Tidal Wave (1943)

Operation Tidal Wave

Part of Oil Campaign of World War II and Eastern Front

A B-24 Liberator called "Sandman" during a bomb run over the Ploiești Astra Romana refinery during Operation Tidal Wave.

Date	1 August 1943
Location	Romanian refineries: Câmpina: Steaua Română (Target "RED") Ploiești: Româno-Americană ("WHITE I") Ploiești: Concordia Vega ("WHITE II") Ploiești: Standard Petrol Block, Unirea Speranţa ("WHITE III") Ploiești: Astra Română, Unirea Orion ("WHITE IV") Ploiești: Columbia Aquila ("WHITE V") Brazi: Creditul Minier ("Target BLUE")
Result	Axis victory

Belligerents

United States

Nazi Germany

Romania

Bulgaria

Commanders and leaders

Strength

177 B-24s (162 over the target)

Heavy anti-aircraft defenses, 52 Bf 109s, Bf 110s, and IAR-80s

Casualties and losses

53 B-24s destroyed
55 B-24s damaged
440 killed and 220 captured or missing

2 Bf 109s
1 Bf 110
1 IAR 80B
16 killed and 50 wounded

Operation Tidal Wave was an air attack by bombers of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) based in Libya and Southern Italy on nine oil refineries around Ploiești, Romania on 1 August 1943, during World War II. It was a strategic bombing mission and part of the "oil campaign" to deny petroleum-based fuel to the Axis. The mission resulted in "no curtailment of overall product output".

This mission was one of the costliest for the USAAF in the European Theater, with 53 aircraft and 660 aircrewmen lost. It was the second-worst loss ever suffered by the USAAF on a single mission and its date was later referred to as "Black Sunday". Five Medals of Honor and numerous Distinguished Service Crosses were awarded to Operation Tidal Wave crew members.

Romania had been a major power in the oil industry since the 1800s. It was one of the largest producers in Europe and Ploesti was a major part of that production. (see Bombing of Romania in World War II). The Ploiești oil refineries provided about 30% of all Axis oil production.

In June 1942, 13 B-24 Liberators of the "Halverson project" (HALPRO) attacked Ploiești. Though damage was small, Germany responded by putting strong anti-aircraft defenses around Ploiești. Luftwaffe General Alfred Gerstenberg built one of the heaviest and best-integrated air defense networks in Europe. The defenses included several hundred large-caliber 88mm guns and 10.5 cm FlaK 38 anti-aircraft guns, and many more small-caliber guns. The latter were concealed in haystacks, railroad cars, and mock buildings. The Luftwaffe had three fighter groups within flight range of Ploiești (52 Bf 109 fighters and Bf 110 night fighters, and some Romanian IAR-80 fighters). Gerstenberg also counted on warnings from the Luftwaffe signals intelligence station in Athens, which monitored Allied preparations as far away as North Africa.

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Wikipedia