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eduard
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Info Eduard - May 2011
eduard
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Info Eduard - May 2011
This shot taken from another B-24 gives a clear idea
of how low the attacking heavy bombers ew in bombing
the Ploesti elds and raneries... (taken over the Astra
Romana Oil Renery).
Mission Centenarians – this patriotic label is besto-
wed upon bombers that have completed one hun-
dred missions over enemy territory. In terms of ope-
rational and non-operational losses, the milestone
was signicant and not possible without a constant
supply of spares. For example, ‘The Blue Streak’
received over the course of its service life, nineteen
new engines, two wings, and a replaced tail section.
This much work, and repairs conducted on bullet ho-
les and shrapnel damage, naturally had an impact
on the look of the aircraft.
Such notable accomplishments of these machines
demanded fully taking advantage of military re-
sources. Famous aircraft then would nd their way
back to the United States and take part in muste-
ring support through the War Bond Tours, by which
the American government was able to support its
war effort. For these purposes, the aircraft were of-
ten adorned with ‘modeler friendly’ marking sche-
mes. This kit, Cat No. 2111, offers you three such
machines. ‘CHUG-A-LUG’, ‘MOBY DICK’ and ‘THE
BLUE STREAK’, adorned with nose art, a long line
of mission markers, destroyed aircraft and ships,
and inscriptions, are offered to hopefully give the
best selection of subjects without requiring any
other modications. The selections chosen were ine-
vitable – these Liberators went through a long list
of modications, including different types of turrets.
The fourth aircraft – ‘THE VULGAR VIRGIN’ – ts
the theme of this release very well, despite not
actually achieving the century mission mark.
Two of the four aircraft took part in Operati-
on ‘Tidal Wave’. The purpose of this mission was
to take the Ploesti oil reneries out of commission.
This renery supplied some one third of the de-
mand of the Axis powers, and so logically found its
way into the cross-hairs of the Allies.
The attacks on Ploesti were several, but the best
known took place on August 1st, 1943. 178 Libera-
tors formated over Romania, coming from the 98th
BG, 376th BG, 44th BG, 93rd BG and the 389th
BG. The rst two belonged to the 9th AF, the other
three were from the 8th AF, transferred to Africa
specically for these raids.
The raids to and over the target were to be own
at low level, and so relevant modications were ca-
rried out. The bombsights were replaced, the ball
turrets were removed, and the bomb bays received
extra fuel tanks.
The rst Liberators took off at 0700h. After for-
mating they turned towards Romania. The plan that
called for low level ight ran into problems over
the mountains of Albania and Yugoslavia, where
a low ceiling was encountered. Navigation over un-
familiar territory also presented its problems. Some
of the waves of aircraft lost their way points, and
had to approach from other than planned directi-
ons. This lost the element of surprise. The Germans
naturally prepared for the eventuality of these
attacks. Besides the German and Romanian air for-
ces, the target area was well prepared and able
to protect the renery through anti-aircraft defen-
ces. The Germans spread defences around areas
that they knew were likely to serve as line-up points
to the target. For example, the rail line between
Floresti - Ploesti was such an area, and this prepa-
redness served the Germans well. Here, they shot
down several of the attacking aircraft, including
‘The Vulgar Virgin’. Besides ak, American losses
were also attributed to German and Romanian -
ghters, and the explosions of bombs from prece-
ding waves of bombers made things more difcult.
Some units were literally decimated. Of the ele-
ven Liberators that were contributed by the 345th
BS, 98th BG, only one returned - ‘CHUG-A-LUG’.
Two force landed on Sicily, one on Cyprus, six were
shot down, and one was written off after a crash
landing. Fifty-one airmen were lost, and nine were
captured.
The results of the raids can be considered di-
sappointing. Fuel production was back up to ca-
pacity after several weeks. The American raids
cost 53 aircraft and the lives of 306 airmen. Ano-
ther 139 were captured, and 69 were interned
in Turkey. Including the injured and wounded, losses
amounted to an unacceptable 55%. After the missi-
on, the Americans could press back into service only
one-sixth of the original number of aircraft, and
technical losses reached 33%. Five airmen were
awarded the highest commendation, the Medal
of Honour, three of them posthumously. This was un-
precedented, as this many of this award was never
awarded to this many participants of one mission. In
comparison, the Korean War produced four Medal
of Honour recipients, and the entire Viet Nam War,
thirteen. The Second World War saw 35.....
B-24D
HISTORY