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June 10th, 1944

Mission No. 702
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 formation 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 impossibility 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 obscured 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: 

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 railroad cars.
Lt. Stefani - Aimed bomb at distillation plant. Strafed gun batteries and railroad cars.
Lt. Cavanaugh - Dropped bomb into smoke. 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 plant. Strafed gun positions and railroad cars.
Lt. Roberts - Believed to have hit NORTH end of distillation plant. Strafed troop train.
Lt. Wylie - Dropped bomb into smoke. Engine trouble over target.

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. Exploded 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.

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, as 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.

Significant Observations: (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, Visibility 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: 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.

Sighed: David Weld, Major, Air Corps, Intelligence Officer.

Mission Report submitted by, M.D. "Griff" Griffith, brother of, 1st Lt. Robert C. Griffith(97)KIA
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