Evening star., 1944-05-31
$500 Planes Hit
PIoesti and Nazi
Railroad Yards
Air Base in Old
Moeinot Line Also
Toreet in Roids
By the Associated Press.

LONDON, May 31.-Up to $500
American planes striking from
Britain and Italy for the third
consecutive day, bombed a Ro-
manian oil refinery at Ploesti
today, four German railyards
funneling traffic to the French
invasion coast and an enemy air
base in the old French Maginot
Line.
The airbase was near Mulhouse,
just north of Switzerland.
The rail yards were at Hamm,
Osnabruck, Schwerte, 10 miles
southeast Of Dortmund, and Soest,
Is miles southeast of Hamm. The
force from Britain numbered be-
tween $50 and 500 fortresses and
Liberators and 1000 fighters.
Flames Envelop Refinery.
From 500 to 750 American heavy
bombers escorted by swarms of Mus
tangs and Lightnings struck from
Italy at Ploesti, IS miles north of
Bucharest, and enveloped at least
one major refinery with flames and
smoke visible for many miles
Clouds obscured full results of this
first attack since May 18 on Ploesti
180 miles from the Russian battle
lines. A number of German in
terceptors and intense fax were en-
countered.
Wave after wave of United States
medium bombers struck again and
again at the French invasion coast
The 9th Air Forces attack from
Britain was its 25th this month
against European targets and the
18th against Germany-equaline
March records. 1t was the fourth
successive day in VII Nh 1,2O0 fight
ers from Britain had sought out the
Luftwaffe for sky battles of attri-
ton. 1t was also the fifth successive
day of heavy bomber action from
Britain.
Leverkusen Attacked.
The RATS overnight attacks were
concentrated on military installa-
tions along the French invasion
coast, but Mosquito bombers pene-
trated into Germany to blast the
chemical center of Leverkusen. Not
single plane was lost in the opera
tlons, which also included mine
laying in enemy waters.
so heavy was the assault on the
French coast-apparently concen-
trated on the area between Bou-
logne and Dunkerque-that build
lngs on the Englisch side of the
channel trembled from the blasts
5000 Plane Assault.
The overnight activity followed a
great demonstration of American
air power yesterday, when 5000
bombers and fighters from bases in
both Britain and Italy blasted mill
tary targets in German, Austria
France, Belgium and Yugoslavia.
There were 1000 Flying Fortresses
and Liberators, escorted by more
than 1900 fighters, in the armada
striking from Britain. Targets in
Germany included aircraft factories
at Dessau, Oschersleben and Hal
berst It and airdromes at Handorf
Diepholz, Rotenburg, Oldenburg anc
Bad-ZWischenahn-the last three
near Hamburg.
Other Britain based American
planes hammered railway yards ir
Belgium and France and fortifica.
tions in the Pas-de Calais area alona
the French coast.
A United States communique sale
the raiders had knocked down 81
Nazi planes against a loss of /.
bombers and fighters.
War Plants Bombed.
approximately 1000 American
planes from Mediterranean base.
struck simultaneously at war plant!
near Linz and Wiener -Neustadt IL
Austria and at enemy concentration
in Yugoslavia.
An Air Ministry announcement
disclosed Britain based planes O
the Allied Tactical Air Forces flew
more than $4,000 sorties the last /,
days against roads and railways sup
| plying Hitlers armies in Northwest.
ern Europe.