Here’s the latest of my infrequent progress updates on my TIDAL WAVE book/documentary project.
The good news is that the “technical” research into who, what, when, where, and why is almost finished. It should have been wrapped up nearly a year ago, but the virus panic shut down all archives in Germany, Romania, the UK, and the US. In fact, as of today the US National Archives are still shut down with no reopening date available. The European archives are slowly reopening, and thank goodness I don’t have many subjects left to research.
My visual image search is complete; I now have or own several thousand photos, many never before seen, related to the TW operation. I need to gather more motion picture footage, but that must wait until I’ve finished or nearly finished the book.
I’m well into the “personal relationships” research since these relationships significantly impacted how the mission was formulated, planned, and executed. This area is less clear-cut than the “technical” information, but is in many ways even more interesting and important.
I’ve also started writing various sections of my book, which is a really good feeling! Given the shutdown of the archives I’ll end up writing some sections based on the information I already discovered, then modifying as necessary once the remaining research is complete. It’s a really good feeling to finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.
My big project at the moment is translating 2,000+ pages of original Romanian and German documents recently obtained. This material is pure gold and crucial to telling the accurate story. I’ve previously described my translation process, but suffice to say it’s laborious and extremely time-consuming since I don’t speak either language (some say I have enough trouble with English!). It’s good to have German and Romanian friends who are willing to doublecheck my translations!
I’d planned to have the book finished before the end of 2021, but the virus panic put a massive dent in my schedule. At this point I still intend to have at least the draft manuscript finished and out for peer review before Christmas, and if the self-ordained political gods cooperate and reopen the various archives within the next couple of months this could still happen.
In short, this project is active and literally consumes my life’s activities. It WILL be finished and I’m certain you will find it interesting and illuminating. Some long-held myths will be proven wrong and many crucial facts not previously known will be exposed.
Go David Go! Great to hear it is actively on-going – Thanks for all the progress – I know it’s a major sacrifice to take on this majorly detailed project. Still excited to see the final product. If I can help in any way let me know. Still fighting esophageal cancer so my book plans have been on hold for a while – the meds really kick your ass! Seeing your book is one of the many incentives I have to beat this and be in line to get my copy. Best of luck moving forward – Damn the Covid – Full Speed Ahead!
Hey John
Again, thanks for your kind comments. As you know, this project has CONSUMED my life for several years and I’m glad to be, finally, nearing the fruition of the book (with the documentary hopefully not far behind). Translating all this Romanian and German documentation is not as much fun as it sounds, but I’m really, really glad to have the information–much of which has not been seen since the end of the war.
Best of luck with your health challenges. I wish you victory over the malady!
Dave
So great to have your sit-rep, David! I really am counting on seeing the finished products at full completion. My dad, Jake Smart, would be pleased—I am sure—to see that you are committed to an all-sides-inclusive book and documentary, regardless of how long it takes to produce them.
Hi Bill
Long time no hear!!! I’ve just emailed you with more information.
Dave
This is excellent news, David….. I will find the “personal relationships” most fascinating, since they did affect the mission to its core. I assume you will cover the situation with Ent, since he went on to be quite successful….. And Kane too. I am waiting for this with great anticipation, having heard your presentation twice. There is no telling what other major actions in WW2 might be hiding…..
Hi Bruce
Yes, personal relationships have been critical all through history. This is actually the most difficult area to research, but I’m trying my best to leave no stone unturned. Of course my immediate task is to finish translating the Romanian and German official documents, but as soon as that’s wrapped up I’ll get back to actual writing and deeper research into relationships.
Dave
Dave- If I can help in any way please let me know! peer review?
Mark Hester(Son of E Lynn Hester-Group Bombardier 376th/Teggie Ann #100/ 8-1-43 )
If you have photos of my dad and crew that we have not seen I would appreciate a look!
Hi Mark
Yes, I’ll much appreciate your help. I need to call you about a specific need; is your number the same as the last time we spoke (do not post your number here!)?
I may have photos you’ve not seen and we can discuss when we talk on the phone.
