On
1 August 1943, an armada of American B-24 Liberator bombers (the most that could
be mustered from England and North Africa), roared at tree-top level across
pastoral Balkan farms and villages. Their target: the oil refineries at Ploesti,
Romania. Churchill had described Ploesti as the taproot of German might.
Hundreds of youthful American airmen volunteered for the mission despite warnings
that half might not return. In fewer than 30 minutes, more firepower was exchanged
than in two Gettysburgs. Five Americans won the Medal of Honor.
Read
the exciting story and close-ups of the adversaries, who exhibited raw courage
and heroism while slugging it out midst smoke, fire, explosions, point-blank
exchanges, ambushes and aerial dog fights.