of the 93rd and 376th's runs causing difficulties locating and bombing their primary targets, both Kane and Johnson did not deviate from their intended targets, taking heavy losses in the process. Their low approach even enabled gunners to engage in continued ground suppression of air defense crews from directly above their targets. For their leadership and heroism, both were awarded the Medal of Honor
. Lt. Col. James T. Posey took 21 of the 44th's aircraft on a separate assigned attack run on the Creditul Minier refinery just south of Ploiești. Although air defense batteries had already heavily engaged the 93rd, Posey was fully received by the same emplacements. Maintaining a continued low-level approach into the target area took some of the still heavily laden aircraft through tall grass and damage was caused by low-level obstructions. Posey and his aircraft—equipped with heavier 1000 lb (453.6 kg) bombs—managed to successfully find their marks at Creditul Minier, without loss to the formation.
. The damage caused by the 376th and 389th attacks heavily damaged the refinery, which did not resume production for the duration of the war. The 389th lost four aircraft over the target area, including B-24 "Ole Kickapoo" flown by 2nd Lt. Lloyd Herbert Hughes
. After hits to the "Ole Kickapoo" only 30 feet over the target area, the detonation of previously dropped bombs had ignited fuel leaking from the B-24. Hughes maintained course for bombardier 2nd Lt. John A. McLoughlin to bomb, and the B-24 subsequently crash-landed in a river bed. Hughes (who posthumously received the Medal of Honor) and five crewmembers were killed, four survived the crash but died of injuries, and two gunners became prisoners of war.
on Cyprus
), and one B-24 with 365 shell holes in it landed in Libya 14 hours after departing.http://www.airartnw.com/tidalwave.htm
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
(USAAF) on nine oil refineries
Oil refinery
An oil refinery or petroleum refinery is an industrial process plant where crude oil is processed and refined into more useful petroleum products, such as gasoline, diesel fuel, asphalt base, heating oil, kerosene, and liquefied petroleum gas...
around Ploiești
Ploiesti
Ploiești is the county seat of Prahova County and lies in the historical region of Wallachia in Romania. The city is located north of Bucharest....
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
on 1 August 1943, during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. It was a strategic bombing mission
Strategic bombing during World War II
Strategic bombing during World War II is a term which refers to all aerial bombardment of a strategic nature between 1939 and 1945 involving any nations engaged in World War II...
and part of the "oil campaign
Oil Campaign of World War II
The Allied Oil Campaign of World War II was directed at facilities supplying Nazi Germany with petroleum, oil, and lubrication products...
" to deny petroleum
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
-based fuel to the Axis
Axis Powers
The Axis powers , also known as the Axis alliance, Axis nations, Axis countries, or just the Axis, was an alignment of great powers during the mid-20th century that fought World War II against the Allies. It began in 1936 with treaties of friendship between Germany and Italy and between Germany and...
. The mission resulted in "no curtailment of overall product output", and so was unsuccessful..
This mission was one of the costliest for the USAAF in the European Theater, with 53 aircraft and 660 aircrewmen lost. It was the worst loss ever suffered by the USAAF on a single mission, and its date was later referred to as "Black Sunday". Five Medals of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
and numerous Distinguished Service Crosses
Distinguished Service Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Army, for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. Actions that merit the Distinguished Service Cross must be of such a high degree...
were awarded to Operation Tidal Wave crew members.
Preparations
Romania had been a big participant in the oil industry since the 1800s. It was one of the largest producers in Europe and Ploesti was a major part of that production. (see Bombing of Romania in World War IIBombing of Romania in World War II
The bombing of Romania in World War II comprised two series of events: until August 1944, Allied operations, and, following the overthrow of Ion Antonescu's Fascist dictatorship, operations by Nazi Germany....
).
Operation Tidal Wave was an air attack by bombers of the United States Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
(USAAF) on nine oil refineries
Oil refinery
An oil refinery or petroleum refinery is an industrial process plant where crude oil is processed and refined into more useful petroleum products, such as gasoline, diesel fuel, asphalt base, heating oil, kerosene, and liquefied petroleum gas...
around Ploiești
Ploiesti
Ploiești is the county seat of Prahova County and lies in the historical region of Wallachia in Romania. The city is located north of Bucharest....
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
on 1 August 1943, during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. It was a strategic bombing mission
Strategic bombing during World War II
Strategic bombing during World War II is a term which refers to all aerial bombardment of a strategic nature between 1939 and 1945 involving any nations engaged in World War II...
and part of the "oil campaign
Oil Campaign of World War II
The Allied Oil Campaign of World War II was directed at facilities supplying Nazi Germany with petroleum, oil, and lubrication products...
