How Successful was Operation Tidal Wave from the USAAF PoV?

[Dénes]

Very successful
Somewhat successful
Barely successful
Failure

[Republican Guard]

I voted barely successful. The bombs did reach their targets and caused heavy damage but since the installations were not repeatedly bombed, quick reparations allowed the refineries to operate almost at full capacity the next day as if nothing happened. Now some questions...

1. what percentage of the FlAK around Ploesti was operated by romanian troops?

2. is the raid of June 44 considered to be part of op. Tidal Wave? how many US aircrafts (also what type) took part in this raid? what were the casualties on both sides?

[Dénes]

Besides the limited damage the Liberators caused, IMO the main setback for the USAAF was that the Germans realized, that Ploiesti can now be reached by long-range heavy bombers. Therefore in the upcoming 7 months they could build up a formidable AA defense, including a radar chain scattered all over Wallachia. This would allow the Axis Command Post to alert the fighter units in home defense duty, as well as flak units, at the incoming danger, increasing their efficiency.

Dénes

[Geto-Dacul]

Barely successful. The results were more psichologic. The Anglo-Americans really behaved as terrorists of the air!

[Victor]

Of the 178 bombers that took off from Benghazi, one was lost immediately after the take off, one in the Ionic Sea and other 12 turned back because of mechanical failures. Only 88 B-24s came back to their airbase. 22 landed in Cyprus, Sicily and Turkey. 36 fell in Romania and another 18were lost on the way back, due to the damage they sustained. Only 33 B-24s were declared operational the next day. Every participant on this raid received the DFC (well everybody except the British machine-gunner George Barwell. Five men received the Congressional Medal of Honor, of which three posthumously. Out of the 1726 men the 9th Air Force sent into battle, 440 were lost.

According to Romanian reports 40% of the cracking (? cracare) capacity was lost, but because not all was used, in fact only 15% was actually lost. Also 45% of the distillation capacity was lost, but since only 50% was used, that left a 5% reserve. However, this was an overall situation. The Creditul Minieri Brazi refinery was totally knocked out. It was the most modern refinery at Ploesti and was able to produce high-octane aviation fuel. This was an important success as it did not recover.