Tidelwave Reserch, Visiting Ploesti in Feb.

First of all, let me say that I am very glad to have found this site! There is a wealth of information on Operation Tidalwave here as well as some very interesting photographs.

The purpose of my planned visit is to focus on the fate on one particular aircraft, Hell's Wench. My Great Uncle was the navigator of that aircraft and is one of five crew members whose bodies where never identified.

According to the US Military, most of the remains of 174 Americans were recovered from Bolovan Cemetery in 1948 and it is quite possible that my Uncle's remains were among those. However, I have been told that Americans are still buried at Bolovan. This is something I will be investigating.

During my visit, I would love to interview any Romainian citizens who lived through this raid and who may have vivid memories about it as well has any others who were born after the raid but have an excellent knowledge of the attack from the Romainian point of view.

I was quite amazed to discover through Google Earth that Target White V (Columbia Aquila) is still very much intact. Hell's Wench crashed in the vicinity of this target area.

At any rate, I am certainly glad to have found this board...and look forward to sharing information anyone who cares to contact me.

This post has been edited by Duncan on October 13, 2012 01:44 pm

Hello Duncan,

Wellcome to our forum.
Regarding your great uncle plane, it crashed in the courtyard of Creuzot factory. I m trying to find wich was the place of this factory. I know that was close to Columbia refinery. There is a street with the name " Strada Creuzot" possible that the factory was at the end of this street ( south, on the rail track). Anyway if you want to visit it you will find all interesting places: Columbia Aquila ruins, Bolovani cemetery and Creuzot factory in the same area ( 15 min foot walking). If you will need a guide please let me know. Also I can recommend some guy from Ploesti who knows very well the city and some old Ploesti stories.

Dan.

This post has been edited by Cantacuzino on October 15, 2012 06:47 am

I just logged on to see this interesting bit of news. Wow! Thanks so much for this information Dan!

Hey Dan

I have Google mapped Strada Creuzot. The location of this street would make sense. The most of the aircrew who saw the crash said they saw "Hell's Wench" go down in the refinery "area". Which, to me would mean near by but not directly inside.

Dan, since you claim this is the crash site, could you please explain how you got this information? Were there aircraft markings that identified her as Hell's Wench?

Five crew members were identified and recovered to buried in Luxumberg. My Great-Uncle was not among them.

I also have heard from another source that claims that there are still remains of US servicemen buried in Bolovan Cemetery according to a Colonel that is in charge of military graves there, although this would contradict the claims of the US Gov. that no bodies remain in Romania.


Duncan