" to deny petroleum
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
-based fuel to the Axis
Axis Powers
The Axis powers , also known as the Axis alliance, Axis nations, Axis countries, or just the Axis, was an alignment of great powers during the mid-20th century that fought World War II against the Allies. It began in 1936 with treaties of friendship between Germany and Italy and between Germany and...
. The mission resulted in "no curtailment of overall product output", and so was unsuccessful..
This mission was one of the costliest for the USAAF in the European Theater, with 53 aircraft and 660 aircrewmen lost. It was the worst loss ever suffered by the USAAF on a single mission, and its date was later referred to as "Black Sunday". Five Medals of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
and numerous Distinguished Service Crosses
Distinguished Service Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Army, for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. Actions that merit the Distinguished Service Cross must be of such a high degree...
were awarded to Operation Tidal Wave crew members.
Preparations
Romania had been a big participant in the oil industry since the 1800s. It was one of the largest producers in Europe and Ploesti was a major part of that production. (see Bombing of Romania in World War IIBombing of Romania in World War II
The bombing of Romania in World War II comprised two series of events: until August 1944, Allied operations, and, following the overthrow of Ion Antonescu's Fascist dictatorship, operations by Nazi Germany....
).ROMANIAN OIL INDUSTRY: History, Romanian Consulate, Boston
Operation Tidal Wave was an air attack by bombers of the United States Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
(USAAF) on nine oil refineries
Oil refinery
An oil refinery or petroleum refinery is an industrial process plant where crude oil is processed and refined into more useful petroleum products, such as gasoline, diesel fuel, asphalt base, heating oil, kerosene, and liquefied petroleum gas...
around Ploiești
Ploiesti
Ploiești is the county seat of Prahova County and lies in the historical region of Wallachia in Romania. The city is located north of Bucharest....
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
on 1 August 1943, during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. It was a strategic bombing mission
Strategic bombing during World War II
Strategic bombing during World War II is a term which refers to all aerial bombardment of a strategic nature between 1939 and 1945 involving any nations engaged in World War II...
and part of the "oil campaign
Oil Campaign of World War II
The Allied Oil Campaign of World War II was directed at facilities supplying Nazi Germany with petroleum, oil, and lubrication products...
" to deny petroleum
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
-based fuel to the Axis
Axis Powers
The Axis powers , also known as the Axis alliance, Axis nations, Axis countries, or just the Axis, was an alignment of great powers during the mid-20th century that fought World War II against the Allies. It began in 1936 with treaties of friendship between Germany and Italy and between Germany and...
. The mission resulted in "no curtailment of overall product output", and so was unsuccessful..
This mission was one of the costliest for the USAAF in the European Theater, with 53 aircraft and 660 aircrewmen lost. It was the worst loss ever suffered by the USAAF on a single mission, and its date was later referred to as "Black Sunday". Five Medals of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
and numerous Distinguished Service Crosses
Distinguished Service Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Army, for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. Actions that merit the Distinguished Service Cross must be of such a high degree...
were awarded to Operation Tidal Wave crew members.
Preparations
Romania had been a big participant in the oil industry since the 1800s. It was one of the largest producers in Europe and Ploesti was a major part of that production. (see Bombing of Romania in World War IIBombing of Romania in World War II
The bombing of Romania in World War II comprised two series of events: until August 1944, Allied operations, and, following the overthrow of Ion Antonescu's Fascist dictatorship, operations by Nazi Germany....
).ROMANIAN OIL INDUSTRY: History, Romanian Consulate, BostonHISTORY, ANEIR - Foreign Trade Promotion Centre S.A. , National Association of Romanian Exporters and Importers (ANEIR), aneir-cpce.ro In 1943, crude and refined oil from the Ploiești oil fields provided about 35% of all Axis oil supplies.
