{"product_id":"ploesti-1943","title":"Ploesti 1943","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eOperation \u003ci\u003eTidal Wave\u003c\/i\u003e was one of the boldest and most controversial air raids by the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF).\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAt the time, the Romanian Ploesti oil fields produced about a third of all Axis oil, and was Germany’s single most important fuel source. In the summer of 1943, the USAAF decided to stage a major raid on Ploesti from air bases in Libya. The resulting Operation \u003ci\u003eTidal Wave\u003c\/i\u003e raid on 1 August 1943 was one of the costliest to date, losing 53 aircraft, about a third of the starting force. Of the more than 150 bombers that took part in the raid, only 88 B-24s returned to Libya, 55 of which were damaged.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOn the other hand, of the 17 Medals of Honor awarded to US soldiers and airmen from Pearl Harbor in 1941 to D-Day in 1944, 5 were awarded to pilots of the \u003ci\u003eTidal Wave\u003c\/i\u003e mission in recognition of their extraordinary performance. Although undoubtedly bold and heroic, the mission had questionable results. Initial assessments argued that the mission caused 40% of the refinery capacity at Ploesti to be lost but subsequent studies concluded that the damage was quickly repaired and that output had exceeded August levels within a month.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis new study examines the raid in detail, exploring the reasons why its dubious success came at such a high price. Supported by maps, diagrams, and full-colour artwork including battlescenes and bird’s-eye views, this is the full story of the audacious Ploesti raid of 1943.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"MediaPlace","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57317460476286,"sku":"NW9781472831804","price":14.65,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/1379\/1261\/files\/9781472831804.jpg?v=1780524207","url":"https:\/\/mediaplace.com\/products\/ploesti-1943","provider":"MediaPlace","version":"1.0","type":"link"}