MISSION DATE: June 24, 1944
MISSION NBR. 90
TARGET: Ploesti, Rumania - Romana/Americana Oil Refinery
I. CHRONOLOGY
Thirty-nine
B-24's took off at 0530-0606 hours to bomb the Romana/Americana Oil Refinery at
Ploesti. Three returned early. Twenty-six dropped 63 tons of 500 lb G.P.
bombs on the target area from 21,000 – 22,500 feet at 0932 hours. Five jettisoned 11 tons as follows: one dropped 2 ½ tons because two engines
were out; one dropped 2 ½ tons because one engine was out; one dropped 2 ½ tons
near Sofia because one engine was out and one dropped 1 ton just beyond target
area due to rack malfunction.
Twenty-nine returned to base at 1259 hours. One returned to base at 1800 hours after stopping at friendly
airdrome to refuel. Four lost. Two missing. None at friendly fields.
II. ROUTE AND ASSAULT
Rendezvoused
with the 376th Bomb Group over San Pancrazio at 0659 hours at 12,000
feet on course to San Vito D' Normanni.
Rendezvous with other Wing Groups was ordered along line San Pancrazio
to San Vito D' Normanni but Wing rendezvous never was completed as the 449th
bomb Group made a 360 degree turn at the coast throwing the two forward groups
about four minutes ahead of the two trailing groups. Turns were made along course but the distance was never appreciably
lessened. Proceeded on course as
briefed to I.P. (Lake Snagov) where a turn inside the check point was mde due
entirely to the angle of turn but off approximately three miles. The target was attacked on an approximate
heading of 345 degrees, just sufficiently off to put the bombs to the right of
the aiming point. Rallied sharp right
and flew as briefed to base with no deviation from course.
III. RESULTS
Smoke
from pots in target area obscured aiming point and adversely affected visual
observations. Photo coverage revealed
main concentration of bombs 2800 feet east southeast of target area. Concentration was across railroad tracks
leading to Buzau.
IV.
ENEMY RESISTANCE
A. Fighters: About ten minutes before the
target, the formation was attacked by about 50 enemy fighters who continued the
assault for about twenty minutes. The
force consisted of 30-35 Me-109's, 10-15 FW-190's, 2 JU-88's and 3
ME-110's. The ME-109's had yellow noses
and appeared to be operated by skilled and resourceful pilots. The attacks were coordinated and for the
most part were made by units of threes and fours from 12 o'clock level. After flying through the formation, they
would reform and press home another attack on the same pattern. Sporadic passes were also made from other
angles with 5-7 aircraft remaining above the formation, presumably to pounce
upon B-24's split off from the formation or straggling. The fire consisted of 20mm cannon shells and
rockets.
First Attack Unit:
A. Plane #159: ME-109's, FW-190's and ME110's attacked from
all around the clock. The
initial attack from head-on in groups of three's. Very aggressive.
B. Plane #986: ME-109's and FW-190's made head on passes
from 3 to 9 o'clock.
C. Plane #164: ME-109's attacked from all directions, 2,000
feet above us.
D. Plane #196: ME-109's made passes from all around the
clock.
E. Plane #986: ME-109's made head-on attacks.
F. This B-24 missing, no details known.
G. Plane #777: ME-109's made nose attacks.
H. Plane # 973: ME-109's and FW-190's attacked around the
clock high and low, JU- 88's
lobbed rockets.
I. Plane #345: ME-109's attacked head-on and also at 6
o'clock.
J. Plane #570: ME-109's attacked from all angles and
altitudes.
K. Plane #620: ME-109's attacked from nose, firing rockets.
L. Plane #385: ME-109's attacked head-on, also from tail.
M. This B-24 landed at a friendly airfield.
N. Plane #152: ME-109's and FW-190's made head-on attacks.
Second Attack Unit:
AA. This B-24 missing, no details known.
BB. Plane #165: ME-109's attacked aggressively all around
the clock for a 20 minute period.
CC. Plane #159: ME-109's and FW-190's made nose attacks from
all angles.
DD. Plane #262: ME-109's and FW-190's made head on attacks.
EE. Plane # 443: ME-109's attacked all around the clock,
single, in pairs, and four abreast,
peeling off in formation. In one
instance, five enemy aircraft
stayed over formation feinting passes while other enemy aircraft attacked from
all angles.
FF. Plane #437: ME-109's and FW-190's made five or six
passes at nose and tail. GG.
Plane #-45: ME-109's attacked all around the clock. Six came in at 12 o'clock level.
HH. Plane #210:
ME-109's made 3 attacks at 12 and 6 o'clock. FW-190's came in twice
at 12 and 6 o'clock.
II. This B-24 missing, no details known.
JJ. Plane #231: ME-109's and FW-190'sattacked front and
rear.
KK. Plane #154:
ME-109's attacked aggressively.
LL. Plane #334:
10 o'clock dives was tactics employed by ME-109's and Fw-190's attacking
this aircraft.
MM. This B-24 missing, no details known.
NN. Plane #152: ME-109's attacked firing rockets.
OO. This B-24 missing, no details known.
PP. Plane #331: ME-109's made low nose attacks.
QQ. Plane #285: ME-109's and FW-190's came in at low 12
o'clock, high 10 o'clock and
low 6 o'clock.
A. Plane #205: 1 FW-190
attacked this plane, after it left formation due to engine trouble.
Aggressive tactics in attack form 3, 5, 6, 7 and 9 o'clock, firing
rockets, 20mm and machine guns,
closing in at time to 75 feet.
B. Plane #165: ME-109's and JU-88's attacked this plane
after it left the formation, due to hydraulic system being shot out. The enemy aircraft closed for a few minutes
from all angels but B-24 lost them in clouds.
B. Flak: Flak over the target was intense accurate and heavy and consisted of
black and red bursts. At Sofia it was
also intense, accurate and heavy. At
Bucharest and Skoplje it was moderate, accurate and heavy.
V.
OBSERVATIONS
At
0950 hours from 20,000 feet, 30 or more heavy aircraft were observed at
Ferrara. The airdrome showed evidence
of previous bombing. At 1210 hours from
16,000 feet it was observed that the airdrome at Terana was full of aircraft.
At
0818 hours from 16,000 feet, 200 wagons were observed in the marshalling yard
at Dupnitesa. At 0851 hours from 20,500
feet, 10 wagons were observed in the marshalling yard at Panlikene. At 1005 hours from 20,000 feet, 20-30 barges
were observed at Giurguin. At 1013
hours from 21,500 feet, about 50 barges were seen in the Danube River. At 1021 hours from 21,000 feet, 21 river
boats and barges were observed at Svishchor.
At 1057 hours from 16,000 feet, light activity was observed in the
marshalling yard at Ferrara.
VI. CASUALTIES
Two crew members er seriously wounded by fighters and three slightly
wounded. Four B-24's were shot down by
fighters. Two B-24's missing, reason
unknown. Twelve aircraft damaged by
fighters and 15 damaged by flak.
VII VICTORIES:
Destroyed Probable
Damaged
8
ME-109's 3
ME-109's 1
ME-109
2
FW-190's 1
JU-88
VIII. FLIGHT LEADERS:
Davis McGinnity Alexander Jefferson Dawkins Strieklin Peterson Skau