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Ebook183 pages1 hour
Ploesti 1943: The great raid on Hitler's Romanian oil refineries
By Steven J. Zaloga and Steve Noon
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
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About this ebook
Operation Tidal Wave was one of the boldest and most controversial air raids by the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF). At the time, the Romanian Ploesti oil fields produced about a third of all Axis oil, and was Germany's single most important fuel source. In the summer of 1943, the USAAF decided to stage a major raid on Ploesti from air bases in Libya. The resulting Operation Tidal Wave raid on 1 August 1943 was one of the costliest to date, losing 53 aircraft, about a third of the starting force. Of the more than 150 bombers that took part in the raid, only 88 B-24s returned to Libya, 55 of which were damaged. On the other hand, of the 17 Medals of Honor awarded to US soldiers and airmen from Pearl Harbor in 1941 to D-Day in 1944, 5 were awarded to pilots of the Tidal Wave mission in recognition of their extraordinary performance. Although undoubtedly bold and heroic, the mission had questionable results. Initial assessments argued that the mission caused 40% of the refinery capacity at Ploesti to be lost but subsequent studies concluded that the damage was quickly repaired and that output had exceeded August levels within a month.
This new study examines the raid in detail, exploring the reasons why its dubious success came at such a high price. Supported by maps, diagrams, and full-colour artwork including battlescenes and bird's-eye views, this is the full story of the audacious Ploesti raid of 1943.
This new study examines the raid in detail, exploring the reasons why its dubious success came at such a high price. Supported by maps, diagrams, and full-colour artwork including battlescenes and bird's-eye views, this is the full story of the audacious Ploesti raid of 1943.
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Author
Steven J. Zaloga
Steven J. Zaloga received his BA in History from Union College and his MA from Columbia University. He has worked as an analyst in the aerospace industry for three decades, covering missile systems and the international arms trade, and has served with the Institute for Defense Analyses, a federal think tank. He is the author of numerous books on military technology and history, including NVG 294 Allied Tanks in Normandy 1944 and NVG 283 American Guided Missiles of World War II. He currently lives in Maryland, USA.
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Reviews for Ploesti 1943
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
5/5
3 ratings2 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Excellent in all respects.
There is a saying that all plans in war
fall apart with the enemy's first shot.
German signal intelligence was usually
able to tell when an airstrike was
imminent : they listened when the
radio operators did their radio
checks before takeoff. Triangulation
would determine the approximate
location of these calls.
The order of battle of both sides,
which in some cases is bewildering,
was right-on-the-spot. The reader
could appreciate the airman's
odds in this endeavor.
Although a wrong turn contributed
to some lack of success, there were
other factors. These included -
1. a too ambitious plan;
2. insufficient info on enemy
defensive capabilities;
3. adherence to radio silence when
it was no longer warranted.
Imagine their courage. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5An in-depth view of the raids on the Roumanian oil industry during World War II. The Air Campaign series has proven to be a well-written and very well-illustrated group of books, and this volume is no exception. Students of USAAF bombers should find this volume of keen interest. Zaloga is one of Osprey's best authors, and he does his usual fine job, here. Recommended.