: 26, 9 April 1945. Romania (via the Ploesti oil fields and refining complexes) supplied near all of Germany’s “normal” petroleum products – with the balance largely coming from “synthetic” methods of producing close-enough products from other starting resources (such as coal, which Germany had in abundance). Bombing Raids on the Ploesti Oil Fields 1942-43 These two films commemorate the costly missions flown by the US Army Air Force against the Ploesti oil fields in Romania in 1943-44. Early in World War II, the Allies identified Ploesti as … August 1st marks the 73rd Anniversary of the first mission. It was one of the largest producers in Europe and Ploiesti was a major part of that production. The attack was to take place between the end of the North African campaign and the invasion of Sicily and would emanate from recently evacuated fields around Benghazi in Libya. Pilot Lyle Spencer, co-pilot Harry J. Baker, bombardier Boyden Supiani. 1st August 1943: USAAF long distance, low level raid on Ploesti oil fields I looked out to the right for a moment and saw a sheet of raw gasoline trailing Pete’s left wing. In the summer of 1943, the U.S. Army Air Force launched the audacious Operation Tidal Wave, an effort to destroy the largest supply of oil production for the German war machine in Ploesti, Romania.. Oct 24, 2016 - Explore john m's board "Ploesti, Romania ww2" on Pinterest. The HALPRO Ploesti raid was less effective a mission than it was a foreshadowing. Film #2 - The Air Force Story - Ploesti 1944 - This film covers the high-level raid on the Ploesti oil refineries from March to August 1944 by the 8th and 15th Air Forces. Romania was Hitler’s major source of oil, since he had failed to conquer the Russian fields. * U.S. Halverson earned the Silver Star for leading the Ploesti raid. Bombers returning from a mission to Ploesti. In the summer of 1943, the USAAF decided to stage a major raid on Ploesti from air bases in Libya. Colonel Kane, who was known to his men as Killer Kane, led what was considered one of the most dangerous raids of the war against the Ploesti oil fields on Aug. 1, 1943. A third of them would never return. Includes great B-24 footage as well as some gun camera footage. Only by hitting and destroying specific structures like the boiler houses, cracking towers, powerhouses, and stills would a modern oil plant be put out of action. One third never returned. Ploesti was a WW2 oil boom city in the plains below the Transylvanian Alps in the North, and the Romanian capitol of Bucharest in the south. SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL called Ploesti, Romania, "the taproot of German might", because this is where the Nazi Third Reich obtained much of its oil. This vintage newsreel documents the daring bombing mission over the oil fields of Nazi-controlled Ploesti, Romania. For some, Lady Luck frowned, but for others, she gave her friendliest smile. In the foreground is B-24D Li’l Jughaid, serial number 42-63758, Ninth Air Force, 98th Bombardment Group, 415th Bombardment Squadron. Five oil refineries circled the city--Ploesti was "the premier oil target of the continent"--thus one of Europe's most heavily-defended cities. By the second half of 1944, once the advancing Red Army had torn Ploesti and its oil fields back out of the Third Reich, Hitler's forces had become almost entirely dependent on synthetic fuel production. Romania was the site of the famed German-controlled oil fields of Ploesti, the target of heavy Allied bombing during the war. See more ideas about wwii bomber, ww2, wwii aircraft. Ploesti’s (pronounced Ploi-yhest) refineries were arranged like the reefs and islands around a lagoon, with the city in the center. Ironically, Ploesti’s first refineries had been built with American backing, but nine decades later Bucharest was allied with Berlin. Ploesti 1943 – The Great Raid On Hitler’s Romanian Oil Refineries Operation Tidal Wave was one of the boldest and most controversial air raids by the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF). [citation needed] Finally, the air raids on the Ploesti oil fields and refineries in August 1943 destroyed 50 percent of the Romanian refinery capacity. B-24 Liberator bombers over Ploesti oil fields during Operation Tidal Wave, Romania, 1 Aug 1943. The Ploesti oil-refining complex produced 60 percent of the petroleum products used by the Axis in Europe; the remainder was spread over many small complexes in Germany and the occupied countries. To learn more about The Military Network, go to www.redafilms.com About 30 percent of the oil consumed by the German economy was refined in Ploesti, and some estimates claimed that target destruction would shorten the war by six months. B-24 Liberators at low altitude while approaching the oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania, August 1, 1943. He stuck right in formation with us. Ploesti was crucial for the Axis, but Romania wasn’t Germany’s main source of oil. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty, 23 June 1944 near Ploesti, Rumania, while flying as bombardier of a B17 type aircraft. See more ideas about wwii bomber, ww2 aircraft, ww2 aircraft, planes... Oil necessary to keep the German war machine running oil Refinery facilities located some 30 miles north of Bucharest Romania. 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