Ploesti 1943: The great raid on Hitler's Romanian oil refineries

Operation Tidal Wave was a daring but controversial air raid on the Romanian Ploesti oil fields in 1943, losing 53 aircraft and causing significant damage to the refinery capacity. However, subsequent studies showed that the damage was quickly repaired and output exceeded August levels within a month. This new study examines the raid in detail, exploring the reasons behind its dubious success and its high price.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 96 pages
Publication date: 31 October 2019
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

The USAAF's Operation Tidal Wave was a daring and controversial air raid on the Romanian Ploesti oil fields, which produced a third of all Axis oil and was Germany's most important fuel source. The raid, conducted in August 1943, resulted in the loss of 53 aircraft, including 88 B-24s, and was one of the costliest to date. Despite the mission's bravery and heroism, it had questionable results, with initial assessments suggesting that 40% of the refinery capacity at Ploesti was lost. However, 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 battle scenes and birds-eye views, this is the full story of the audacious Ploesti raid of 1943.

Weight: 316g
Dimension: 245 x 248 x 3 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781472831804