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MISSION No. 702 / 10 June
1944 / ROMANA AMERICANA OIL REFINERY, PLOESTI, RUMANIA
*This mission earned the
82nd Fighter Group its, 3rd - Presidential Unit Citation*
MISSION and TARGET:
To dive-bomb cracking plant, distillation plant, and boiler house
at Romana Americana Refinery, Ploesti, Rumania.
AIRCRAFT and CHRONOLOGY:46
P-38's off at 0530 hours; 7 P-38's returned early (6 mechanical,
1 cockpit); 1 P-38 pilot bailed out enroute to target near Nis;
38 P-38's reached target area at 0835 hours; 27 down at base by
1515 hours; 4 at friendly fields of which two crash landed; 4 lost
(including 1 P-38 bailing out mentioned above); 4 missing.
TOOK OFF ..........EARLY
RETURNS...........TARGET AREA........DOWN.......LOST or MISSING
95th------16-----------------4---------------------*11--------------**9-------------3-----------------
96th------16------------------0----------------------16----------***14--------------2-----------------
97th------14------------------3----------------------11----------------8--------------3----------------
TOTALS----46------------------7----------------------38----------------31------------8----------------
*Not including 1 P-38 of 95th lost at Nis, enroute
to target
**2 of these still at friendly A/D's
***2 of these crash landed at friendly A/D's
ROUTE: As briefed:
410 miles to Danube bend SSW of Vidin; 180 miles to EAST end of
Lake Balta Greaco; 60 miles to target; 20 miles to lake SOUTH of
target; 175 miles to Danube SOUTH of Vidin; 40 miles to base or
340 miles plus to Lecco A/D or other alternate L/G's.
RENDEZVOUS, FORMATION, and
ASSAULT: Rendezvous made with 1st Fighter Group at 0540 hours
SOUTH of Ranfredonia at 2000 feet. 1st Fighter Group flew to right
of our fornmation as far as Bucharest. 96th Squadron led, with 95th
and 97th Squadrons in trail behind. Formations went flat down on
the deck after crossing Yugoslav mountains. When 20 miles SOUTH
of target, formation commenced climb to reach bombing altitude.
On withdrawal from target, Group was split up into various sections
due to the impossiblity of reassembling after diving through smoke
screen.
RESULT OF BOMBING: 2
P-38's engaged enemy aircraft head-on near Bucharest and did not
drop on target proper. One jettisoned; the other dropped on large,
red 3-story building with smoke stacks.
36 P-38's reached target at bombing altitude of
approximately 6,000 feet. Smoke screen was already well under way
in target area. In bombing, the P-38's generally rolled over to
the WEST , dove to 3,000 feet or 2,500 feet, releasing bombs, broke
down and away to the NORTHEAST through the smoke screen which obsured
the ground. Most P-38's had to go on instruments passing through
smoke screen on recovery from dives, which were made at steep angles
up to vertical.
96th Squadron was assigned the Main Boiler House
as target. Although well covered with smoke, the boiler house was
distinguishable largely because of the two tall smoke stakes. one
shorter than the other. The majority of the 96th Squadron dropped
on this target. Hits in the near vicinity are highly probable, but
the smoke precluded pinpointing any bursts.
95th & 97th Squadrons followed in next to bomb
the Cracking Plant and the Main Distillation Plant. These targets
were seriously obscured by smoke and bombing was done principally
by using the large adjacent storage tank to the EAST as a check
point. No results of this bombing could be ascertained.
The remaining large intact storage tank between
the cracking and distillation plant is reported to have been left
in flames, and there was other evidence of smoke rising from bomb
hits in the general refinery area.
STRAFING: (a) Aircraft
on Ground - Destroyed - 1 Me110, 1 Biplane, 2 Ju86's -TOTAL-4....Damaged
2 Ju52's, 1 T/E transport - TOTAL -3.....All these A/C were destroyed
or damaged on landing grounds between Ploesti and Craiova, except
the 2 Ju86's which were destroyed on a field SW of Ploesti.
(b) Rolling Stock - 11 locomotives strafed and
left enveloped in flames, 2 locomotives damaged, 2 troop trains
strafed, 10 freight trains strafed. All strafing took place between
Ploesti and Craiova.
(c) Motor Transport - 3 fuel trucks destroyed,
1- 2 1/2 truck destroyed, 1 truck damaged.
(d) Gun Positions - 2 heavy batteries of 4 guns
each, another of 8 guns, were strafed and silenced. Approximately
20 other light and heavy positions were strafed in area surrounding
target after bombing attack.
