FIFTEENTH AIR FORCE RAID ON PLOIESTI WWII DOCUMENTARY RONALD REAGAN 75212

[@ronh5422]

My father was based in Italy with the 15th as a B17 pilot. Was wounded twice by flack. Limped several B17's home and crash landed one of them ( I have photos). His last mission was over Ploesti on July 4th. He said it was the biggest & best 4th of July fireworks display he had ever seen. He died at age 58 from complications of his wounds. I have his flight log book to glean info. from as he didnt want to talk much about his service. My father was a part of "Black Sunday". He was a great man and a wonderful father.

[@robmiller1964]

Thanks for sharing, they aren't called the Greatest Generation for nothing! My Dad was in the 1st Echelon of the NZEF (New Zealand's first bunch of Troops in WW2). He fought the Italians in Greece and then the Germans after the ANZACs along with the Greeks gave the Italians a bloody nose! Mussolini had to ask Hitler for some help! Yes our fathers were part of the Greatest Generation (I Include Germans etc from this Era etc). It does become complex demographically etc. And then we had the Silent Generation. The had all the benefits of the west winning the War and they had to do very little compared to the Greatest Generation! It doesn't matter if you are from the UK, Canada, USA, Germany, France, Russia/USSR, New Zealand, Italy, or Japan; those that went through WW2 had also been through the Great Depression and some of them survived! The Silent Generation and then us Baby Boomers were so lucky!

[@billcallahan9303]

@@robmiller1964 Rob Miller, that was the best comment I've ever read in 24 years of reading comments! Extremely well stated. My Dad, S.W. Pacific. Marines. I'm 72. Vietnam. They endured the worst but were toughened by the Depression which, in a way, was maybe a blessing in disguise! Thank you & God Bless! Oh! And thanks for thinking of our enemies too. What could those boys do? Tell Hitler they ain't going? Firing squad for them.

[@davidbird5018]

My father was there also. He was previously in Dakar. He was a quarter master. He was over seas from 42 until 46. He was called back for Korea but got to stay in the states, he ran a Px in Greenville south Carolina. Captain Paul Bird.

[@richardsmith2684]

my father bombed ploesti twice,,his B17 pilot had everyone in the crew ,,safe time returnng from missions ,,take a turn in the co pilots seat trying the basics,,,in the event of a disaster someone might try to save the airplane or whoever was left in the cockpit,,he was radio op,,,,tail gunner etc had his turn,,lucky it never happened,,he truly cared for that pilot

[@michaelluca6004]

@ronh5422. My father was stationed at Foggia Italy. He was the radio operator/ Waist Gunner.... He did not talk a lot about his experiences, but he did mention the raids on Ploesti. His B17 was named "ROUNDTRIP". I'm tearing my house apart looking for pictures of his crew and a list of all his 35 missions over enemy territory... Can you imagine this generation doing what our fathers did at age 19? GOD bless your HERO father!!!!! I know you are as proud of him as I am of mine... He did mention one sad thing about the war, Just before he died of lung cancer he told me the time he watched his best friend Larry's B17 get hit by Flak and saw it go into flat spin. You can't get out of those at a point when the G forces get so high. He had tears in his eyes and his voice was cracking. GOD bless the greatest generation.

[@suzanneterrey4499]

My dad flew 3 missions over Ploiesti in his B-24 named "Bottoms Up". On one of his missions, his plane got pretty shot up and he warned his crew to get ready to jump out. His bombardier was so unnerved that he panicked, and jumped out prematurely. He wound up as a POW for the rest of the war. As luck would have it, my dad was able to fly the crippled plane back to Italy about 50 ft. above the water and make it back. My dad was shot up pretty bad as the flak had gone up through his seat and into his fanny as well as his legs. He had to keep flying as his co-pilot was dead. After the war, the crew had a reunion in Vegas and they were able to celebrate their returned bombardier with lots of hugs and jokes.

[@RubyBandUSA]

Your Dad is a true hero.

[@studebaker914]

Was your Dad a Torretta Flier in the 484th?

[@suzanneterrey4499]

@@studebaker914 I don't believe so, he was with the 460th bombardment group. They were based out of Spinazzola, Italy.

[@jackmoorehead2036]

My Dad had photos of Bottoms up in his scrap book. He never knew what happened that day. He said the last they saw of it it was going down almost inverted. He thought how Ironic for it to end up that way. He flew in the 450th out of Ramateli.

[@matthewburks2851]

Finally. A video about the air force my dad was a gunner on a B-17

[@mikejordan8259]

What was the name of his Plane?

[@cliffmaki287]

My dad was a pilot with 51 missions. 5 or 6 in a P-38. Based out of North Africa then Foggia Italy. One of Allyn's Irish Orphans. His B-17 was called "No Name".

[@Stewart1953]

my dad was a radio man

[@jaculadracula]

My grandfather was serving in anti aircraft artilery during ww2 in Ploiesti. He was a Pole living in Bukovina region and in 1944 was conscripted to Romanian army as 20 other Polish young men from his village. He said me that American army was warning by radio, before they started to bomb areas. It was strange for me, why they should warn anyone? But he stated it strongly.

[@darius6989]

who were the Americans warning by radio?

[@jaculadracula]

@@darius6989 who were Amaricans, he couldn't check. Whom were Americans warning - civilians. Maybe that was difference between Germans and Romanians. He was serving in 37 or 40 mm FLAK, usless against bombers. So he and other companions were listening such warnings, and behaving the same as civilians -just hiding.

