During World War II, the Ploesti Oil Fields in Romania were one of the largest oil-producing regions in Europe. Germany heavily relied on oil for its war machine, particularly for fueling its tanks, aircraft, and naval vessels. By securing the Ploesti Oil Fields, Germany could ensure a steady supply of oil to sustain its military operations. Additionally, Ploesti was strategically located within range of the German military operations in Eastern Europe. Due to these reasons, and the importance of the fields for the importing of oil to both Italy and Hungry, the German military made their defense a high priority. Allied commanders also knew of this importance to the German war effort, and made taking them out an equally high priority.
Bombing missions targeting the Ploesti Oil Fields began in earnest in 1942. The first significant raid on Ploesti took place on June 12, when the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) launched Operation Tidal Wave, a large-scale bombing mission against the oil refineries at Ploesti. The bombings would continue until the end of the war.
On 5 April 1944, B-17 Flying Fortresses with the 301st Bomb Group, 419 Squadron, took off from their base in Foggia, Italy on their way to the oil fields in Ploesti. The fields were heavily defended, and their bombing had taken the lives of hundreds of airmen with hundreds more being shot down and captured. On this day, George Ferguson, a waist gunner on one of those planes, would join the ranks of those shot down in the skies over Romania.
During the mission, SSgt Ferguson’s 15th mission aboard aircraft 42-31182, also known as Mighty Rabbit, was shot down after being attacked by six enemy fighters. According to aircrews from other B-17 that were part of the raid, Ferguson’s plane was wounded and attempting to keep up with the formation. The enemy planes were circling the aircraft when one of the them made a pass at the tail. Mighty Rabbit began to lose altitude and eventually disappeared in the clouds.
SSgt Ferguson and the other nine crew members were able to successfully bail out of the B-17 and parachuted safely to the ground where they were captured and sent to a POW camp in Romania. He would remain a POW until his liberation in September 1944 after Romania broke away from Germany and joined the Allies.
George Ferguson would return home shortly after his liberation, get married, and have two children with his wife Betty. Twenty-two years after returning home, George passed away suddenly, and sadly his story of service and sacrifice went largely untold. Like so many of his generation, when he returned home, he left the war behind. He did his duty like millions of others, and began a new chapter of his life. His experiences in the skies over Europe became just a memory that was rarely spoken of.
Dennis Gill is the manager of the Voice of Freedom Project, and the grandson of George Ferguson. His only knowledge of his grandfather's service comes from his DD214 and some old newspaper clippings. His experiences during his 15 missions over Europe, and his 6 months as a POW sadly will never be known. It is unfortunately an all to common occurrence for many family members of veterans who served during wartime. It is why the Americans in Wartime Experience, Dennis, and his team of oral historians who make up the Voices of Freedom are so passionate about recording and preserving the stories of our wartime veterans.
For all those who have served, we ask that you consider telling your story. Your service matters as does your story, regardless of how insignificant you think it might be. Your experiences are uniquely yours and deserve to be documented.
For further information on the Voices of Freedom Project, or to inquire about sharing your story, contact Dennis at dgill@AmericansInWartime.org.