(e) Miscellaneous - Oil tanks strafed, also radar
screen and station SE of target area. Hangers on A/D EAST of Craiova
strafed. P-38's carrying bombs through to target, of course, did
no strafing until after bombs had been dropped.
INDIVIDUAL BOMBING and STRAFING
RESULTS:
96th Squadron:
Lt. Col. Litton.....Aimed bomb at boiler house
F/O. Rosier.....Aimed bomb at boiler house. Strafed
oil tanks when coming out of bomb run.
Lt. Pinson.....Bomb hung up. Strafed 3 gun positions
leaving target area.
Lt. Cardimona.....Aimed bomb at boiler house. Took
snap shot a Ju-88 while going into target.
Lt. Carper.....Aimed bomb at boiler house. Shot
at Ju-88 in target area. Strafed 4 trains.
Lt. Carrol.....Aimed bomb at boiler house. Shot
at Ju-88 SOUTH of target. Strafed heavy gun and searchlight positions,
also long line of trucks near refinery. Damaged 1- Me109 in aerial
combat. Exploded one locomotive and damaged another.
Lt. Mikes.....Aimed bomb at boiler house. Strafed
an oil derrick, tank, and locomotive East of Craiova.
Lt. Spence.....Aimed bomb at boiler house. Strafed
4 trains.
Lt. Sognier.....Destroyed 1- Me109 in aerial combat
before target. Returned home alone, exploded locomotive near Niv
in two passes.
Lt. Adelson.....Destroyed 1-Me210 and 1-Me109 in
aerial combat before target. Probably destroyed unidentified S/E
fighter. Left 2-Ju88's burning on field SE of Ploesti. Dropped bomb
on 3-story factory building when pursued by enemy fighters.
Lt. Stegman.....Bomb hung up and jettisoned. Blew
up one locomotive.
Lt. Loehr.....Aimed bomb at boiler house. Strafed
2 trains.
Lt. Willsie.....Aimed bomb at distillation plant
area. Exploed one locomotive and strafed 3 trains.
Lt. Kidder.....Aimed bomb at boiler house. Silenced
gun battery at target. Left two oil trucks in flames. Strafed locomotive.
Damaged 1-Me109 in aerial combat after target.
97th Squadron:
Lt. Chatfield.....Credited with direct hit on NW
corner of cracking plant. Destroyed two locomotives and six box
cars.
Lt. Vaughn.....Bomb fell to left of Lt. Chatfield's
hit. Destroyed one locomotive by strafing.
Lt. McKeen.....Bomb fell in area of cracking plant.
Destroyed one locomotive by strafing.
Lt. Lette.....Destroyed HS-126 in air. Destroyed
one locomotive, 2 oil trucks, 1 M/T. and damaged another M/T.
Lt. Col. Mason.....Aimed at cracking plant, explosion
caused. Strafed airfield on field North of Craiova. Strafed 50 yards
of light flak positions.
Lt. Tolsie.....Bomb hit part of cracking plant.
Damaged 1-Ju52 on ground and 1 train. Strafed 2 gun positions, train
and radar screen.
Lt. Plume.....Bomb hit just EAST of cracking plant.
Destroyed 3 locomotives with box cars and 1-Me109 on ground.
Lt. Hood.....Aimed bomb between road and cracking
plant.
95th Squadron:
Major Phillips.....Dropped bomb at NORTH end of
distillation plant. Probably destroyed biplane in air. Silenced
8-gun battery, strafed another, and attacked railrod cars.
Lt. Stefani.....Aimed bomb at distillation plant.
Strafed gun batteries and railrod cars.
Lt. Cavanaugh.....Dropped bomb into smsoke. Escorted
P-38 home.
Lt. Collins.....Hit distillation plant or large
tank. Escorted P-38 home.
Lt. Miller.....Dropped bomb in smoke. Silenced
gun position NORTH of target.
Lt. Elberty.....Aimed at NORTH end of distillation
planr. Strafed gun positions and railroad cars.
Lt. Roberts.....Believed to have hit NORTH end
of distillation planr. Strafed troop train.
Lt. Wylie.....Dropped bomb into smoke. Engine trouble
over target.
ENEMY AERIAL ACTIVITY:
Enroute to target, beginning EAST of Bucharest
and while still on the deck, P-38's encountered a procession of
enemy aircraft of all types heading SOUTH and passing them on both
sides. These A/C had apparently just been scrambled to avoid an
anticipated bombing attack. E/A offered attractive targets, but
the P-38's could not engage before bombing assigned objectives.
A total of approximately 9-Ju52's, 2-He111's, 6-Me210/410's,
and 3 unidentified fighters, and a Ju88 were encountered before
the target, of which an isolated He111, an Me109 and an Me110 were
destroyed, and a biplane and S/K fighter probably destroyed.