[@grguy793]

Thank you, my Dad was in the 15th 720th squadron B24 Airfield Manduria Italy he would have really liked this video.

[@PeriscopeFilm]

God bless your father and all who served.

[@RufGrl]

Finding this video was gold for me. My father, James A Huff flew the B-24's here, and flew 35 missions in the 15th. I was born in 1943 - conceived on leave! He died later while copiloting a Northwest Airlines commercial flight. I sure wish I could have asked him about his experience.

[@nj81499]

You mean he passed away during the flight?

[@rdeanbenson2214]

My Dad was a "forward Aerial recon"photographer on that raid, and many others. He flew in the B25s, was on waist door guns when not on cameras! H E Benson, recently passed at 101 yrs, Honoring him.

[@euthman]

Julian T. Darlington, PhD, was my faculty adviser for senior year at Rhodes College in Memphis (1973-74). Soft-spoken and kind, one would have never guessed that he was a true hero of World War II. He was pilot of the B-24 Liberator #41-11840, dubbed "The Witch," which he crash-landed after bombing Ploesti on 1 August 1943. Although some of his crew escaped to join Yugoslav partisans, Darlington stayed with an injured crewman and was captured by a Bulgarian border patrol.

[@euthman]

Photo I took of Dr. Darlington in 1973, 30 years after the raid. www.flickr.com/photos/euthman/1843854274/

[@berzerker1100]

@@euthman is that a Tarantula on his R/ hand ? 🕷

[@euthman]

Yes. He was a professor of biology, and someone in the department always had a tarantula or two around to play with. They are not aggressive, as long as you don’t try to grab onto them.

[@davehughes3975]

My Great Uncle LT. Joseph Newton Quigley was his navigator on the “witch” and was a POW in Bulgaria. I have a great poem about this raid if you care to see it

[@garyjeffers6948]

My dad was part of the 15th as a flight engineer on a B-17. He served on 50 missions from 11/24/43 - 4/13/44. One mission was to Ploesiti on 4/5/44. If he were still alive, he would be 100 in July.

[@paulepstein9662]

Your father was unbelievably courageous. I salute him.

[@joeyoung4121]

My Dad would be 101 loaded the bombs on the planes that flew out

[@moler1964]

My Grandfather flew on that mission to Ploesti on 4/5/44. He said you could walk on the Flak it was so THICK!!!

[@dukecraig2402]

My mother's cousin was a navigator in the 15th Air Force on a B24 that him and his crew survived 3 runs on Ploiesti, but their luck ran out on Aug 27th 1944 when they were shot down by flak during a run on the railroad bridge at Ferraro Italy, after action reports state that approximately 2 seconds after bomb release their B24 was struck in the #3 engine setting it in fire, approximately 2 seconds after that it was struck a 2nd time just forward of the bomb bay in the fuselage and started a slow downward spiral when at about 4,000 ft the wing burned through at the #3 engine and folded causing it to plummet straight downward after that, three parachutes were seen coming out out it, the pilot and 2 other crewmen landed safely and were sent to POW camps, the pilot alone survived the war with the other 2 dying in their POW camps before the war ended. So for 2nd Lt Virgil Davison and 6 other members of the Weiss crew the very last thing they did in their lives was put their bombs on target, and that's why he's buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

[@suzanneterrey4499]

@@dukecraig2402 that was the mission that my dad flew on where he lost his navigator because he jumped before my dad told him to. I'm so sorry for your loss and as I look back on all the losses it breaks my heart to see the sacrifices they made and what this country now celebrates as heroes.

[@smctrout4423]

I met a veteran of the Ploesti raid a few years ago. He cried when telling me about it. He told me that he saw a plane that had been shot down, and one of the gunners in the downed plane was still shooting at German planes.

[@edwconr]

In 1993 I met a veteran of the 15th Squadron who teared up as he recalled being helped by the 'fighting' 99th during WW2. He said he wanted to tell a 'black' person thanks then choked up; I am thankful that as a film buff, I was able to see (and purchase) the film 'Tuskegee Airmen' (Original version starring Mr. Lawrence Fishburne and Andrew Braugher among others).

[@Hi-lb8cq]

I read a story about a bomber crew member who witnessed a b-17 get torn in half and he said that the tail section kept flying like nothing happened and that the tail gunner was still shooting at the fighters as the tail section slowly went down

[@Hi-lb8cq]

The bad part about those bombers while flying Over ploesti if shot down most crew members couldn't bail out as the bombers were flying too low to the ground

[@victorortigaza3195]

​@@edwconrpp

[@dand7763]

