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.
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A new study of one of the most famous, costly, and strategically vital air operations of World War II, the United States' great airstrike against Nazi Germany's oil refineries.
IntroductionChronologyAttacker's CapabilitiesDefender's CapabilitiesCampaign ObjectivesOrder of BattleThe CampaignAnalysisConclusionBibliographyIndex
This is an excellent volume.
A new study of one of the most famous, costly, and strategically vital air operations of World War II, the United States' great airstrike against Nazi Germany's oil refineries.
An ambitious but costly attempt to cut Nazi Germany's oil supplies with a single long-range bombing raid against the Romanian refineries, Operation Tidal Wave is one of America's most famous raids of the war.
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Produktdetaljer

ISBN
9781472831804
Publisert
2019-10-31
Utgiver
Vendor
Osprey Publishing
Vekt
317 gr
Høyde
248 mm
Bredde
184 mm
Aldersnivå
G, P, 01, 06
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Heftet
Antall sider
96

Forfatter
Illustratør

Biographical note

Steven J. Zaloga received his BA in History from Union College and his MA from Columbia University. He has worked as an analyst in the aerospace industry for over two decades, covering missile systems and the international arms trade, and has served with the Institute for Defense Analyses, a federal think tank. He is the author of numerous books on military technology and military history, with an accent on the US Army in World War II as well as Russia and the former Soviet Union. He lives in Maryland, USA.

Steve Noon was born in Kent, UK, and attended art college in Cornwall. He’s had a life-long passion for illustration, and since 1985 has worked as a professional artist. He has provided award-winning illustrations for the publishers Dorling Kindersley, where his interest in historical illustration began. Steve has illustrated over 30 books for Osprey. He is based in South Wales, UK.