Gene W. White

Ploesti Oil Fields

On the mission of 1 August 1943, B-24D serial 42-40617 (call sign 617-H) was flying on the right element of the wave ahead of the 409th Bomb Squadron formation. The aircraft departed Benghazi as part of the low-level Ploesti oil fields raid (Operation Tidal Wave). At approximately 1400 hours, while flying at a height of 25-50 feet on the outskirts of Ploesti, the aircraft received a direct flak hit in the forward section of the bomb bay. The bomb bay tanks were likely struck and caught fire. Within 15-30 seconds the entire bomb bay was enveloped in flames and the aircraft began going down. Within another 30 seconds the aircraft crashed and exploded in the center of Ploesti, starting a large fire. A second eyewitness account described the plane flying on briefly in a definite glide before crashing into a flat, large building near the center of the city at an estimated airspeed of 250-350 mph, immediately exploding on impact. No crew members were seen to bail out before the crash. Eyewitnesses reported that it was too late and the aircraft too low for any escape. It was considered very improbable that any crew member survived the explosion.