| FIELD ORDER NO. 58 |
Maps: Plotting series and topographic
charts of entire area -- BENGASI, CORFU, BRACOV, CONSTANTA, ISTANBUL,
CYPRUS. |
| 1. |
a. See Intelligence Annex.
b. Friendly ground situation: no change.
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| 2. |
The Ninth U.S. Air Force will attack
and destroy the 7 principal oil refineries in the PLOESTI area
on 1 August 1943 employing 7 target forces in a minimum altitude
attack in order to deny the enemy use of the petroleum products
processed in that area. |
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a. ASSEMBLY: |
On the line Site 7 - DRIANA - TOCRA,
leading element to depart TOCRA at 0530 GMT. |
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b. ROUTE OUT: |
BENGASI - TOCRA - Northern tip of CORFU - PIROT - 43º50'
N 23º43' E - PITESTI - IP - TARGET
ATITUDES: BENGASI to TOCRA to 38º20' N 20º08' E begin
climb so as to cross CORFU at 10,000 feet until reaching PIROT.
At PIROT begin descent so as to cross DANUBE at 3,000-5,000
feet. Remain at 3,000 to 5,000 feet until reaching PITESTI.
From PITESTI to IPs maintain minimum altitude above terrain.
From IP to target reduce altitudes to bombing level.
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c. AXIS OF ATTACK |
Target Forces No. 1 to 5 Incl - 127º
Target Force Blue - 132º
Target Force Red - 150º |
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d. MANUVER AFTER ATTACK: |
Target forces Nos 1 to 5 Incl continue on attack course 127º
for following times after crossing E-W RR along southern border
of PLOESTI. Then turn right to a heading of 233º to LAKE
BALTA POTELEL approx 120 miles from PLOESTI.
No 1 - 2 min 15 sec
No 2 - 2 min 15 sec
No 3 - 2 min 15 sec
No 4 - 2 min
No 5 - 1 min 45 sec
Target Force Blue turn right as soon as possible to a heading
of 233º. Target Force Red turn right as soon as possible
to a heading of 220º. All forces remain at minimum altitude
until after crossing RIVER DANUBE then climb to 10,000 feet.
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e. ROUTE BACK |
From targets, all forces will proceed to LAKE BALTA POTELEL
as directed in withdrawl plan. From there to BARKOVISTA to southern
tip of CORFU to TOCRA to bases.
ALTITUDES: From target to LAKE BALTA POTELEL 3,000-5,000 feet.
LAKE BALTA POTELEL climb to 10,000 feet holding this altitude
until reaching CORFU. From CORFU to base utilize the most economical
altitude.
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| 3. |
a. |
Target Force No 1, Colonel
Compton commanding, and consisting of 24 B-24s from the 376th
Bomb Group will lead the formation and attack target No White
1 as indicated on Operations Map. Attack will be made in 4 waves
of 6 airplanes each. |
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b. |
Target Force No 2, Colonel Baker commanding,
and major Brown deputy leader, consisting of 21 B-24s of the 93rd
Bomb Group, will fly No. 2 position in the route formation and
attack target White No II as indicated on Operations Map employing
3 waves of six airplanes each plus one wave of three airplanes. |
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c. |
Target Force No 3, Colonel Baker commanding
and Major Potts leading, consisting of 12 B-24s of the 93rd Bomb
Group, will fly No 3 position in the formation and attack target
White No III as indicated on Operations Map employing 4 waves
of 3 airplanes each. |
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d. |
Target Force No 4, Colonel Kane commanding,
consisting of 40 B-24s of the 98th Bomb Group, will fly No 4 position
in the formation and attack target White No IV employing 4 waves
of 10 airplanes each. |
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e. |
Target Force No 5, Colonel Johnson
commanding and Major Brandon leading, consisting of 15 B-24s of
the 44th Bomb Group will fly No 5 position in the formation and
attack White No V as indicated on the Operations Map, employing
5 waves of 3 airplanes each. |
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f. |
Target Force No 6, Lt Colonel Posey
commanding, and Captain Diehl leading, consisting of 18 B-24s
of the 44th Bomb Group, will fly No 6 position in the formation
and attack target Blue I as indicated on the Operations Map, employing
3 waves of 6 airplanes each. |
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g. |
Target Force Red, Colonel Woods commanding,
and Captain Caldwell leading, consisting of 24 B-24s of the 389th
Bomb Group, will fly the last position in the formation and attack
target Red I as indicated on the Operations Map, employing 8 waves
of 3 airplanes each. |
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x. |
See Bomb Loading
Annex. |
| 4. |
See Airdrome Annex. |
| 5. |
a. COMMUNICATIONS: |
See Communications Annex. |
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b. |
(1) Ground: No Change.
(2) Air: Colonel Compton in lead aircraft. Deputy leader, Colonel
Baker, in lead aircraft 2nd target force.
By command of Brigadier General ENT:
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JOHN C. KILBORN,
Colonel, AC,
A-3. |
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