Operation Tidal Wave
Was an air attack by bombers of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) on nine oil refineries around Ploieşti , Romania on 1 August 1943, during WWII.. It was a strategic bombing mission and part of the 'oil campaign' to deny petroleum based fuel to the Axis. The mission resulted in "no curtailment of overall product output", and so was unsuccessful.
This mission was one of the costliest for the USAAF in the European Theatre, 53 aircraft and 660 aircrewmen were lost. It was the worst loss ever suffered by the USAAF on a single mission, and its date was later referred to as "Black Sunday." Five Congressional Medals of Honor (CMOH) and numerous Distinguished Service Crosses (DSC's) were awarded to Operation Tidal Wave crew members.
