Ploesti | James Dugan, Carroll Stewart

On August 1, 1943, an enormous armada of America B-24 Liberator bombers roared at nearly treetop level across the peaceful farms and villages of Romania. This mission was Operation Tidal Wave. Its target - "the taproot of German might, " Hitler's giant oil refineries at Ploesti. Hundreds of U. S. airmen volunteered for the mission despite warnings that half might not return. In thirty minutes, more firepower was exchanged than in two Gettysburgs, and five men earned the Medal of Honor. This revised edition includes a new foreword and additional photographs from co-author Carroll Stewart's collection. Ploesti presents a vivid reconstruction of a dramatic and controversial mission.