German air defenses
In June 1942, 13 B-24 Liberators of the "Halverson project" (HALPRO) attacked Ploiești. Though damage was small, Germany responded by putting strong anti-aircraft defenses around Ploiești. LuftwaffeLuftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
General Alfred Gerstenberg
Alfred Gerstenberg
Alfred Gerstenberg was a German Luftwaffe general. During World War II he organized a very effective defensive perimeter around oil fields in Ploieşti, Romania....
built one of the heaviest and best-integrated air defense networks in Europe. The defenses included several hundred large-caliber—88 mm (3.46 in) and 105 mm (4.1 in)—anti-aircraft guns, and many more small-caliber guns. The latter were concealed in haystacks, railroad cars, and mock buildings.Schultz, Duane. Into the Fire Westholme Publishing, 2008, p.64-65 A Luftwaffe air command center in Lipesk controlled three fighter groups within flight range of Ploiești (52 Bf 109
Messerschmitt Bf 109
The Messerschmitt Bf 109, often called Me 109, was a German World War II fighter aircraft designed by Willy Messerschmitt and Robert Lusser during the early to mid 1930s...
fighters and Bf 110
Messerschmitt Bf 110
The Messerschmitt Bf 110, often called Me 110, was a twin-engine heavy fighter in the service of the Luftwaffe during World War II. Hermann Göring was a proponent of the Bf 110, and nicknamed it his Eisenseiten...
night fighter
Night fighter
A night fighter is a fighter aircraft adapted for use at night or in other times of bad visibility...
s, and some Romanian IAR-80 fighters). Gerstenberg also counted on warnings from the Luftwaffe signals intelligence station in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, which monitored Allied preparations as far away as North Africa.
Mission plan
The Ninth Air ForceNinth Air Force
The Ninth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force's Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina....
(98th and 376th Bombardment Groups) was responsible for the overall conduct of the raid, and the partially formed Eighth Air Force
Eighth Air Force
The Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana....
provided three additional bomb groups (44th, 93rd
93d Operations Group
The 93d Operations Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 93d Air Control Wing, stationed at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia...
, and 389th). All the bombers employed were B-24 Liberator
B-24 Liberator
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
s.
Colonel Jacob E. Smart
Jacob E. Smart
General Jacob Edward Smart was a U.S. Army Air Force leader in World War II and Cold War era Air Force general....
planned the operation, based on HALPRO's experiences. HALPRO had encountered minimal air defenses in its raid; so the planners decided Tidal Wave would be executed by day, and that the attacking bombers would approach at low altitude to avoid detection by
German radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
. Training included extensive review of detailed sand table
Sand table
Sand table is a term for using constrained sand for modeling or educational purposes. The original version of a sand table may be the abax used by early Greek students.-Abax:...
models, practice raids over a mock-up of the target in the Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
n desert and practical exercises over a number of secondary targets in July to prove the viability of such a low level strike. The bombers to be used were re-equipped with bomb bay fuel tanks to increase their fuel capacity to 3,100 gallons.
The operation was to consist of 178 bombers with a total of 1,751 aircrewmen, being one of the largest commitments of American heavy bombers and crewmen up to that time.http://www.lipper.cc/8th_AF/pages/TidalWaveRoster.html retrieved 2010-4-30 The planes were to fly from airfields near Benghazi, Libya. They were to cross the Mediterranean and the Adriatic Sea
Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan peninsula, and the system of the Apennine Mountains from that of the Dinaric Alps and adjacent ranges...
, pass near the island of Corfu
Corfu
Corfu is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. It is the second largest of the Ionian Islands, and, including its small satellite islands, forms the edge of the northwestern frontier of Greece. The island is part of the Corfu regional unit, and is administered as a single municipality. The...
, cross over the Pindus Mountains in Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
, cross southern Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
, enter southwestern Romania, and turn east toward Ploiești. Reaching Ploiești, they were to locate pre-determined checkpoints, approach their targets from the north, and strike all targets simultaneously.
For political reasons, the Allied planners decided to avoid the city of Ploiești, so it would not be bombed by accident.
Flight to Romania
Early on the morning of 1 August 1943, the five groups comprising the strike force began lifting off from their home air fields around BenghaziBenghazi
Benghazi is the second largest city in Libya, the main city of the Cyrenaica region , and the former provisional capital of the National Transitional Council. The wider metropolitan area is also a district of Libya...
. Large amounts of dust kicked up during take-off caused limited visibility and strained engines already carrying the burden of large bomb loads and additional fuel. These conditions contributed to the loss of one aircraft during take-off, but 177 of the planned 178 aircraft departed safely.
The formation reached the Adriatic Sea
Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan peninsula, and the system of the Apennine Mountains from that of the Dinaric Alps and adjacent ranges...
without further incident; however aircraft #28 "Wongo Wongo" belonging to the 376th Bombardment Group (the lead group, about 40 B-24s) and piloted by Lt. Brian Flavelle began to fly erratically before plunging into the sea due to unknown causes. Lt. Guy Iovine—a personal friend of Flavelle and piloting aircraft #23 Desert Lilly—descended from the formation in order to look for survivors, narrowly missing aircraft Brewery Wagon piloted by Lt. John Palm. No apparent survivors were seen, and due to the additional weight of fuel, Iovine was unable to regain altitude to rejoin the formation and resume course to Ploiești.
