42-86897

B-24D serial number 42-86897 was the aircraft assigned to Lt. Col. Addison E. Baker and his crew for the August 1, 1943 low-level attack on the Ploesti oil refineries, flown from Bengasi (Site No. 7) as part of Operation Tidal Wave.

The aircraft was lost to enemy anti-aircraft fire over Ploesti, Romania. According to intelligence officer statements, 38 aircraft of the 93rd Bomb Group reached the target on this mission. Returned crews reported that this aircraft crashed in the town of Ploesti from an altitude of 300 feet or less and burned.

The aircraft was observed to crash and burn by multiple witnesses including Major Pate, Major Brown, and Captain Barthel. The MACR was filed on January 18, 1943 (date-stamped; likely a clerical error for August 1943), and received by the Air Adjutant General's office on October 9, 1943.

Engines listed on the report carry AAF serial numbers 42-85864, 42-86277, 42-86900, and 42-86318. The aircraft was flying at an extremely low altitude — 300 feet or less — consistent with the low-level attack profile of Operation Tidal Wave.