Air operation
Operation Tidal Wave (Ploiești raid)
1 August 1943 · Ploiești, Romania
On 1 August 1943 USAAF B-24 Liberators flew from Libya to strike nine oil refineries around Ploiești, Romania; 177 B-24s took part and 162 reached the target area. Axis defences included 36 heavy and 16 light or medium anti-aircraft batteries and 57 fighters within range. Allied planners estimated a 40% loss of refining capacity, but most damage was repaired within weeks. The raid destroyed 53 B-24s and damaged 55, killed or missed 310 American aircrew and led to about 190 being captured or interned; it is remembered as 'Black Sunday' and earned five Medals of Honor.
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- [1]Operation Tidal Wave
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