Operation Tidal Wave

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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.

Romania had been a major power in the oil industry since the 1800s. It was one of the largest producers in Europe and Ploiesti was a major part of that production. The Ploiești oil refineries provided about 30% of all Axis oil production.

The bombers flew low to avoid radar detection and dropped time delayed bombs. Out of the 177 B-24s that took part in the raid 167 managed to attack their targets. 57 were lost in total; 54 over Ploesti and 3 in the sea. It was proportionally the most costly major Allied air raid of the war and its date was later referred to as «Black Sunday». Five Medals of Honor and 56 Distinguished Service Crosses along with numerous others awards went to Operation Tidal Wave crew members.

𝗟𝘁 𝗝.𝗪. 𝗗𝗶𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗲 𝗽𝗶𝗹𝗼𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕-𝟮𝟰𝗗 «𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗿»:
«I was the only ship to get back out of my flight and on the way back I didn't think I was going to make it into my home base because of my dwindling gas supply. I thought I was going to have to make a landing in the sea but as luck would have it I set my ship down on the old home grounds with sputtering engines, crew intact, and but one machine gun bullet in my number one engine to show for my efforts in the raid.»

At approximately 18,500 units, the B-24 holds records as the world's most produced bomber, heavy bomber, multi-engine aircraft, and American military aircraft in history.
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Text-Source: wikipedia / americanairmuseum.com