Ploiesti Refineries
(Ploiesti is Romanian - - Ploesti is English)
Photographic proof of their destruction

            Historians and writers have notoriously called the siege of Ploiesti a World War II Disaster.   None of them were there to witness the unselfish devotion to duty even at the cost of ones own life.   Records show that five Medals of Honor were awarded for one single mission.  But fail to report on other awesome acts of heroism.   Here is just one more of these acts. 

            As shown on the following photo the City of Ploiesti was surrounded by these refineries.   What made it so difficult was the smoke screen that the Germans created when they knew the bombers were heading their way.   As can be seen in the lower right section of the photo some of our bombs landed in open fields.   This photo was taken by a P-38 photo recon plane at thirty thousand feet (about 6 miles high).

            A combat photographer on board one of the bombers during the first high altitude-bombing mission made the following photo of the Astra-Romana refinery on Ploesti.   These bomb explosions were from the lead liberator bombers one of which this author and webmaster was seated in the nose turret and clearly remembers this awesome site.   It was the first and last mission that the Bombardiers had a clear view of their aiming points.

            The remaining photos need no further explanation  - - they almost speak for themselves.   Dispelling the myth of some Historians and Writers that those refineries were not knocked out of service or completely destroyed.   By German admission this “single target’s” destruction was the turning point in keeping the Whermacht operating.