Ploesti

gumalangi · Mar 14, 2008

When Hitler began his blitzkrieg in Europe the small nation of Romania found itself precariously perched between German advances in Poland and Hungary, and Soviet advances from the Ukraine. The small country, not even as large as the state of Oregon, found itself besieged on two fronts despite attempts at neutrality.

By ultimatum notes, on June 26 and 28, 1940, the Soviet Union forced Romania to cede Bessarbia, which had shaken off the Russian yoke in 1918, as well as Northern Bucovina (which had never belonged to Russia). Under the Vienna Diktat of August 30 that same year and after a German-Italia ultimatum, Romania was forced to give Hungary the north-western part of Transylvania. Under the Treaty of Craiova on September 7, 1940, Romania surrendered the southern part of Dobrudja. The loss of about one-third of the country's area and population caused a serious crisis which resulted in the abdication of King Carol II in favor of his son Mihai and the subsequent rise to power of General Ion Antonescu.

In June 1941 Romania abandoned neutrality and joined the Axis, primarily in hopes of regaining Basarabia and Northern Bucovina. Ironically, Romania had been allied AGAINST Germany in the First World War. In desperation now, she joined the Axis for reasons of self-preservation. Britain declared war on Romania (along with Finland and Hungary) on December 5, 1941.

The United States left its own initial policy of non-belligerency in the European war on December 11, 1941, four days after Pearl Harbor and three days after declaring war on Japan. It was not however, until June 5, 1942, that the United States expanded that declaration of war on Germany and Italy to include Romania (along with Hungary and Bulgaria.) It was fateful timing, with Halpro impatiently awaiting new orders after the loss of its primary mission. When that order came it was almost as unbelievable as the circumstances that had brought Hurry-Up Harry Halverson's airmen to this point. Halpro's new orders were:

"Bomb Ploesti!"
Click to expand...

I read a book about the ploesti bombing,.Ploesti was considered the most FLak Defended places. infact the first Germans who sounded the alarmed was,. Dauglas Pitcairn, very interesting, a scottish descend luftwaffe pilot.

Rest of story can find on the following;
Wings of Valor II- The Ploesti Raid

muscogeemike · Feb 13, 2010

The Halpro raid ranks up with the Dolittle raid (for the US) but is largely forgotten or ignored. Of course Midway is probably the reason.

Antipodean Andy · Feb 14, 2010

What is forgotten even more is that the USAAF flew quite a number of raids to the oilfields and the RAF also hit them repeatedly at night..

Oggie2620 · Feb 19, 2010

Perhaps you guys could tell us more as it seems as if its a story that needs more of an airing...

Dee

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