"Romanians do their best to make us as happy and comfortable as possible. We no longer call our camp a prison because it is not run like a prison. The food has been good since the beginning and is becoming more Americanized by the day. They have broad views and try everything we suggest” (Lieutenant W.A. Kine); "I am in excellent condition and perfectly healthy. We are treated really well, more like guests, not like prisoners. We're just locked in" (Lt. James W.Stone); "We are well treated and it is like a vacation for our crazy crew" (Lieutenant John A. Leins); "The Romanians are exceptionally polite to us and treat us better than their soldiers" (Lieutenant Frederich C. Mee); "I fell in love with Romania. It is a very beautiful country, with almost everything you want, from forests to rivers" (Lieutenant Ros N. Buzzard); "I am in a prison camp in Romania and they treat us excellently. I do not say this because they tell us so, but because it is a camp like you have never read in any book or newspaper" (Lieutenant Harold W. Brazier); "Every Sunday we have a religious service, which I am grateful for" (Thomas Fallon); "What amazes me more is that even though we are legally at war with this people, they still don't care, or so it seems. Even the gendarme who arrested me arrived with an air of business, greeted me and called me comrade, shook my hand in a very friendly way and said he was sorry he had to search me for the gun" (Lieutenant Jackson F. Dunn); "We were treated as honored guests by the Romanians who caught us and even after we were handed over to the Romanian military authorities, we were treated with camaraderie and goodwill" (Lieutenant Jimmy P. Robinsson); "All our days pass in the same way. Breakfast at 8, lunch at 12 and dinner at 6. We can walk around the garden from 10 - 12 and from 4 - 6 p.m. The food is good. We also have a small canteen that prepares cakes, candies, etc." (Louis Falvo); "Romanians, to my great surprise, do not love war. They treat us well, they give us 3 good meals a day and clean housing" (Sergeant Bernard Artz); "Our treatment is very good. In fact, I am still puzzled by the way we are being treated” (Lieutenant Frederick L. Modorin); "The Romanians treat us very well and I can't understand why we bomb their towns" (sergeant John v. Szezun); "We are detained by the Romanian government, which complies with the Geneva international rules for the detention of prisoners of war. It provides us with medical care and other things for our good living” (Lieutenant Roscoe H. Wilkes); "I am in a Romanian hospital; they have the best European medical equipment here and the world treats us exactly as if we were their own. You can be sure that no one is twisting my hand for saying this. We eat the same food that soldiers and civilians eat. You must know that we are prisoners of the Romanians, not of the Germans. This is a great advantage in my favor” (James E. Mann);

[@AlyAly-tt5he]

Yap...and they keep bombing ...sad

[@sheniloiu5293]

In fact, the P-38s dive bombing on Ploiesti was on June the 10th, 1944. Two targets - the Ploiesti Astra Romana refinery and the Popesti Leordeni air base, home of the Romanian 6th Fighter Group. The Ploiesti target was covered in a thick smoke screen so the bombings did little damage. A few P-38s fell to Romanian and German Bf.109Gs. At Popesti Leordeni the P-38s run into trouble. They attacked the airfield in a very low level run and shoot down four Romanian FW58s but the were attacked from behind by the whole 6th Fighter Group, I.A.R. 81Cs. The Romanians claimed 24 P-38s over Popesti Leordeni for the loss of only 4 I.A.R. 81Cs, two of them following a mid air collision and only two shot down by the P-38. These claimes were a bit exagerated as at the end of the day only 18 P-38s were found shot down on Romanian soil.

[@MrQ454]

Romanians had a special system of numbers for the victories , they numbered the engines and because the P38 had 2 ...

[@billcallahan9303]

Thanks for that detailed history lesson. Wasn't there a very low level raid by B-24s that got the crap shot out of them? Wait....I think my memory just clicked into gear! That disastrous mission originated out of North Africa I believe. Thanks again!

[@timparker5246]

My Dad was flight engineer on B-17s & 24s in the 97th Bomb Group, 15th AF out of Foggia Italy...He used to talk about Ploesti.

[@strixaluco5718]

The 97th were based at Amendola around Foggia. My grandad's cousin was an wireless operator/air gunner in 142 squadron Royal Air Force, equipped with the Vickers Wellington so they shared the same base.

[@thomasformanek465]

My uncle Zig was an armorer with the 15th AAF in Italy. He got a Purple Heart medal for breaking his thumb, while jumping out of his bomb loaded truck, when it was destroyed by a luftwaffe bomb.

[@markrobinson1135]

My uncle and my father-in-law flew the first Ploeisti mission out of Libya. They flew in B-24's, that was the only aircraft that could get to Romania and back. The casualty rate was astronomical

[@davegeisler7802]

Yeah , try over 30 % loss rate , horrific

[@nj81499]

Read the book ‘Into the fire’. I’ve read a half dozen times over the years. Amazing book about that first mission. I will never be able to wrap my mind around how all those brave boys did that. So many died a terrible death.

[@michaelprice8953]

My dad was a ball gunner in the 450th bomb group 720th squadron out of Manduria flew 51 missions several over Ploesti

[@MrWaalkman]

My Great-uncle was a pilot who also flew 51 missions, at least one of them was over Ploesti. :)

[@dukecraig2402]

My mother's cousin was a B24 navigator that survived 3 runs on Poleisti but their luck ran out on their 20th mission during a run on the railroad bridge at Ferraro Italy, he died the day they were shot down and although the pilot and 2 others parachuted to safety only the pilot survived the war due to the other 2 having died in their POW camps before the war ended.

[@terrybroadway2955]

God bless him part of the last great generation, my dad went to join but he was a copper miner in Nv they said no he needed to keep mining

[@MrWaalkman]

@CIOBOTARU IONUT Speaking of war criminals, was Romania ever brought to justice over the quarter million Jews that they killed during WWII?

[@michaelprice8953]

@CIOBOTARU IONUT sorry your country sided with hitler

[@joeyoung4121]

The only time my dad ever talked about being in the service was that He loaded bombs on the planes that flew out. I miss Him. born 1920

[@craigzinn4296]

My Father was 15th Air Force 483rd bomb 816th squadron. Real hero’s.

[@dannywlm63]

Thanks yanks! bomber crews must have been a little crazy and definitely brave very brave

[@markpaul8178]

Danny,there is no doubt about that brother.By the way,nice comment.

