Ploesti 1943

Author : Steven J. Zaloga
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
Page : 97 pages
File Size : 46,7 Mb
Release : 2019-10-31
Category : History
ISBN : 9781472831972

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Ploesti 1943 by Steven J. Zaloga Pdf

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.

Author : James Dugan,Carroll Stewart
Publisher : Potomac Books
Page : 358 pages
File Size : 46,7 Mb
Release : 1998
Category : History
ISBN : STANFORD:36105020177585

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Ploesti by James Dugan,Carroll Stewart Pdf

On August 1, 1943, an enormous armada of American B-24 Liberator bombers roared at nearly treetop level across the peaceful farms and villages of Romania. Their target: "the taproot of German might", Hitler's giant oil refineries of Ploesti. Hundreds of U.S. airmen volunteered for the mission despite warnings that half might not return. In thirty minutes, more firepower was exchanged than in two Gettysburgs, and five men won the Medal of Honor. Ploesti is a vivid and masterful reconstruction of the dramatic and controversial mission.

Author : William R. Bradle
Publisher : Arcadia Publishing
Page : 287 pages
File Size : 54,7 Mb
Release : 2017-06-01
Category : History
ISBN : 9781455622191

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The Daring World War II Raid on Ploesti by William R. Bradle Pdf

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

Author : Marshall Michel III
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
Page : 97 pages
File Size : 55,9 Mb
Release : 2020-01-23
Category : History
ISBN : 9781472838681

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Schweinfurt–Regensburg 1943 by Marshall Michel III Pdf

In 1943, the USAAF and RAF launched the Combined Bomber Offensive, designed to systematically destroy the industries that the German war machine relied on. At the top of the hit list were aircraft factories and plants making ball-bearings – a component thought to be a critical vulnerability. Schweinfurt in southern Germany was home to much of the ball-bearing industry and, together with the Messerschmitt factory in Regensburg, which built Bf 109 fighters, it was targeted in a huge and innovative strike. Precision required that the targets were hit in daylight, but the raid was beyond the range of any existing escort fighter, so the B-17s would go in unprotected. The solution was to hit the two targets in a coordinated 'double-strike', with the Regensburg strike hitting first, drawing off the defending Luftwaffe fighters, and leaving the way clear for the Schweinfurt bombers. The Regensburg force would carry on over the Alps to North Africa, the first example of US 'shuttle bombing'. Although the attack on Regensburg was successful, the damage to Schweinfurt only temporarily stalled production, and the Eighth Air Force had suffered heavy losses. It would take a sustained campaign, not just a single raid, to cripple the Schweinfurt works. However, when a follow-up raid was finally launched two months later, the losses sustained were even greater. This title explains how the USAAF launched its daylight bombing campaign in 1943, the technology and tactics available for the Schweinfurt-Regensburg missions, and how these costly failures forced a change of tack.

Author : Steven J. Zaloga
Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing
Page : 97 pages
File Size : 53,7 Mb
Release : 2019-10-31
Category : History
ISBN : 9781472831965

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Ploesti 1943 by Steven J. Zaloga Pdf

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.

Author : Lieutenant Colonel Robert J. Modrovsky
Publisher : Pickle Partners Publishing
Page : 47 pages
File Size : 45,7 Mb
Release : 2014-08-15
Category : History
ISBN : 9781782897439

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1 August 1943 - Today's Target Is Ploesti: A Departure From Doctrine by Lieutenant Colonel Robert J. Modrovsky Pdf

The focus of this paper will be on the 1 August 1943 bombing raid on the Ploesti oil field and refineries by an American task force composed of bombardment groups of the Eighth and Ninth Air Forces. The Ploesti raid stood apart from the rest of the war in the air. The idea for it, and the unusual tactics employed, came from the top; it generated from General Arnold’s headquarters and was approved by President Roosevelt. Winston Churchill called Ploesti “the taproot of German might.” It was not a part of any particular campaign, but was considered vital in itself. It was painstakingly planned and executed relatively quickly by the best-prepared and most experienced force available at the time. It was also fought with unparalleled bravery, the sole action of the war for which five Congressional Medals of Honor were awarded. The purpose in examining Ploesti is to first gain a complete understanding of the events leading to the planning for the raid, the raid itself, and finally the impact on the Germans in its aftermath. With this established, the intent is to assess the raid while keeping one fascinating question in mind - after building a doctrine for twenty years based on high altitude, daylight, precision bombing, why, in its first major bombing effort, did the United States “depart from doctrine” and conduct a low level bombing mission on Ploesti, the only low-level bombing mission conducted in the war?

