The Hadley's Harem and Lt. G.B. Hadley's story.

The target for the 98th. Bomber Groupwas the Astro Romano Rafinery, the largest petroleum refining facility in Ploesti, code name “White Four”. The rafinery was armed and protected by quite a few stationary anti-aircraft guns with an additional mobile anti-craft gun mounted on a train that went back and forth over the tracks around the refinery.

Whilst “Hadley’s Harem” was on its approach to the target, and anti-aircraft shell went through the nose section of the fuselage and exploded causing great damage. Bombardier Storm diet instantly as a result of chest injuries received from shrapnel fragments. Navigator Tabacoff was also wounded. Engine no.2 had also stopped. Engineer Page manually operated the bomb bay and released the bombs to lose some of the weight.

The aircraft was seriously damaged. They set off on their return journey towards Benghazi. However, after a while they realised this was not possible and changed their heading towards the British Air Base in Cyprus via Turkey.

Engine no.3 stopped over Anatolia. At position past the Taurus Mauntains the oil pressure for engine no.1 began to decrease rapidly. As it was clear that they were not going to reach Cyprus, they dedicated to land onTurkey’s Medditerranean coast. The aircraft lost its last two engines near Manavgat while trying to land. One of its wings touch the water causing the aircraft to crash and sink rapidly. The pilot and co-pilot could not escape from the aircraft.

The crew who survived reached the cost by the swimming. Their first madical aid came from the Turkish villagers who rescued them.The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared this people “shiprecked mariners” thus allowing them to leave freely once their treatment was completed.