[@MaRy-nw1nl]

Me and my family lived in ploiesti, at that time my grandparents survived by leaving the city, but our house was almost hit by a bomb, leaving it with no roof and broken windows.

[@rocksandoil2241]

My dad cousin was one of those lost. Dad was an engine mechanic in the AAF

[@theskeptic2010]

There are other vids on KZbin about Ploesti, but this is still the best one IMO

[@brendancollins6097]

I read ‘The Forgotten 500’ about the rescue of downed USAF crews from Yugoslavia. Fascinating stuff covering this period.

[@jimrogers5774]

No mention of the aircrews from the RAF, Canadain, Australian, and South African, that volunteered with USAF in B24 Liberaters with USAF markings, they where well respected and mixed with all, on these raids to makeup the shortage of aircrews, some of which never returned, May they rest in peace also and let's remember all.

[@howardnielsen6220]

It was made for Army Air Corps Consumption not for the News for anyone else.

[@jimrogers5774]

@@howardnielsen6220 Yeah you are right; but sadly history only accounts whàt the those in power wish: I lost a relative in those raids, a tail gunner in a USAF B24 he was from Salford in the north of England, And a great loss to his family, his mother had his RAF coat hanging by the door for his return still into the late 1950s, losses tuched more then you relise. It would be good if the historian Mark Fention did a log on this! he is more honest and gets the facts. Example my dad witnessed the lost over 300 his men as well a SAS in àn armered jeep attack at bulge in December 1944 Only Mark Fention made a program about it, as far as I know? that the battle of the bulge was not just an American action!

[@biketech60]

We are so proud of the full Allied offensive against that evil regime . Honor and respect for one and all !

[@m9078jk3]

My fathers airbase at Celone was also shared with South African Air Force B-24's . This was one of the airbases around Foggia . My father was a Pilot /AC with the 15th AF 5th Bomb Wing 463rd BG (H) 772nd BS on B-17's and he had a couple of combat missions over the Ploesti Refineries. The RAF even escorted my father (he was a transitioning co Pilot ) on one harrowing mission where they had to land at an allied RAF airbase for repairs. Dad passed away in 2004 but is fondly remembered.

[@howardnielsen6220]

If not for ALL of them our family would not be in the states. Our mom was an American citizen who get caught in Denmark when Hitler invaded Denmark in April of 1940. We where on the first ship out of Denmark in April of 1945 landing in Baltimore Took a train to LA then by car in our grandfathers 1939 Chevrolet to San Diego I grew up in the East County of San Diego

[@Wilett614]

My Brother in Law was a Nose Turret Gunner on "Leap Year Lady" B24 out of Foggia . He hit Ploesti 7 times and once had the Turret top Blown off by a 30MM canon from a FW190 . He was wounded but survived to Fly again .Near the end missions , He Said the Enemy fighters would fly STRAIGHT thru the Bomber formations FIRING their guns at Every plane they could hit They became Desperate to STOP the 15TH Bombers ....BUT they NEVER stopped them .

[@rodrigomeneses5900]

Those pilots or any crew member if they survive... they ll never see and feel adrenaline like that again in life!

[@crabbyj]

God willing.

[@tiberiulucianconstantin4893]

Good people the Romanians handed over all the prisoners.

[@Sophia-io8qg]

LtCol Hal Heist a navigator with the liberados survived 47 missions several to Polesti. RIP my old friend.

[@user-om6px1zy3d]

My father in law was a B24 top turret gunner flying out of Bari. His plane was damaged by flak on the august 10, 1944 mission on ploesti. He and his crew bailed out off the coast of Yugoslavia where he was able to evade capture by hiding with the partisans. He was rescued by a British mosquito boat and survived the war.

[@teodelfuego]

My father was on that mission in a B-24 that made it back to base.

[@timmyjones1921]

Awesome Historical Video .

[@1982valeriu]

excellent video, cheers for uploading it! They did forget to say what a beating the P-38s took on 10 June 1944 when Romanian fighters were already up in the air when the Lightnings arrived, and jumped them big time. 17 P-38s never came back that day (from the 82nd FG and 1st FG). Saluting pilots from both sides!

[@studebaker914]

My Dad was in the 484th based in Torretta, Italy, he was on a B-24 as a radio operator and did his 50 missions, technically only 37, but some counted double as they were considered very dangerous. He was in from about April 1944 to August, 1944, perhaps shorter. His plane was the Ol' 45. A few months after he left his plane was shot down, never heard of the casualties. I lost my only uncle on a B-17, not sure if it was 43,44. He was also a radio operator, he was my mother's brother. He graduated from high school at 14 and a half, cannot imagine what a good life he probably would have had. In my father's company there was a German American but Nazi sympathizer. He was planting bombs on some planes. He was caught, tried and executed by firing squad, probably isn't a record of it in the war records. When my father came back to the states, by boat, he worked at a base in Madison, WI. His only job was to hand out weekend passed. When he came back on a Friday when the war ended, he went back to his factory job here on the next Monday here in CT, raised 5 children, wisest man I ever knew, I wish I learned better. Some of you probably heard of the 50/20 when vets could get $20 a week for 50 weeks. he didn't go that route.

[@JakeOcala]

Happy to find this video. My father was a B-17 navigator with the 429th out of Foggia at this time.

[@Stewart1953]

my father was there at 23 yrs old. i just can't imagine but i'm so grateful

[@dougtaylor7724]

I had lunch with a fellow last month and he said his uncle flew in this raid. Six months later he crash landed in Bulgaria. He made it back to England 5 months later and was sent home.

