The Daring World War II Raid on Ploesti

by William R. Bradle

Overview

An in-depth look at the doomed U.S. Army Air Force attack on Romanian oil fields vital to Hitler’s success.

In 1943, the Allied powers were grasping for anything to undercut Hitler’s power and relieve his relentless pressure on the Red Army, which had already suffered a staggering 11 million casualties. The U.S. Army Air Force planned Operation Tidal Wave, which would take off from Benghazi, Libya, fly low and maintain complete radio silence to escape Axis observation, and bomb Hitler’s vital oil fields in Ploesti, Romania. On August 1, 177 B-24 bombers prepared to take off. Fourteen hours later, only 88 B-24s returned.

 

Operation Tidal Wave was a massive strategic defeat. However, it proved the mettle of the USAAF and provided a rallying point for the public. Author William R. Bradle offers the definitive account of this doomed operation—the strengths, weaknesses, heroism, and failings—and takes readers into the thick of the action with thrilling accounts from many of the crews.

Praise for The Daring World War II Raid on Ploesti

“This account of the Ploesti mission…does an admirable job of laying out the planning, personalities, and attendant conflicts among many participants, the mistakes made and losses inflicted by the Germans and Romanians…. An eminently readable story that further emphasizes and demonstrates the mettle of the Greatest Generation.”—New York Journal of Books

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781455622191
Publisher:	Arcadia Publishing SC
Publication date:	07/02/2021
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	289
Sales rank:	365,020
File size:	6 MB

About the Author

William R. Bradle earned a BA in modern European history and an MBA in finance from the University of Illinois. He studied at the University of Vienna and graduated from the senior executive program at Stanford University. Bradle’s historical articles have been published in Old News, Porsche, and 356 Registry.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 The World in 1942 11

Chapter 2 Doolittle Awarded Medal of Honor / Halverson Goes Home 21

Chapter 3 The Washington Decision 35

Chapter 4 The Planning 45

Chapter 5 The Gathering 53

Chapter 6 The Attackers 69

Chapter 7 The Weapons 83

Chapter 8 The Defenders 93

Chapter 9 D-Day Minus One 107

Chapter 10 Last-Minute Details 119

Chapter 11 Takeoff 131

Chapter 12 The Germans Alerted 139

Chapter 13 Speed and Separation 145

Chapter 14 Targets of Opportunity 157

Chapter 15 White IV Hit Early 169

Chapter 16 Killer Kane on Target 179

Chapter 17 Eight-Balls on Target 193

Chapter 18 Smart Vindicated 205

Chapter 19 Meeting Royalty 215

Chapter 20 Going Home 229

Chapter 21 End of the Day 245

Notes 249

Bibliography 267

Index 279