The resulting confusion was compounded by the inability to regain cohesion due to strict radio silence maintained as per mission guidance. Ten other aircrews opted to return to friendly air fields following the incident and those aircraft which remained faced the 9000 ft (2,743.2 m) climb over the Pindus
Pindus
The Pindus mountain range is located in northern Greece and southern Albania. It is roughly 160 km long, with a maximum elevation of 2637 m . Because it runs along the border of Thessaly and Epirus, the Pindus range is often called the "spine of Greece"...
mountains, which were shrouded in cloud cover. Although all five groups made the climb around 11000 ft (3,352.8 m), the 376th and 93rd, using high power settings, began to lose the trailing formations, causing variations in speed and time which disrupted the careful synchronization of the group attacks deemed so important by Smart.
The possible threat to successful execution was deemed to be of secondary concern to the operational security of the mission by senior leadership. The American leaders were unaware that while their intentions were not precisely known, their presence had been duly noted by the Germans. Although the need to rebuild their formations was clear and well within the contingency for breaking radio silence, the strike would proceed without correction, a judgment that would later prove costly.
Although now well strung out on approach to Piteşti
Pitesti
Pitești is a city in Romania, located on the Argeș River. The capital and largest city of Argeș County, it is an important commercial and industrial center, as well as the home of two universities. Pitești is situated on the A1 freeway connecting it directly to the national capital Bucharest,...
, all five groups would make the navigational check point 65 mi (104.6 km) from Ploiești. At Câmpina
Câmpina
Câmpina is a city in Prahova county, Romania, north of the county seat Ploieşti, located on the main route between Wallachia and Transylvania. In 2003, the city celebrated 500 years since its founding.-History:...
, the 389th Bomb Group departed as planned for its separate but synchronous approach to the mission target. Continuing from Piteşti
Pitesti
Pitești is a city in Romania, located on the Argeș River. The capital and largest city of Argeș County, it is an important commercial and industrial center, as well as the home of two universities. Pitești is situated on the A1 freeway connecting it directly to the national capital Bucharest,...
, Col. Keith K. Compton and Gen. Ent made a navigational judgment that would prove especially costly. At Târgovişte
Târgoviste
Târgoviște is a city in the Dâmbovița county of Romania. It is situated on the right bank of the Ialomiţa River. , it had an estimated population of 89,000. One village, Priseaca, is administered by the city.-Name:...
, halfway to the next check point at Floreşti, Compton followed the incorrect railway line for his turn toward Ploiești, setting his group and Lt. Col. Addison Baker's 93rd Bomb Group on a course for Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
. In the process, Ent and Compton went against the advice of their airplane's navigator and the Halverson Project (HALPRO) veteran Cpt. Harold Wicklund. Now in the face of an impending disaster, many crews chose to break radio silence and draw attention to the navigational error. Meanwhile, both groups flew headlong into Gerstenberg's extensive air defenses around the Bucharest area, which they would now face in addition to those still awaiting them around Ploiești.
Despite Compton and Ent's lead, Baker in his aircraft "Hell's Wench" realized the navigational mistake and quickly made appropriate course adjustments, resuming a proper heading toward Ploiești. This decision would place Baker and the 93rd well off of the original route now maintained by the three trail groups and now placed his group both on a different heading on approach and time into the target area. Compton would continue farther toward Bucharest, before finally admitting his error and also resuming course for Ploiești. The 93rd now led the attack into Ploieşti, alone and with German and Romanian defenses well-prepared for their arrival.
Attacks
Baker and his co-pilot Maj. John L. Jerstad, who had already flown a full tour of duty while stationed in England, would now bear witness to the extensive air defense array prepared for them by Gen. Gerstenberg. Continuing through the withering maelstrom, the damage to "Hell's Wench" forced Baker and Jerstad to lose their bomb load in order to maintain lead of the formation over their target at the Columbia Aquila refinery. Despite heavy losses by the 93rd, Baker and Jerstad maintained course and, once clear, began to climb away. Realizing the aircraft was a loss, both men maintained the climb in order to permit the crew to abandon the aircraft. Although none survived, both Baker and Jerstad would be posthumously awarded the Medal of HonorMedal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
for maintaining their successful approach to Columbia Aquila and their efforts to save the crew of "Hell's Wench."
