On August 1, 1943, 177 B-24 bombers took off from Benghazi, Libya in Operation Tidal Wave, a mission to destroy oil refineries in Ploesti, Romania. Nearly one-third of them never returned. The distance was too far for fighter escort, the bombers flew too low trying to avoid radar detection, and at that altitude anti-aircraft defenses were too strong. While some damage was inflicted, it was not enough to justify our losses. Eight months later, we now have air bases in Foggia, Italy, less than 600 miles away from Ploesti. Now we can have fighters - late model P-38 Lightnings and P-51 Mustangs equipped with drop tanks - escort our bombers all the way to Ploesti and back. Now we will return and finish the job properly. Now is the time for Ploesti Revisited.