I’ll call you later this week.
Dave
Hi Dave
Real happy to get new of that immense project We are all rooting for you I can’t wait for 2022 when the final products are out It is always a pleasure to receive news from you it keep us on the edge of our chair wanting for more
Go Dave Go
P Brosseau
Montreal
Hey Pierre
Many thanks for your kind comments. I’ll keep pushing to get this baby wrapped up such that you’ll read an interesting, documented story.
Dave
Dave, I know it’s been a long, hard slog, but by golly, it looks as though the Chapel Ceiling might actually be close to being finished. We’re all looking forward to seeing the masterpiece!
Best,
Geo.
Thanks, George. It’s been quite a journey, and it’s not over yet!
I am very much looking forward to your results. I read my first book Operation Tidal Wave 50 years ago and always enjoy the level of intensive you have put in to this endeavor.
Thank you.
Hi Jack
I’m back on the project nearly full time now, so intend to get the first draft done by Christmas.
Dave
David,
Just watched you presentation on CAF! Outstanding work! My Dad was SSgt David T. Collie aboard the Horsefly for the 1 August ’43 raid! I am sure you know that they crash landed in turkey! Dad flew most of his missions aboard Suzy-Q, but flew only 1 mission on Horsefly! Any way I can help, feel free to contact me!
David T. Collie Jr.
Hi David
Thanks for your kind comments!
I always loved the Horsefly artwork, which I first saw in the late ’70s when one of the 44th vets gave me a copy of the “usual” print of the nose art taken from behind and below. I would have considered it for inclusion in my TIDAL WAVE model airplane scale decal sets except I’ve never seen a photo of the entire aircraft, so can’t confirm the full markings.
I’ll contact you separately by email since I definitely want to talk with you.
Dave
Dave, I just listened to your presentation of 3 August – each time I learn something more!! Thank you.
My husband and I have moved to Sarasota, Florida – previously we lived in Scottsdale AZ when I mailed you all of my info on my Dad’s plane, The Lady Jane. (Lt. William E. Meehan, Jr., 93rd BG) In the process of moving the B-24 model I treasure was damaged. I am in the process of getting someone to repair it and understand that it will have to be re-painted. Your decal website may be very helpful to the person who will be fixing it. I will forward your info to him.
I look forward to your book! Please let me know as soon as I can order one.
Most thankfully,
Carol Meehan Buran
Hi Carol
Thanks for your kind comments!
Sorry to hear your model was damaged, but after a multitude of moves during my USAF career, broken models became a fact of life during moves. In fact, I got to the point where I hate moving more than anything else in the world–and not just because of the models.
I’ll let you know when the book is nearing release.
Dave
Hi David,
We approach the 80th anniversary of Tidal Wave. I’m busy working on a Hasegawa 1/72 model of then Lt. Robert Sternfels, The Sandman of course using my beautiful Pyn-up decals. Darn you though, it’s so hard to decide which Liberator to do so there will be multiple kits built. Fortunately the Hasegawa kit is not difficult.
I just wanted to check on your progress with your Tidal Wave project? We’re not getting any younger are we? It seems like last month it was 1993 and the 50th anniversary of Tidal Wave and I again read the Dugan and Stuart classic, Ploesti: The Great Ground-Air Battle of 1 August 1943. A book that should be required reading of anyone interested in WWII or air operations of the past century as I’m sure your work will be. The history of Tidal Wave deserves to be honored and preserved.
Kind regards,
William
Hi William
First, thanks for your very kind comments about my TIDAL WAVE decal sets. Creating those was the most fun I’ve had on the modeling front for years!
Strike photos suggest Sternfels was one of only a couple 98th pilots that came close to bombing their assigned pinpoint target. He was at least directly over the Astra Romana (WHITE IV) refinery, which was not the case for many or even most of the 98th ships. I’ve previously noted that I have the actual bombfall chart produced by the Astra Romana company at the direction of the Romanian government immediately after the attack. This chart (and the charts prepared by each of the other refineries that suffered damage that day) plots the exact point where each bomb exploded, or in the case of duds, where it came to rest.