Maj. Ramsay D. Potts flying "The Duchess" and Maj. George S. Brown aboard "Queenie", encountering heavy smoke over Columbia Aquila, would take two additional elements of the 93rd and successfully drop their payloads over the Astra Romana, Unirea Orion, and Columbia Aquila refineries. In all, the 93rd lost 11 aircraft over their targets in Ploiești.
Concordia Vega and first Steaua Română attacks
Air defenses were heavy over the 376th's target (Romana Americana), and Gen. Ent instructed Compton to attack "targets of opportunity." Most of the 376th B-24s bombed the Steaua Română refinery at CampinaCampina
Campina can refer to:*Câmpina, a Romanian city.*Campina, a Dutch dairy company merged with Royal Friesland foods. The name of the new company is FrieslandCampina.*Campina GmbH, a German subsidiary of the Dutch dairy cooperative FrieslandCampina-See also:...
from the east, and five headed directly into the already smoldering conflagration over the Concordia Vega refinery. At Campina
Campina
Campina can refer to:*Câmpina, a Romanian city.*Campina, a Dutch dairy company merged with Royal Friesland foods. The name of the new company is FrieslandCampina.*Campina GmbH, a German subsidiary of the Dutch dairy cooperative FrieslandCampina-See also:...
, air defenses on overlooking hills were able to fire down into the formation, and IAR 80
IAR 80
The IAR 80 was a Romanian World War II low-wing, monoplane, all-metal construction fighter aircraft and ground-attack aircraft. When it first flew, in 1939, it was comparable to most contemporary designs like the German Bf 109E, the British Hawker Hurricane, and the Supermarine Spitfire...
aircraft downed 376th aircraft.
Astra Română and Columbia Aquila attacks
With the 93rd and 376th engaged over the target area, Col. John R. KaneJohn R. Kane
John Riley Kane was a colonel in the United States Army Air Forces and later the United States Air Force who received the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, in World War II. A native of Texas, Kane joined the Army Air Forces after graduating from Baylor University...
of the 98th Bomb Group and Col. Leon W. Johnson
Leon W. Johnson
General Leon William Johnson was a United States Air Force 4-star general and World War II Medal of Honor recipient.-Early life:...
of the 44th Bomb Group made their prescribed turn at Floresti and proceeded to their respective targets at the Asta Romana and Columbia Aquila refineries. Both groups would find German and Romanian defenses on full alert and faced the full effects of now raging oil fires, heavy smoke, secondary explosions, and delayed-fuse bombs dropped by Baker's 93rd Bomb Group on their earlier run. Both Kane and Johnson's approach, parallel to the Floresti-to-Ploiești railway had the unfortunate distinction of encountering Gerstenberg's disguised flak train. At tree-top level, around 50 ft (15.2 m) above the ground, the 98th would find themselves to the left and the 44th on the right. The advantage, however, would rest with the 98th and 44th, whose gunners quickly responded to the threat, disabling the locomotive and killing multiple air defense crews.
With the effects of the 93rd and 376th's runs causing difficulties locating and bombing their primary targets, both Kane and Johnson did not deviate from their intended targets, taking heavy losses in the process. Their low approach even enabled gunners to engage in continued ground suppression of air defense crews from directly above their targets. For their leadership and heroism, both were awarded the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
. Lt. Col. James T. Posey took 21 of the 44th's aircraft on a separate assigned attack run on the Creditul Minier refinery just south of Ploiești. Although air defense batteries had already heavily engaged the 93rd, Posey was fully received by the same emplacements. Maintaining a continued low-level approach into the target area took some of the still heavily laden aircraft through tall grass and damage was caused by low-level obstructions. Posey and his aircraft—equipped with heavier 1000 lb (453.6 kg) bombs—managed to successfully find their marks at Creditul Minier, without loss to the formation.
Second Steaua Română attack
The last TIDAL WAVE attack bombed the Steaua Română refinery (8 mi (12.9 km) northwest of Ploiești) at Câmpina. The 389th attack led by Col. Jack Wood was as rehearsed at BenghaziBenghazi
Benghazi is the second largest city in Libya, the main city of the Cyrenaica region , and the former provisional capital of the National Transitional Council. The wider metropolitan area is also a district of Libya...
