 It was as executive officer that he took part in Operation Tidal Wave , the low @-@ level bombing raid against oil refineries at Ploieşti , Romania , on 1 August 1943 . The 93d Bombardment Group was the second of five B @-@ 24 groups that raided Ploieşti from a temporary base at Benghazi , Libya . It flew directly into heavy defenses to attack three of the six target refineries . The lead plane , flown by the group commander , Lieutenant Colonel Addison Baker , was shot down . Brown took over the command of the battered 93d and led it through the attack on the target and the journey back to Benghazi . He received the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions on that mission . For his services in combat in the skies over Europe , he was also awarded the Silver Star , two Distinguished Flying Crosses , three Air Medals , the French Croix de guerre with palm and the British Distinguished Flying Cross . 