We know from multiple official Romanian reports that the refinery was shut down for only a few days and was back in full production in a little over two weeks. Further, the bombfall plot strongly suggests the major damage inflicted on the refinery was actually caused the 93rd Bomb Group’s earlier attack, which among other things set a number of large storage tanks on fire, causing the “wall of black smoke” reported by literally every aircraft in the target area.
The bombfall plot proves that NONE of the briefed pinpoint targets were hit, let alone destroyed by either of the two bomb groups (93rd and 98th), which explains why the shutdown and return to service was so quick.
You’re right that it’s been a very long time since I posted an update on my book/documentary progress. Although the virus panic of the last several years certainly slowed down my research progress, I’ve still uncovered considerable additional important information regarding the event.
(And yes, the Stewart & Dugan book remains the single seminal source for TIDAL WAVE information, with literally all books published since then being derivative of their effort–including one well-known book that plagiarized entire pages from Stewart & Dugan.)
As I’ve noted in the past, the significant advantage available to me is that at the they were writing crucial information about the event was simply unavailable to them or anybody else. All Romanian records were behind the Iron Curtain, most of the German records were in limbo since during that period the US government was processing captured German files for return to Germany, the most important British records were still covered by their Official Secrets Act, etc., etc. All those restrictions have now gone away, so a massive amount of information is now available (if you dig deep for it) that Cal Stewart and Jim Dugan couldn’t have accessed even if they’d known about it.
I’ll try to post a more detailed account of my recent research on this website in the near future.
Finally, even though some important research remains to be accomplished, I’ve actually started writing and hope (!) to have my first draft done by the end of this year…although to be honest I’ve said the same thing for the last four years…
Dave
WHEN WILL THE BOOK BE IN BOOK STORES? WHAT HAPPENED TO THE NOSEOF HADLEY HAREM? KKCOMPTON WOULD NEVER TALK TO ME ABOUT THE RAID. WHAT HAPPENED TO NUK TOP GUNNER ON NORMAN APPOLDPLANE G.I.GINNIE? HOW MANY ARE STILL ALIVE?
Hi Harry
1. Intend to have the book first draft done by the end of this year and out for peer review in Jan-Feb 2025; to publisher after peer review.
2. As far as I know, the Hadley’s Harem nose is still in the Rahmi Koç Museum in Istanbul, Turkey, where it was taken after being recovered from the sea off the Turkish coast. Quick internet search shows it was still there as of December 2022, but I didn’t see any later posts that indicate anything else has happened to it.
3. I was unable to contact KK before he passed away, but I have received notes from several guys who interviewed him during the 1990s. I also have letters and unpublished notes he wrote while still alive. I have been in contact with his children, but unfortunately it appears he didn’t talk much (or at all) about his wartime experiences.
4. I assume “Nuk” is a typo and you’re referring to Squadron Leader George Barwell, RAFVR, who was an Air Gunner instructor assigned to IX Bomber Command. He flew as top turret gunner on many missions and it was stated he shot down many attacking German fighters during the course of those missions–although I’ve never been able to confirm he was credited with any of them, or in fact claimed them in the first place. I was finally able to make contact with his surviving family in the UK just two months ago. He was a successful businessman and inventor after the war. Both he and his wife have passed away and did not have children. He earned the US Legion of Merit for his TW and other service to IX Bomber Command. Apparently the LOM was the highest US military award given to non-US military men during the war–the British King, Tedder, Montgomery, and a bunch of other 3- and 4-star equivalent British Army, Navy, and Air Force officers also received this award–which puts Barwell in very rare company indeed.
5. How many are still alive is a good question. I do not have a way of determining that number but now that you’ve asked I will put out feelers among the TIDAL WAVE “mafia” (buffs) to see whether they know of any survivors. On a related note, since 2017 the DPAA (Defense POW-MIA Accounting Agency) has used DNA analysis to identify previously unidentified remains of 48 TW men whose bodies were burned beyond recognition in their crashes in Romania.
Good questions!
Dave