[@MaureenCahill-bk9mh]

My Dad was in that earlier spring raid on Ploesti that he mentions...shot down in April of that year. Thanks to a local family he and his copilot were rescued and returned to Italy. He had survived Pearl Harbor and then survived Ploesti raids also....so grateful! Whenever you can visit the WWII museum in New Orleans. Well worth the visit!!

[@23draft7]

Thanks to the men in the field. God Bless

[@williamkieffer1827]

My father served in the 15th AAF at Bari, Italy (May 1943 to Sept 1945) attached to the 420 Signal Company - deciphering coded messages. I remember and cherish all he shared with me about WW II, his military job, the unit’s mission and his friends. Viewing this video was a real thrill. No son could have had a better and loving father. His example influenced my completing a USAF career, valuing education and hard work, and treating others with dignity and respect.

[@PeriscopeFilm]

Was he there in December, 1943 when the port was bombed by the Germans and mustard gas released?

[@williamkieffer1827]

Yes he was there when the German’s bombed the harbor. He sustained the loss of hearing in one ear due to the proximity of the bombs. That bombing raid was a near miss for my dad and was thankful the injuries were not worse.

[@PeriscopeFilm]

Check out this book about the medical discovery that occurred because of the raid - wwnorton.com/books/9781324002505

[@williamkieffer1827]

Thx for the suggested reading. I’m familiar with it. At the end of the war those in Bari, Italy wanting to file war related injury claims were told it would require them in stay in the occupied post war area for at least 4 to 6 months. They were also told they could not submit the disability claim once stateside. The vast majority of injured troops opted to forego the claim and get back home. I’m wondering if this top secret chemical event had anything to do with the ruling of only processing disability claims in the occupied overseas area?

[@williamtorres7470]

My father was a bombardier/navigator on B17 on Ploiesti (187 sortis) His plane was called "STARPICKER"

[@robertswota247]

My Dad flew 62 missions with the 429th bomb squadron, 15th air force out of Foggia field in Italy in the fall of 1944. He was top turret gunner and flight engineer. He would never talk about his experiences to us kids, but Mom indicated his plane was shot up pretty bad on one mission. They landed in enemy territory, partisans in the area helped the crew get back to friendly forces.

[@SamMineo-yp8in]

My dad in the same squadron out of foccia might of flew together b24s plane the heats on thks to your pop

[@SamMineo-yp8in]

My dad same place and time maybe knew each other at the donut line

[@alexanderbogdan8327]

I live in Ploiești, this was a very informative video. I wish we’d see a movie of this operation in the future. PS all the refineries have been rebuilt and today there are 4 still active. I’m curious how thing would’ve turned up if the refineries were never destroyed

[@vladgogulancea345]

only 3 refineries are still active in Ploiesti, 2 and a half really to be honest.

[@heikopanzlaff3789]

Also have been in Ploiesti last 2 months. Some of the roads there look like never been repared after the bombing eg. the one from the roundabout to the cigarette factory I had to use every day ...

[@dandan3371]

Would been the same, except more casualties. The Allies we're on an nonstopebelle path to Win!

[@RubyBandUSA]

How would it have turned out? Maybe you'd be speaking German as your native language.

[@alexanderbogdan8327]

@@heikopanzlaff3789 Yeah, Ploiești had a very poor administration in the past few years, it is slowly getting his glow back these days, it is just a matter of time until Ploiești will take up to its former glory

[@ericscottstevens]

My German Grandfather was part of that Balkan Luftwaffe. 3./SG151 in Panchevo Yugoslavia. They were mostly a training Geschwader with dozens of types of aircraft as they sort of were a conglomeration of specific aircraft for training certain pilots. They did cross over from the JU87 to the FW190 in mid / late 1944 probably because of these raids and trying to stem the bomber onslaught.. On the flip side my American Grandfather was employed at Kelvinator in Lansing Michigan making the prop and hub assemblies for the B-24. Props were shipped to Willow Run.

[@jackmoorehead2036]

My Dad wasa B 24 driver in the 450th. He made all these. According to him every briefing when they saw that ribbon going there they knew there would be lees men for dinner.

[@darylkik777]

My best friends father growing up would tell us about his time as a Bombardier on a B-17 as part of the 15AAF. (Foggia Italy) Lt. Howard Lindley Cox and he stayed on in Italy a bit after the war because they still need some Americans until all the Aircraft and such was gone. Because of him I joined the Air Force right after college for ten years active duty. I cannot imagine the "hell" our boys had to live daily to bring the German War Machine to its knees. He made it home safe and sound and when he would speak of the missions (not very often) we would listen carefully. Never aim for a moving train he told us. The Norden bombsight was not all we made it sound like. He said he hit everything on the ground but the moving train. And that Flak was the greatest enemy in the sky's. They knew where we came from and where we were going so they were very accurate and you had no choice but to stay your course and pray you released your payload and got home in one piece. They were not pressurized like the B-29 and frost bite was always an issue but heated suits did help a bit. I salute all who served in the war. You have my ultimate respect.

[@teodelfuego]

My father was a gunner in a B-24 with the 455th based out of Cerignola, Italy. He flew missions over Ploesti on July 15, and August 10, 1944. His 50 missions were from July 6, 1944 to November 4, 1944. He told me that his pilot was named “Milk Run Naler.”

[@jaminova_1969]

My uncle "Wild Bill" told me on his death bed how he was a Bombardier on a B-17 during the war! I haven't found too much info and really would like to research this further. I was lucky enough to have known that generation, my younger siblings have no idea, but I would give anything to have had an adult conversation with them now before they passed away.

