History After Hours: Tidal Wave with New York Times Bestselling Author Adam Makos

Join the American Heritage Museum for a very special History After Hours presentation with New York Times bestselling author Adam Makos, introducing his newest book, Tidal Wave, an extraordinary true story of courage, survival, and unexpected humanity during World War II.

Museum Hours: 5:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m. | Presentation: 7:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.

Released just two days before this special event, Tidal Wave takes readers into one of the most daring and dangerous air operations of World War II: the August 1, 1943 low-level B-24 Liberator raid against the vital oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania.

In Tidal Wave, Makos brings together the remarkable true stories of individuals whose lives converged around this extraordinary mission. Lieutenant Ernie Poulson, a 22-year-old American airman from Utah, finds himself at the controls of a B-24 bomber sent to North Africa for a top-secret assignment. Across Europe, Romanian fighter ace Lieutenant Constantin Cantacuzino battles Soviet aircraft on the Eastern Front while serving a nation increasingly trapped within Nazi Germany’s orbit.

Meanwhile, Princess Catherine Caradja walks a dangerous line between loyalty to Romania and quiet resistance, while the young King Michael of Romania struggles against a Nazi-backed government and considers how his country might escape a war that threatens to consume it. Their stories ultimately intersect with the American airmen who flew directly into one of the most heavily defended targets in Europe.

At the center of the story is the massive American air raid against the Ploesti oil complex. Flying at extremely low altitude, American B-24 crews attempted to cripple a resource essential to the Axis war effort. What began as a mission of extraordinary risk would set in motion a much larger story of survival, enemies becoming allies, and moments of humanity that crossed the boundaries of nations at war.

During this special History After Hours presentation, Adam Makos will take guests behind the story of Tidal Wave, sharing the years of research that uncovered these remarkable individuals and exploring the real people, aircraft, decisions, and acts of courage that shaped their experiences.

Following the presentation, Makos will be available to personally sign copies of Tidal Wave for guests attending the program.

Published by Ballantine Books, the 448-page Tidal Wave will be released on November 3, 2026. It follows Makos’s acclaimed books A Higher Call, Spearhead, and Devotion, each of which has brought deeply personal stories of military service, combat, sacrifice, and unexpected humanity to readers around the world.

This special evening at the American Heritage Museum offers an opportunity to experience the museum after hours and hear one of today’s leading military history authors tell the story behind an extraordinary chapter of World War II history.

About Adam Makos

Adam Makos is the New York Times bestselling author of A Higher Call, Spearhead, and Devotion, the latter of which became the basis for the major motion picture of the same name.

Inspired by the military service of his grandfathers, Makos has built his career around preserving and sharing the personal stories of veterans. His work combines extensive historical research with firsthand accounts and narrative storytelling that places readers alongside the men and women who experienced history. His research has taken him aboard a World War II bomber, alongside U.S. Special Forces in Iraq, and into North Korea in search of information about a missing American airman.

With Tidal Wave, Makos turns his attention to the skies over Romania and a wartime story that stretches far beyond a single bombing mission, revealing how courage, loyalty, sacrifice, and humanity could emerge even among people separated by opposing sides of a world at war.

Important Visitor Information

Admission for this special History After Hours event includes General Admission to the American Heritage Museum and the evening presentation by Adam Makos. Guests are encouraged to arrive early and explore the museum before the program begins.

Event Admission:

Adult: $21
Senior Age 62+: $18
Veteran / Active Duty Military / First Responder: $18
Child Age 16 and Under: $10
American Heritage Museum Members: FREE event admission with valid Member ID

Because this is a special book signing event, the purchase of at least one copy of Tidal Wave for $35 is required with each ticket order. One book purchase may cover multiple guests registered within the same transaction, and additional copies may be purchased for $35 each. American Heritage Museum members receive free admission to the event, but the required book purchase still applies. Members should enter their Member ID number when registering for the event through the link below for the admission waiver.

All copies purchased through the event registration will be available at the event, with Adam Makos signing books in person following his presentation.

Advance registration is strongly recommended for this special event.

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