Tidal Wave

[Jack Cook]

A whole loota hurt is coming

[Dan K]

Neither bombardiers nor Luftwaffe flak crews could miss the target, could they.

Has mankind ever witnessed another aerial drama such as this?

[Kyleb]

Is that photo looking forward or looking aft?

Just curious.

[Curtis Block]

You would think I would have seen that one before. Great shot. I wonder why it hasn't been more circulated? What is the date / target?

[Steve Nelson]

I really wish someone would make a movie about Operation Tidal Wave (as long as it isn't Michael Bay/Jerry Bruckhiemer!) Of course there are no flying B-24Ds, but I think with modern CGI it could be done convincingly.

SN

[JDK]

Has mankind ever witnessed another aerial drama such as this?

Depends on your criteria. The Amiens prison raid was remarkable and is often overlooked.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Jericho

[Dan K]

Somehow I knew you couldn't leave that comment lie, James!

Yes, Amiens. I know the basics, but perhaps someone more familiar with the raid could compare/contrast.

Criteria:

1) Luftwaffe radar had alerted Ploesti flak crews the aircraft were inbound...over an hour of advanced warning. I don't know about Amiens.

2) Flak emplacements at Ploesti numbered in the hundreds. I don't know about Amiens.

3) B-24 = slower, larger target compared to Mossie.

4) Tidal Wave required getting 150+ 4-engined aircraft over roughly same airspace at low level. Number of aircraft at Amiens: 19 Mosquitoes and ?? Tiffies.

5) Total number of allied aircrew in harm's way. I guess we'll have to answer #4 to know.

6) Low-level flying conditions at Ploesti were, well, he11ish. The amount of heat and smoke coming off the burn rendered flight controls dysfunctional and visibility nil. Conditions at Amiens?

7) 5 Medals of Honor awarded...3 posthumously (2 aboard same craft). All participants a DFC. Number of Victoria Crosses, DFC's, etc. at Amiens?

8. Unescorted survivors subjected to fighter attack on lengthy return flight. Amiens was attacked by faster Mosquito, which was protected by fighter escort...comparatively shorter return flight.

Amiens dramatic? Yes. Comparable to Tidal Wave. It wouldn't appear so.

[Stratofortressflyer]

Actually every one who flew in Tidal Wave got the Silver Star, except for the RAF guy who snuck on as a gunner, he was reprimanded and sent back to the UK

[snj5]

When I was deployed to Romania in the late 90s from Ramstein, I saw a highway sign marking the road to Ploesti from our airfield near Bucherest, so I brought it up. When you talk to their military (Romanian) about the Ploesti raid, it is so interesting as it is a TOTALLY different spin than what many of us Americans were brought up hearing. Romanians likewise honor the 'brave defenders of Ploesti' against the vile savage ruthless unscrupulous attackers of the Allied powers who were turned back. I thought I'd let the subject rest while I was there.

Whoever controls the history books......

[Tigercat]

Here is one of the Medal Of Honor recipients from the Tidal Wave mission, Colonel (at the time of the strike) Leon William Johnson. Col. Johnson was the commander of the 44th Bomb Group (The Flying Eightballs) during the Aug. 1, 1943 mission to Ploesti.




A photo of the Medal Of Honor ceremony for Col. Johnson on the 44th B.G. base at Shipdam, England after their return to the European Theater of Operation.




Ted

[Dan K]

When I was deployed to Romania in the late 90s from Ramstein, I saw a highway sign marking the road to Ploesti from our airfield near Bucherest, so I brought it up. When you talk to their military (Romanian) about the Ploesti raid, it is so interesting as it is a TOTALLY different spin than what many of us Americans were brought up hearing. Romanians likewise honor the 'brave defenders of Ploesti' against the vile savage ruthless unscrupulous attackers of the Allied powers who were turned back. I thought I'd let the subject rest while I was there.

Whoever controls the history books......

Thanks for commenting.

From what I recall reading, it seems that the American POW's of Tidal Wave were treated especially well by their Romanian captors. The feeling in 1943 seemed to be that the Romanians were impressed by the nature of the low-level attack; that the Americans had gone "above and beyond" reasonable effort to avoid harming the civilian population.

I'm sure that warm, fuzzy feeling changed for the Romanians when the USAAF changed over to the high-level missions.

[Dan K]

Major John Jerstad. As flames spread to the cockpit of 93rd BG "He11's Wench", Addison Baker and he held her on course into the target and into legend.

Major Jerstad was one of two Wisconsin USAAF boys to be awarded the MOH during WWII. The other was some kid named Bong.

[Chris]

Is that an LB-30 in Tigercats picture?

[Steve Nelson]

Definately a B-24D..I would assume a veteran of the raid.

I recall reading somewhere that the Romanians called the Tidal Wave fliers "Cavaliers," and as Dan K mentioned were respected for their attempts to avoid collateral damage. The crews on the later high-level strikes were regarded as more "cowardly."


SN