The Burning B-24 That Refused to Turn Back — And Finished the Mission

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Title : The Burning B-24 That Refused to Turn Back — And Finished the Mission

Summary : On August 1st, 1943, Lieutenant Colonel Addison Baker and Major John Jerstad led the B-24 Hell’s Wench into one of the most dangerous missions of World War II—Operation Tidal Wave, a low-altitude strike on the German-controlled Ploesti oil refineries. The plan called for 178 Liberators to fly 2,400 miles at treetop height, threading valleys and weaving between barrage balloons, smokestacks, and hundreds of anti-aircraft positions.

When the lead navigators were lost over the Mediterranean, the formation drifted off course toward Bucharest. Baker recognized the mistake instantly—and made a decision that would define the mission. Breaking radio silence, he turned the entire 93rd Bomb Group alone toward Ploesti, straight into the heart of the flak network. Every German gun in the region now pointed at them.

Hell’s Wench was hit repeatedly, tearing open fuel tanks and engulfing the wing in flames. Baker and Jerstad could have crash-landed and survived. Instead, they pushed forward, refusing to abandon the mission. McCormack released the bombs with perfect accuracy, destroying critical refinery structures. The resulting explosions rocked the burning aircraft as it clawed upward, buying precious altitude so the crew might bail out over friendly territory.

The right wing finally tore off. Hell’s Wench crashed at over 300 mph. All ten men were killed.
Their sacrifice helped cripple the refinery output that fueled Germany’s war machine—and earned Baker and Jerstad the Medal of Honor.

This is the story of the bomber that completed an impossible mission while burning to pieces in the sky.



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⚠️ Disclaimer: This video is an entertainment-based retelling inspired by real World War II events, using publicly available sources. While every effort was made to ensure historical accuracy, some details may be dramatized or simplified for narrative purposes. This content is not an academic source. For verified historical research, please consult professional historians, archives, and official records.
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