The raid on Ploesti was a strategic bombing mission by the Army Air Force during World War II to put 9 Romanian oil refineries out of action for six months, thus turning off the oil supply for the German war machine.
The mission ,which was called "Tidal Wave", occurred on 1 August, 1943. The raid produced five Medals of Honor that were awarded to Tidal Wave crew members. It was also called "Black Sunday" due to the loss of 53 aircraft and 660 crew. The mission was one of the costliest by the Army Air Forces in the European theater during World War II. Only 88 B-24s returned to Libya and only 33 were fit for service the following day. The raid was to consist of 178 aircraft with a total of 1,764 personnel. The mission was one of the largest commitments of American heavy bombers and crew up to that time.
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MAJOR BILL BERGAN
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