Tidal Wave Footage Photos, 15th AAF and Luftwaffe, 'Black Sunday', 1 August 1943

Me and Dan were in a expedion trip to Plopu and other villages near Ploesti.
Here is what we find out about Euroclydon.



Please Click on the image in order to open it.

This post has been edited by cipiamon on May 10, 2005 01:26 pm

From the local people of Plopu village we got some new information about Euroklydon fate.
He was seen burning coming from Ploesti and in the middle of the village one wing hit a tree and the plane crashed on the school exploding and spreading fire in a large area. Three death airmen were recovered and burried in the local cemetery on the right side of the old church. Only one was indentified by romanian autority the copilot Joe Boswell. Other two airmen were jumped with their chute in the gardens of local people of Plopu and were taken POW.

Pictures will be posted soon.


Dan.

B-24 D, Sn 42-40612 “ Euroklydon the Storm “

Crew members :

1Lt. Enoch M. Porter Jr. KIA
FO. Joe Boswell KIA
2Lt. Raymond Warner POW
1Lt. Jesse Franks KIA
Sgt. Frank Ferrel KIA
1Lt. Howard Dickson KIA
Sgt. Earl L. Frost KIA
2Lt. John F. Minogue KIA
Sgt. Charles A. Reed POW
Sgt. James R. Vest. POW


Below the position of Porter plane in attack formation before Columbia Aquila (SW Ploesti). Source Black Sunday- Hill.

And the map of Ploesti with " Euroklydon " possible flight vector from SW Ploesti (Columbia Aquila) to the crashed place NE Ploesti (Plopu).


This post has been edited by Cantacuzino on May 18, 2005 01:05 pm

" Euroklydon " story from Hill book- Black Sunday.



This post has been edited by Cantacuzino on May 11, 2005 10:50 am

Picture with the NE of Ploesti where B-24 Euroklydon was coming in flame to Plopu.
The today refinery from the picture is in the exact position of Romana-Americana. Courtesy Dan Melinte


This post has been edited by Cantacuzino on June 26, 2006 01:00 am

And a picture with the Plopu valley ( the village is down hill ). Picture courtesy Dan Melinte.



This post has been edited by Cantacuzino on May 11, 2005 09:35 am

The Plopu village. Picture courtesy Dan Melinte.

Below in the middle of Plopu village the exact place of the B-24 Euroklydon crash. Before 1 august 1943 was the village school . But after was destroy it, the school was rebuild nearby . Today on that area of the crash is a shoping market building. Courtesy Dan Melinte.




This post has been edited by Cantacuzino on June 26, 2006 01:01 am

The new school of Plopu village was build near the place of B-24 crash.
Picture courtesy Dan Melinte.


This post has been edited by Cantacuzino on May 18, 2005 12:40 pm

Constantin Artene ( 14 years old in '43) a scout military boy on that day was one of the witness of B-24 Euroklydon crash and helped for collecting the airmen remains.
He told us that three airmen were burried in the local cemetery on the right side of the old church and later ( over 7 years) were taken out by US autority.
Also he told us about two airmen saved with parachutes and landed in the gardens of local people from Plopu and were taken POW. Picture courtesy Dan Melinte.



This post has been edited by Cantacuzino on June 26, 2006 01:02 am

The old church of Plopu village. On the right side of the church 3 airmen from the B-24 ( Joe Boswell was indentified ) were burried on 1 august '43. Picture courtesy Dan Melinte.


This post has been edited by Cantacuzino on May 18, 2005 12:44 pm

Any idea what place is this?
Pictre from Balta Constantin col.

Could it be the I.A.R. Brasov Works after the USAAF bombardment in 1944?

Gen. Dénes

Because many people were having doubts about " Euroklydon" crash in Plopu village ( NE of Ploesti) i want to remind that in the last TW book published "Ploesti through the lens" of Roger Freeman, the place of crash of Porter plane on the map is Plopu village. This is based on romanian police( Jandarmeria ) archiv wich stated that in the cemetery of Plopu were burried burn remains in common grave of american airmen and only Joe Boswell was indentified. As far as i know Joe Boswell was the copilot of 'Euroklydon" on 1 august '43.

Today in the Plopu village all the people know the story of american plane who crashed on the school in '43. If someone have doubts could go to Plopu village and ask old people what happens on that day. You will be surprised how many details they remember about the event ( flying jacket under on wheel, gold ring on the finger of one burn hand, the place of the gardens where two american landed with chutes and so on).

I want to quote the opinion of other TW historians ( published also in some books before Freeman-PTL book):

Quote:

" Euroclydon has broke apart in two pices over the target area while his tokyo tank was hit prior target by A/A fire and crashed into a house, the fire and explosions were so intense that very few part of the aircraft were found . Except N, B( his parachute didnt open - Jesse Franks died on ground) and 2 Gunners who bailed out, none survived . "

Who could answer to some questions about :

1. Why Joe Boswell was found dead at Plopu village ( 30 miles NE of Ploesti) and not in south Ploesti area ?
2. If the plane from Plopu it's not "Euroklydon" then what plane could be?
3. If the aircraft ( Euroklydon) crashed in the target area ( Columbia Aquila) who indentified the "very few part of the aircraft found" and found by who ?

I think a complete reserch about this event should take romanian police archiv in consideration and not only the TW crew member reports whom in the heat of the fight could not be 100% sure about the fate of TW planes crashed on the ground.
And also don't forget there are a lot of witness (still alive) near the crashed places around Ploesti who can tell many details usefull in TW reserch.

Dan.

This post has been edited by Cantacuzino on May 18, 2005 12:46 pm