# "AIR SEIGE" FIFTEENTH AIR FORCE RAID ON PLOIESTI WWII OPERATION TIDAL WAVE DOCUMENTARY 75212

"Air Siege" is a 1944 short film produced by the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF), narrated by Ronald Reagan, describing the 15th Air Force's bombing campaign against oilfields and refineries in Ploesti, Romania during World War II. The film begins with images of American fliers who were shot down over Europe, returning to the American air base near Bari. The film then shows Operation Tidal Wave, an attack by bombers based in Libya and Southern Italy on oil refineries around Ploiești, Romania on 1 August 1943. This was a crucial target for the German war machine. The narrative highlights the efforts of the 15th Air Force, particularly in 1944, to disrupt Nazi oil production. The bombers faced intense enemy resistance, including flak, smoke screens, and constant threat from German fighters. The operation, which included several tough missions, aimed to reduce the Nazi oil supply, and over time, the bombers successfully damaged key refineries, severely limiting Germany's oil production. Despite the high cost in terms of lives lost, with over 2,300 men killed, the operation had a lasting impact on the war, weakening Hitler’s ability to wage war. The story culminates in the return of soldiers who had been prisoners of war, symbolizing the success of the mission. The relentless attacks on Ploiești marked a turning point in the war's strategic bombing campaign. 00:00 Titles 0:49: Soldiers reflect on the return of fellow airmen who had been prisoners of war, recounting the…

- Kind: Documentary
- Genres: War, Documentary, Industrial and advertising
- Archive: [Internet Archive](https://archive.org/details/75212AirSiege)
- Licence or status: none stated by the archive
- Who can watch: Teens profiles and older (the archive gives no rating; placed by Invisible Network from its collection and subjects)

[Watch now](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/watch/archive/ia/75212AirSiege?play=1)