The famous Ploesti raid that was so costly was in 1943, as you have pointed out. There were no B-17s there, and no P-38s either pathfinding or otherwise.

If you're talking 1944 through the rest of the war, then your assertion of B-17s not being involved is also incorrect.

This covers it.

http://www.roconsulboston.com/Pages/InfoPages/History/Ploesti.html


"The price of good shotgunnery is constant practice" - Fred Kimble