Operation Tidal Wave: The Bloodiest Air Battle ... May 2026

Operation Tidal Wave was a high-stakes Allied air raid on August 1, 1943, targeting oil refineries in Ploiești, Romania, which supplied approximately one-third of Nazi Germany's fuel. Known as "Black Sunday," it became the costliest single air mission for the U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) in terms of casualties and the most decorated in history.

: A daring 2,400-mile round-trip from Libya, involving a low-level approach (skimming at 50–500 feet) to evade radar. Key Events & Failures Operation Tidal Wave: The Bloodiest Air Battle ...

: 177-178 B-24 Liberator bombers carrying over 1,700 airmen. Operation Tidal Wave was a high-stakes Allied air

: Destroy "Hitler’s gas station" to cripple the German war machine. targeting oil refineries in Ploiești