Looking for documentary about Operation Tidal Wave 1943

[Paul Thompson]

Hello,

I vaguely remember having watched a good documentary about the 1943 raid on Ploesti about 15 years ago, which prominently discussed the role of the flak train and the attack on it by B-24s. I realise this recollection isn't particularly helpful, but I believe that very few documentaries have been made about this raid, so can anyone help identify the one I am looking for?

Regards,

Paul

[muggs_ro]

Hi Paul, I don't know which one you mean exactly but maybe you'll want to see this one made by the romanian national tv in the 90's, the video quality is quite bad though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tl1jvBnRNDI

[Paul Thompson]

Hi Paul, I don't know which one you mean exactly but maybe you'll want to see this one made by the romanian national tv in the 90's, the video quality is quite bad though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tl1jvBnRNDI

Hello muggs_ro,

Thank you, that's an intriguing video. However, the video that I am looking for was definitely American, not Romanian. Do you have any ideas?

Regards,

Paul

[John Beaman]

Paul, I am trying access old memory chips here so be tolerant!

Walter Cronkite and CBS did a thing called "20th Century". It had part of a segment on the raid. Also, IIRC, the BBC series, "World at War" had a specific program on the raid.

Both these programs made use of the USAAF film that was shot during the
raid. It is some fantastic "live' footage.

I always thought this raid would have made a great movie in the Tom Hanks genre. The book "Ploesti" by Duggan and Hill is practically screen script ready.

[Nick Beale]

The British Pathé site has this newsreel: http://www.britishpathe.com/video/ploesti-pranged/query/Ploesti

[Paul Thompson]

Hello John and Nick,

Thank you both for your help! I am sorry not to have been able to reply earlier, I will now look for both the CBS and World at War TV versions.

There are some more newsreels on the general topic of Allied Ploesti raids, including quite astonishing footage! It's certainly the sort of material Holywood likes, although there is not much of a market for it among the general public, judging by the continual delay of Peter Jackson's Dambusters.

Regards,

Paul

[Paul Thompson]

It appears that I have found the name of the Ploesti documentary, after all. It is "Destroy the German Oil Fields", episode 24 of the "Secrets of World War 2" series dating from 1998. I think I first saw it back then, so my memory regarding its quality may not be altogether reliable!

I would be very grateful if anyone could point out where one can buy this documentary.

Regards,

Paul

[researcher111]

Ploesti low and high altitude raids were for the last years my research subjects. All the above links are of general info . The link bellow
covering the briefing for the low level mission . Note the various intel errors as into the Ploesti defenses the crews were briefed with

http://www.93rdbombardmentgroup.com/videoplayer_polestibriefing_for_resch.html

[Vince Malfara]

Hi Paul

I don't know if this will help. I don't know if the price listed is for the full episode.

http://www.worldmediarights.com/index.php?hidAction=episode&eid=47

[NickM]

Hello,

I vaguely remember having watched a good documentary about the 1943 raid on Ploesti about 15 years ago, which prominently discussed the role of the flak train and the attack on it by B-24s. I realise this recollection isn't particularly helpful, but I believe that very few documentaries have been made about this raid, so can anyone help identify the one I am looking for?

Regards,

Paul

Our local public broadcasting station had a Docco called 'A Wing & a Prayer: the Saga of Utah Man'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1J_afrDiVlM