[@kimketchmark4991]

My grand uncle served with 307th -15th Army Air Force 1943-45 , told me of Africa and Romania .

[@jimramsey8887]

A Great Tribute to many Brave Youn Men.

[@TheVEVELU]

In Ploieşti, the American army took the worst after Vietnam! Let's not forget that Ploieşti was better defended than Berlin.

[@dukecraig2402]

Absolutely, a family member of mine survived 3 runs on Ploiesti, but their luck ran out on their 20th mission during a run on the Ferraro railroad bridge in Italy on 27 Aug 44, flak hit them about 2 seconds after they released their bombs, but they hit their target. So the last thing they did in their lives was put their bombs on target, and that's why he's buried in Arlington National Cemetery with the rest of the heroes.

[@matrox]

1:40 They had a good sense of humor back then.🤣 The MP just stands there and goes along with the joke for the camera.

[@petarpasajlic]

Mission Halyard,hello from Serbia!!!

[@SquatchyLS]

My grandfather was most likely in one of those B17s

[@madalynmarculescu3172]

🖕

[@SquatchyLS]

@@madalynmarculescu3172 Whats that for? Its been 2 years since I posted that comment

[@davidlium9338]

@@madalynmarculescu3172 What does this mean? I can’t find this.

[@markrobinson1135]

Glad you and your grandfather got to talk about his military career thanks for posting this

[@ronaldscarlat8866]

My uncle flew me109 for the Rumanian airforce at polesti he shot down 2 liberators and a 38 over polesti

[@victorponce7238]

Mr Langford my brothers neighbor was on a B--29 he was the bombardier. He made the required 20 sumthn missions. Completed his tour. WW11

[@markrobinson1135]

My father-in-law my uncle and my mom were all in the 15th Air Force started in Africa ended up in England and Bastogne with my mom

[@ariceliosoaresdasilva4357]

great documentary congratulations 🇧🇷

[@PeriscopeFilm]

Love our channel? Help us save and post more orphaned films! Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/PeriscopeFilm Even a really tiny contribution can make a difference.

[@howardnielsen6220]

Our good church friend Les Ronsburg was one of the Army Air Corps Pilots on a mission out of Egypt Miss Les a lot he went on to become a Chaplin in the USAF The P38 my Favorite WWII aircraft.

[@firbolg1581]

my grandad was Army air corps, main engineer of the P3. this is a real treat. i cant get over Ronald Reagan, voice actor.

[@jaybee9269]

No one’s mentioning the Ronald Reagan narration?

[@robertlong7033]

It's strange how Ronald Reagan's eyes were too bad for military service but they weren't bad enough to be unable to read his lines for the movies and documentary's he was part of. Go figure.

[@dukecraig2402]

@@robertlong7033 What in the world do you mean his eyes were too bad for military service? He was in the military in WW2. Where'd you ever get that information? Some commentor on KZbin? He enlisted in the Army Reserves and was given a commission as an officer in 1937, then in April of 1942 he was called to active service.

[@johnhankel7432]

He just couldn't handle the real combat, but he could sure talk it up real good like he was actually right there, instead of in holly wood. WHAT A PHONY ACTOR

[@jimomalley1518]

Man we could use a president like Ron Reagan again...

[@billcallahan9303]

You said it brother! What have we got? A fraud that can't complete two sentences.

[@jaik195701]

My dad flew P38 in 96 squadron 82FG 15AF Foggia. Lots of Ploesti raids plus Anzio

[@maybee...]

Love hearing Ronald Reagan's voice in these old war movies, he didn't know then that he would become one of the best Presidents America ever knew. My grandfather flew that August 1, 1943, they dropped their bombs and took a direct hit in their right engine, the entire crew parachuted except for one, he was the top turret gunner, my grandfather, the plane crashed in a cornfield near Visina. Freedom isn't free.

[@Ashley-jx1yo]

449th Flying Horsemen - Paper Doll shot down on 4/4/44

[@vancepomerening4794]

10:51 "C coupons," a rather subtle reference to gas rationing.

[@philelsner3476]

ronnie reagan.

[@davidgoldin5759]

On the front lines.

[@firstnamegklsodascb4277]

NEVER HEARD OF HIM

[@Castaway813]

No mention of the B-24s out of Bengazi flying at tree-top level.

[@bobhaltom2588]

That was 1943 mission, Romania still loyal to Germany

[@ciceronevasea754]

Sant neplăcut impresionat de americani. Plecați acasă acum, după cum ati facut atunci.

[@adielstephenson2929]

Love the commentry.

[@Surfliner450]

Press the Like button on the video to say Thanks to all the brave men and women that protect our country

[@carlosescobar6973]

My Respect and Admiration

[@ВикторПетров-ч4щ2ф]

Герои ребята американские летчики . Благодаря бомбардировкам Плоешти ,многие жизни наших солдат спасены

[@simongleaden2864]

Great voiceover on this - good script, well read. It sounded a bit like Ronald Reagan.

[@jaybee9269]

Because it is Ronald Reagan! He was in the film office during the war.

[@dand7763]

Romanians' attitude towards prisoners: The civilian population and the Romanian authorities showed feelings that the American and British aviators did not expect. With few exceptions, most of them declared that after parachuting, as soon as they found out that they were Americans and not Russians, the villagers "stopped any molestation" and took them to their houses where they "sat down at the table, they gave them something to eat and drink, they talked with them, they gave them a small supply of food, after which they informed the gendarmes and handed them over". Otherwise, they expressed thanks for the way they were treated and asked "not to be handed over to the German authorities".

