Purple Heart Returns To Caldwell, Honors Local Air Force Vet

CALDWELL, NJ — Could Monday have been a more apropos day for a Purple Heart to return to the Caldwells?

Almost 75 years after participating in “Operation Tidal Wave,” one of the most daring raids of World War II, Caldwell native Brian Woolley Flavelle was again in the memories of Essex County on Monday, when his Purple Heart medal was returned to the first lieutenant’s family members.

The endeavor was part of an effort from Purple Hearts United to reunite eight Purple Hearts from WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam and Iraq with veterans or their family members, held on Aug. 7, National Purple Heart Day.

Don’t forget to visit the Patch Caldwells Facebook page here.

According to Purple Hearts United:

“After graduating from Caldwell High in New Jersey, [Flavelle] got a degree from the University of Oregon and would later enlist for service in the United States Army Air Corps on 14 July 1941. He was trained as a B-24 pilot for service with the 512th Bomber Squadron, 376th Bomber Group (Heavy) which was known as the “Liberandos”, of the 9th Air Force. On 01 August 1943, 1LT Flavelle and his crew of the “Wongo Wongo” were tasked to participate in one of the most daring raids of WWII, Operation Tidal Wave, which would be carried out by bombers based in Libya and Southern Italy on nine oil refineries around Ploiesti, Romania.

Purple Hearts United continued:

“This mission was the costliest in Air Force history within the European Theater with 53 aircraft and 660 aircrewman lost. It was the second-worst loss ever suffered by the Air Force on a single mission and its date was later referred to as ‘Black Sunday.’”

The mission was also tragically perilous to the crew of the Wongo Wongo, Purple Hearts United stated.

“In the early morning of August 1, 1943, the formation reached the Adriatic Sea without further incident; however aircraft #28, Wongo Wongo, belonging to the 376th Bombardment Group (the lead group, about 40 B-24s and piloted by Lt. Brian Flavelle) was seen to develop a wing wobble, stall and fell away to the left before entering into a spin and diving into the sea. The aircraft detonated upon impact and a column of smoke rose to 200 feet. The entire crew was lost.”

• See related article: West Caldwell Student Pays Tribute To Veteran Family Members
• See related article: Caldwell Vet Among Soldiers Welcomed Back from Afghanistan

Send local news tips, photos and press releases to eric.kiefer@patch.com

Photo: Wikimedia Commons