Author : Ron Dick
Publisher : Air Force History & Museums Program
Page : 572 pages
File Size : 50,7 Mb
Release : 1997
Category : History
ISBN : IND:30000057002838

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Reach and Power by Ron Dick Pdf

This illustrated oversize vol. commemorates the 50th ann'y. of the creation of the U.S. Air Force (USAF) as a fully independent branch of the military in 1947. Covers the accomplishments and actions in the history of American aviation, which predates the creation of the USAF: from the era of the Wright biplanes before and through WWI; the years of development between 1919 and 1941; the harrowing maturation of the force during WWII's global fight; the creation of the service itself; its tempering during the Berlin Airlift and the Korean War; the long watch of the Cold War; the grueling conflict in Southeast Asia; the rebuilding of the force in the 1970s and 1980s; air power's triumph in the Gulf War, and its use since then for both humanitarian and combat operations.

Author : Anonim
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 128 pages
File Size : 54,7 Mb
Release : 1991
Category : Aeronautics
ISBN : IND:30000106079357

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Airman by Anonim Pdf

Author : Anonim
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 974 pages
File Size : 47,7 Mb
Release : 1952
Category : Aeronautics
ISBN : STANFORD:36105008375458

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Air Corps News Letter by Anonim Pdf

Author : Anonim
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 588 pages
File Size : 45,5 Mb
Release : 2016
Category : Aeronautics
ISBN : UGA:32108057579842

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Air Force Magazine by Anonim Pdf

Author : Roger Freeman
Publisher : After the Battle
Page : 160 pages
File Size : 52,6 Mb
Release : 2004-05-30
Category : History
ISBN : 9781399076746

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Ploesti Through The Lens by Roger Freeman Pdf

The Ploesti Raid took place on Sunday, August 1, 1943 and, but for a navigational error which put the leading formation on a course away from the target, the operation might have resulted in the destruction of the seven chosen targets. However, by the time the mistake was realized, the defenses were on the alert and over 20 Liberators were brought down in and around Ploesti. A further 35 aircraft were lost. Although the operation resulted in the award of five Medals of Honor — America’s highest decoration for bravery — the cost was high: 308 airmen lost their lives and 208?were taken prisoner or interned. Out of the 1,753 men who are known to have set out on the mission, a total of 516 failed to return.

Author : Robert J. Modrovsky
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 42 pages
File Size : 43,7 Mb
Release : 1999
Category : Air warfare
ISBN : OCLC:71142095

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1 August 1943 -- Today's Target is Ploesti by Robert J. Modrovsky Pdf

The focus of this paper will be on the 1 August 1943 bombing raid on the Ploesti oil field and refineries by an American task force composed of bombardment groups of the Eighth and Ninth Air Forces. The Ploesti raid stood apart from the rest of the war in the air. The idea for it, and the unusual tactics employed, came from the top; it generated from General Arnold's headquarters and was approved by President Roosevelt. Winston Churchill called Ploesti the taproot of German might. It was not a part of any particular campaign, but was considered vital in itself. It was painstakingly planned and executed relatively quickly by the best-prepared and most experienced force available at the time. It was also fought with unparalleled bravery, the sole action of the war for which five Congressional Medals of Honor were awarded. The purpose in examining Ploesti is to first gain a complete understanding of the events leading to the planning for the raid, the raid itself, and finally the impact on the Germans in its aftermath. With this established, the intent is to assess the raid while keeping one fascinating question in mind after building a doctrine for twenty years based on high altitude, daylight, precision bombing, why, in its first major bombing effort, did the United States depart from doctrine and conduct a low level bombing mission on Ploesti, the only low-level bombing mission conducted in the war?

Author : Air Force Association
Publisher : Turner Publishing Company
Page : 206 pages
File Size : 53,5 Mb
Release : 1998
Category : Electronic
ISBN : 9781563114090

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Air Force Fifty by Air Force Association Pdf

Author : Anonim
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 874 pages
File Size : 41,5 Mb
Release : 2017
Category : Aeronautics
ISBN : UGA:32108059227812

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Air Force and Space Digest by Anonim Pdf

Author : Michael Hill,Mike Hill
Publisher : Schiffer Military History
Page : 264 pages
File Size : 50,5 Mb
Release : 1993
Category : History
ISBN : PSU:000031432597

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Black Sunday by Michael Hill,Mike Hill Pdf

Detailed, first-person account of the famed low-level B-24 raid over the Ploesti oilfields on August 1, 1943.