Today in World War II History—August 1, 1943

US B-24D Liberator over Astra Romania oil refinery in Ploesti, Romania, Aug 1 1943 (US Army Center of Military History)

80 Years Ago—Aug. 1, 1943: US Ninth Air Force flies disastrous low-altitude bombing raid on Nazi oil refineries in Ploesti, Romania; 52 of 179 B-24 bombers are lost, 5 Congressional Medals of Honor are earned.

Leading Soviet female pilot, Lydia Litvak, is shot down & killed in her Yak-1b fighter plane after downing two Luftwaffe Bf 109s.

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