CAF Warbird Tube - The Ploesti Raid

[@SullynNH]

Great presentation! My grandfather was in the 514th BS, 376th. He was in Ploesti, was the A/C on Patches. I was only 12 when he passed, so never really got to hear any of this, beyond what my dad told me and also what the AF History Office sent me some years back. It was interesting to hear some of the real facts vs the myth surrounding this operation. Former AF officer & aircrew, I can really appreciate what these young guys went through!

[@PaulMSmith-u5l]

Outstanding work, thank you so much for this. My father was a pilot in Kane's former squadron, the 343rd, of the 98th, late in the war. By then the survivng Ploesti crews had mostly rotated back. However there were some crews still there, on their second and third tours. Some men wanted to serve their country more while others simply didn't want to go home. One of Dad's gunners, a sub due to their original being yanked for being way underage, flew Ploesti, said it was a mess from end to end. This vet could leave whenever he chose and after hitting Vienna and a piece of flak winding up burning in his lap, he shook the crew's hands and was gone. Dad's only quibble with your fine work would be re slack formation flying in the 98th. Dad said they flew loosey goosey to the target then totally tightened up when they hit the IP and the target. Transferred out of the 98th near the end (I won't name the Group) Dad said they flew tight formation to the target then flew loose and half ass over the target. This became a bone of contention with the more experienced crews, including Dad's - we flew thru all this crap only acheive a lousy bomb pattern? Sorry to ramble, hit a nerve, thx.

[@markkrumrey6238]

Outstanding Presentation Dave. Absolutely outstanding. Looking forward to your book and the documentary DVD.

[@traviseddleman8946]

Excellent presentation. Looking forward to reading your book and your upcoming documentary. Thank you for the incredible amount of information on the mission.

[@trikkke11]

Great show, Dave ! Love your decals !!

[@elithornton6276]

My grandfather was on ploest raid and came back

[@longemd]

Well done! Looking forward to reading the book.

[@johnappleby405]

Very impressive looking forward to the book and film

[@deh4848]

The 93rd Bomb Group Association annual reunion will be held in Boston from Fri. Oct 7 thru Monday Oct 10th. Would David Klaus be interested in attending and/or presenting this mission synopsis of Operation Tidal Wave?

[@chrisbryant7698]

I was aware of a lot of this before but it's fascinating. I plan to listen again. I'd like to contact David Klaus. I can't find an e-mail address on his site. I'd like to buy some of the decals he has available but I don't use credit cards. I need to send a money order.

[@stevenathanas1336]

David, regarding the elaborate crossover maneuver you noted in your presentation, do you have any evidence the crews objected to this overly complex feature of the mission?

[@sethbrunetti1181]

LR holding important intelligence

[@sethbrunetti1181]

I ain't never seen a jaw mask broke