After the target, some 30 enemy fighters were seen.
Of these, 20 were encountered, aas well as one Me110 and an He126,
both of which were destroyed and 2-Me109's were damaged, EAST of
Craiova.
Total E/A seen: 65; total encountered: 29. One
group of 15-Me109's made aggressive attacks WEST of Ploesti on a
retiring section of 7-P-38's, including a P-38 on a single engine.
The latter was not seen again.
FLAK: A terrific
and accurate barrage of light and heavy flak was thrown up as soon
as the P-38's started climbing up NORTH of Bucharest for their bomb
run. At least seven planes returning to base carried flak damage,
and at least four of the lost and missing can probably be attributed
to flak:
2 large red bursts at 100 feet altitude was observed
by one pilot NORTH of Ploesti.
25 bursts of inaccurate heavy at Burazzo.
SIGNIFICIANT OBERVATIONS:(a)
Many trucks on road between Ploesti and Bucharest. (b) 100-150 E/A
observed by Lt. Adelson on 4 A/D's believed 6 to 12 miles NE of
Ploesti. Three of these A/D's were on plain grass fields. Numerous
Me109's and some A/C covered with canvas. Also observed on A/D's
were Me110/410's and Ju88's. Aircraft were placed quite close together.
WEATHER: Clear, Visibilty
6 miles.
AIR-SEA RESCUE: Dinghy
sighted from 6,800 feet, 60 miles ENE from spur at about 1115 hours.
Reported to Wing.
RADIO SECURITY: Satisfactory
FRIENDLY AIRCRAFT IN TROUBLE:
See Victories and Loses.
ENEMY A/C DESTROYED BY OTHER
GROUPS: None observed.
VICTORIES and LOSSES:
Victories: 5--3--1:
Destroyed: Me110-Lt.
Col. Mason, He126-Lt. Lette, Me210-Lt. Adelson, Me109-Lt. Adelson,
Me109-Lt. Sognier-----Probable; S/E A/C-Lt. Adelson, Biplane-Major
Phillips, Me109-Lt. Carroll-----Damaged; Me109-Lt. Kidder.
Losses: 4 - 4 :
Lost: Lt. Leslie
- bailed out 20 miles WNW of Nis from, 1000 feet altitude at 4330-2130
hours. Cause of trouble unknown.
Lost: Lt. Welch -
hit by flak, crashed in flames in target area.
Lost: Lt. Cannady
- crashed in flames while strafing train, probably hit by flak.
Lost: Capt. Jackson
- identified as plane belly landing N of target, undoubtedly hit
by flak.
Missing: Lt. Laugeneur
- on one engine after target when his small group of P-38's attacked
by 15 Me109's. Never seen again.
Missing: Lt. Hodgson,
Lt. Jefferson, Lt. McMonegal. Exact fate un known, but might be;
(a) P-38 heard at 0840, saying on fire and bailing out. (b) P-38
heard at 0935, saying on fire and bailing out. (c) P-38 reported
by 1st Fighter Group as hitting tree while strafing, 20 miles__
of Bucharest at 4415 - 2532 hours.
DAMAGE TO OUR AIRCRAFT:
From flak and ground fire; Lt. Loehr - horizontal
stabilizer. Lt. Sognier - .50 caliber in left coolant radiator.
Lt. Wylie - shell in boom/ center section. Lt. Miller - .50 caliber
in nose section. Lt. Adams - coolant systemshot up. Lt. Col. Mason
- Horizontal stabilizer shot up & holes in both engines. Lt.
Plume - hydraulic system shot up.
By Enemy Aircraft; Lt. Carroll - explosive 20mm
in tail assembly. Lt. Kidder - .30 caliber in right & boom.
Lt. Adelson - hole in right wing. F/O. Rosier - tail assembly &
right wing damaged.
SORTIES: Thirty-nine
(39) effective single sorties.
FORMATION and FLIGHT LEADERS:
96th- Lt. Col. Litton (formation leader), Lt. Laugenour,
Lt. Mikes, Lt. Stegman. 95th - Major Phillips, Capt. Jackson, Lt.
Hodgson, Lt. Miller. 97th - Lt. Chatfield, Lt. Col. Mason, Lt. Cannady.
COMMENTS: None
CORRECTIONS TO TELEPHONIC
MISSION REPORT: Note changes in victory claims.
"SIGNED", David Weld, Major, Air Corps,
Intelligence Officer.
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Mission Report submitted by, M.D. "Griff"
Griffith, brother of, 1st Lt. Robert C. Griffith(97)KIA
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