. The damage caused by the 376th and 389th attacks heavily damaged the refinery, which did not resume production for the duration of the war. The 389th lost four aircraft over the target area, including B-24 "Ole Kickapoo" flown by 2nd Lt. Lloyd Herbert Hughes
Lloyd Herbert Hughes
Lloyd Herbert "Pete" Hughes, Jr., , a second lieutenant in the United States Army Air Forces who received the Medal of Honor for his actions in Operation Tidal Wave during World War II.-Early life and family:...
. After hits to the "Ole Kickapoo" only 30 feet over the target area, the detonation of previously dropped bombs had ignited fuel leaking from the B-24. Hughes maintained course for bombardier 2nd Lt. John A. McLoughlin to bomb, and the B-24 subsequently crash-landed in a river bed. Hughes (who posthumously received the Medal of Honor) and five crewmembers were killed, four survived the crash but died of injuries, and two gunners became prisoners of war.
Return flight
Only 88 B-24s returned to Libya, of which 55 had battle damage. Losses included 44 to air defenses and additional B-24s that ditched in the Mediterranean or were interned (e.g. a few landed in the neutral country Turkey). Some were diverted (e.g. to the RAF airfieldRAF Nicosia
The former Royal Air Force Station Nicosia, commonly known as RAF Nicosia, was a Royal Air Force airbase in Cyprus. RAF Nicosia was Headquarters Royal Air Force Cyprus from 8 June to 29 July 1941...
on Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
), and one B-24 with 365 shell holes in it landed in Libya 14 hours after departing.http://www.airartnw.com/tidalwave.htm
Result
310 aircrewmen were killed, 108 were captured by the Axis, and 78 were interned in Turkey. Three of the five Medals of Honor (the most for any single air action in history) were awarded posthumously. Allied assessment of the attack estimated a loss of 40% of the refining capacity at the Ploiești refineries, although some refineries were largely untouched. Most of the damage was repaired within weeks, after which the net output of fuel was greater than before the raid. Circa September, the Enemy Oil Committee appraisal of Ploiești bomb damage indicated "no curtailment of overall product output" as many of the refineries had been operating previously below maximum capacity.Ninth Air Force order of battle
- Ninth Air Force groups
-
- 98th Bombardment Group (Heavy)98th Range WingThe 98th Range Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Combat Command Air Warfare Center. The unit is stationed at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada as a tenant unit....
(Pyramiders), Col. John R. KaneJohn R. KaneJohn Riley Kane was a colonel in the United States Army Air Forces and later the United States Air Force who received the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, in World War II. A native of Texas, Kane joined the Army Air Forces after graduating from Baylor University...
° - 376th Bombardment Group (Heavy)376th Air Expeditionary WingThe 376th Air Expeditionary Wing is a provisional United States Air Force Air Combat Command unit. It is currently stationed at the Transit Center at Manas International Airport, Kyrgyz Republic...
(Liberandos), Col. Keith K. Compton°°
- 98th Bombardment Group (Heavy)
- Eighth Air Force groups
- 44th Bombardment Group (Heavy) (Flying Eight Balls), Col. Leon W. JohnsonLeon W. JohnsonGeneral Leon William Johnson was a United States Air Force 4-star general and World War II Medal of Honor recipient.-Early life:...
° - 93rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) (Ted's Timberlake's Travelling Circus), Lt.Col. Addison E. BakerAddison BakerLieutenant Colonel Addison Earl Baker was commander of the 93rd Bombardment Group in the U.S. Army Air Forces who led the group on the low-altitude Allied bombing mission of oil refineries at Ploieşti, Romania, Operation Tidal Wave...
°, Maj. John L. JerstadJohn L. JerstadJohn Louis "Jack" Jerstad was a United States Army Air Forces officer who was posthumously awarded the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor...
° - 389th Bombardment Group (Heavy) (Sky Scorpions), Col. Jack W. Wood°°, 2nd Lt. Lloyd Herbert HughesLloyd Herbert HughesLloyd Herbert "Pete" Hughes, Jr., , a second lieutenant in the United States Army Air Forces who received the Medal of Honor for his actions in Operation Tidal Wave during World War II.-Early life and family:...
°
- 44th Bombardment Group (Heavy) (Flying Eight Balls), Col. Leon W. Johnson
- °Awarded Medal of HonorMedal of HonorThe Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
- °°Awarded Distinguished Service CrossDistinguished Service Cross (United States)The Distinguished Service Cross is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Army, for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. Actions that merit the Distinguished Service Cross must be of such a high degree...
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