[@krukpolny8505]

Siwek Kazimierz Mustang III RX 878 Pilot 315 Oficer RAF. Google.

[@CrippledEagle]

My Cousin Lt Earl E Evans was on one of the B24s that was brought down. He made it out only to be bayoneted on the ground.

[@hilti503]

You fougt the wrong enemy…

[@michaeljohn8905]

Oh man ..out of 48 planes only 22 came back. These Pilots Bombarders were made from something special. Something extra amazing. These men did their jobs,with firm fact that they would most likely be not coming home. Half ….HALF ! Did not make it back. Very sad. So young , so many . It’s something I cannot stop thinking about it m

[@paulmarin6380]

I'm Romanian! Now the US and Romania are Allies

[@LG-jm1io]

US is the boss, and Romania their ass lickers. Some difference.

[@zhuli693]

Future POTUS Reagan's voice ?

[@bartbutkis]

Regan was only 30 years old when the war started. Why didn't he join the service and fight instead of making ridiculous war movies back in Hollywood? He and John Wayne; all talk.

[@randallulrich]

@@bartbutkis: Ronald Regan served in the USAAF, and was discharged as a captain in December of 1945.

[@kdkatz-ef2us]

According to "official" USAAF history, the B24 was a disaster in the ploesti raids. Many crashed on takeoff and many had to turn back due to electrical/mechanical probs.

[@tacticalmattfoley]

They weren’t good planes mainly due to the constant running changes the AAC demanded. When a B24 left Willow Run it would fly to an update center for the changes then to its theater of operations.

[@Nitroat-xo4tj]

My grandfather killed the most German pilots EVER! A real Hero! He was a German Luftwaffe mechanic from the ground personal.. A very bad one!!

[@mikewoodman2872]

7:07 that background music was used in Empire Strikes Back when Luke dropped away from Darth ("I'm your father") and was falling down that huge shaft, true or false? True, right?

[@jaminova_1969]

I watched a WW2 movie with John Wayne and think Lucas must have been influenced by it. There was a scene in the hanger where the planes were being readied that looked just like the hanger scene in "The Empire Strikes Back"

[@Gotobar]

@@jaminova_1969 What John Wayne movie was that?

[@jeremybear573]

Brilliant!!!!

[@ConfederceyCSA]

US Airforce accidentally bombed Auschwitz Labor Camp. On December 26, 1944, the U.S. 455th Bomb Group bombed Monowitz and targets near Birkenau Auschwitz The Auschwitz complex was photographed accidentally several times during missions aimed at nearby military targets.

[@pdlagasse]

Is it known who wrote the script? That was some powerful writing.

[@bobigny9345]

Roland Regan

[@bobigny9345]

Roland Reagan*

[@fishbike9103]

The Gipper on narration!

[@RubyBandUSA]

Don't mess with the US Air Force. Not in any war, skirmish, battle, action.

[@zhuli693]

narrated by Prez Reagan ?

[@thunderbird1921]

Da Prez himself (before he was in office of course)!

[@paulmavric887]

This is why we are still here now

[@richardsmith2684]

my father respected twining as a commander

[@ludikure479]

After Ploeshti raid, lot of damaged planes had crash landing over Serbia. Operation Halyard - please read about it. And glory to Serbian Chetniks.

[@stanciuflorin5328]

This documentary shows the ugly face of war..we must be united here. Romanians and Americans because a new shadow of misfortunes is coming from the east

[@PitbullSMD]

the Marshal wanted to lose to the Americans not to the soviets , sadly it did not happen as he wished . Hello from România , Ploiești are fine now 😉

[@gehabnis]

Its Ploiesti not Ploesti. the oil is still flowing.

[@vladgogulancea345]

it was Ploesti back then.

[@gehabnis]

@fred McMurray @fred McMurray they had it back then also. the us and brits were coming with hundreds (between 500 and 800) of airplanes agains a a few defenders (heroes). And they still put down many attacking airplanes. and all the us pows were alive at the end of the war and returned safely back home. One attack against Bucharest was on the Eastern Saturday. Many civilians died. Romania, was defending Romania. youre a real morron, who just says nazi nazi.

[@jaik195701]

My dad flew 38s on many missions to Ploesty

[@davegeisler7802]

What an utter disaster !! We lost 30% in Aircrews and Bombers during the Ploesti Raid . 55 Liberators were lost x 10 men , you do the math.

[@jimparsons6803]

Isn't a younger Ronald Regan doing the narration?

[@thunderbird1921]

It is according to the full title of the video. Rather fitting I think.

[@mikes7639]

No its a older ronald regan

[@davidlium9338]

@@mikes7639 Smart Alec!

[@dovidell]

a pity the Brits couldn't have employed " a couple of " DH mosquito squadrons even in daylight to help the fifteenth air force , as they were ( a lot ) faster than the B 17's , and carried a comparable bomb load , whilst utilising a fraction of the manpower

[@richardvernon317]

Except the Mosquito couldn't carry a comparable bomb load.

[@neiloflongbeck5705]

@@richardvernon317 that depends on how you define comparable bomb loads. The Mossie could carry a heavier bomb load to Berlin than the B-17 could do at high altitude and return for a second sortie in the time that the B-17 took for one return trip. However, the B-17 could take the same load os the Lancaster to Berlin, but at an altitude of only 6,000 ft. Don't believe me, then go and look at the pilots' handbook and the range-payload tables. It could get to normal operating altitudes with that bomb load but couldn't get as far.

[@richardvernon317]

@@neiloflongbeck5705 Standard Lancaster Bomb load for a Berlin mission in 1943/44 was around 9000 to 10000 lbs (figures taken from loadouts of a Squadron in its ORB for the whole of the Battle of Berlin). No Mosquito could carry more than 2000lbs to Berlin before March 1944 (six 500lb bombs (four in the Bomb bay and one on each wing pylon) was the maximum load for any Bomber Mosquito before that). The modified "Cookie" capable Mosquito could not reach Berlin with a Cookie without the two 50 Gallon wing drop tanks fitted. The Vast majority of the Mosquito missions were done to Berlin in late 1944 - Early 1945 well after the backbone of the Luftwaffe had been broken.

[@neiloflongbeck5705]

@@richardvernon317 The original posts compared the Mossie with the B-17. A B-17F, according to the flight manual, at max take-off weight of 65,000lb could fly 1,910 statute miles with a bomb load of 1,100lb at an altitude of 30,000lb. This take off weight include 3612 US gallons of fuel, all but 212 gallons would be usable, which weighs in at 21,700lb. The same aircraft if fitted with external bomb racks at the same max take-off weight could carry 14,000lb of bombs but only 10,400lb of fuel (or 1,732 US gallons) which it could carry to 790 statute miles at an altitude of 25,000 ft or 1,170 statute miles at an altitude of 6,000 ft. So B-17F could carry a comparable load to a Lancaster. Whilst the majority of the bombing raids on Berlin by the Mossie may have happened in late 1944 to early 1945, it has to be noted that Mossies could carry the 4,000 lb cookie from April 1943. Their first day time raids on Berlin were the ones interrupting Göring's speech. Every online source says the Mossie could carry the cookie 1,400 miles (I'm assuming statute miles), however they don't mention external fuel tanks. Just found what I was looking for. The Mossie B.IV capanle of carrying a 4,000lb cookie had a still air range of 1,430 miles which equates to a maximum operational range of 535 miles. The distance between Horsham St Faith, Norwich, and Berlin is only 508 miles. So the Mossies capable of carrying the cookie could get to Berlin.

[@richardvernon317]

​@@neiloflongbeck5705 The Prototype Mossie B IV (Special) which could carry the Cookie may have first flown in April 1943, but getting it through A&AEE and RAE trials took best part of a Year as the B IV really didn't like carrying the weapon. This was due to the weight of the bomb putting the centre of gravity well outside the aircrafts limits and making the aircraft almost impossible to fly. This was solved with addition of Ballast in the nose which took time to install. In early 1944 8 Group had 4 Mosquito Squadrons operational (105, 109, 139 and 627) and a fifth standing up (692). Most if not all of the Squadrons were anywhere at full strength as regards aircraft and 12 aircraft was the maximum amount of aircraft that any one Squadron put up on any operation. First unit to drop a Cookie in anger was 692 Squadron on 23th February 1944 when three aircraft attacked Dusseldorf (all Modified B IV's). 139 Squadron dropped their first one on 25th February 1944, 105 Squadron dropped their first Cookie on 3rd March 1944, 109 Squadron followed on the 6th and 627 Squadron opened the Cookie jar on the 13th March 1944. First Raid to Berlin with the Weapon coming off a Mosquito didn't happen until April 44. Horsham St Faith was no good for Mossie operations in 1943/44 as the base had been handed over to the USAAF and they were digging the field up to put proper runways into the place to put B-24's into there. The nearest 8 Group airfield to Berlin was Marham (539 miles), Followed by Downham Market (547 miles), while the Airfields in the Cambridge / Huntingdon area were all over 560 miles away. The majority of the early 105 and 109 Squadron aircraft that did the early cookie operations didn't take off from Marham with the weapon due to the Airfield still being a Grass strip, but they flew to Graveley first, loaded the bomb up there and then carried out the mission with recovery at Marham. Any Mission to Berlin with a Cookie required external fuel tanks as the Aircraft required a couple of hours flying time when it got back to the UK to allow for diversions, plus they never flew direct route to the target anyway. The other issue with the Mosquito Fan Boys that I have is they take no account of the lack of Navigation aids in that Aircraft compared to the Heavies. The Navigator had to as well as Navigate the Aircraft, control the fuel system, Deploy Window (from late 1943) and aim the bombs either by using OBOE on the 105 and 109 Squadron Aircraft (most of which could not bomb visually) or H2S / GEE-H in a few of the 139 Squadron Aircraft. All of the Electronic Aids in their Mk 1 form were very unreliable with 33 to 50% failure rate being the norm in early 1944. The Aircraft fitted with the Visual bomb aiming systems required the Navigator to get into the nose to man the bombsight which was a struggle in full flying kit to put it mildly. The other thing is the Shortage of Mosquito Bombers by the end of 1943, only 371 Bomber and PR Mosquitos had been built in the UK at that time (out of total of 1688 airframes of all versions). The big issue being that 80% of the wood used to build the aircraft had to be imported seeing it didn't grow in the UK. Big issue up to May 1943 thanks to the Das Boot problem.

[@dimith8635]

Damn everyone in the comment section having a whole fammily tree taking part in this operation ha ha. Feels weird being the only one on the reciving end.

[@timoakes450]

'Tidalwave'-'Tidalwave II-ISIL/Syria 2014 Tommy27

[@stanciuflorin5328]

The human side of things was that the American soldiers were relatively well treated