Evening star., 1944-08-07
u. ). Bombers Blast
Oil Plants in Reich
And French Targets
1000 to 200 Heovies
Strike From British
And Italian Bases
By the Associated Press.

LONDON, Aug. 7.-More than
500 American heavy bombers
blasted at two synthetic oil
plants deep in the Reich today
in concert with from 500 to 75O
Liberators and Flying Fortresses
which struck at vital targets
over wide area of France.
The 18th Air Force sent its
heavyweights from Mediterranean
bases to Blechhamer, rs miles
southeast of Breslau, where they
scored hits on two plants which
produce much of the German
Army's high-grade motor fuel. The
Germans threw up smoke screens
and interceptors swarmed into the
air to guard these plants, one of
which is the third largest Nazi
synthetic plant still operating, but
the bombers fought through and
dropped their loads usually or by
instrument.
Another force of Liberators, roar
ing into the Balkans, pounded an
enemy airfield at Alibunar, 81 miles
northeast of Belgrade, and oil in
stallations on the Danube at Novi
Sad, northwest of Belgrade.
A big force of four-engined
American bombers from British
bases-numbering up to 75O-
bombed fuel tanks and depots,
bridges and railway functions in
France
Strike in Paris Area.
An equal number of Lightnings
Thunderbolts and Mustangs guarded
the big American bombers striking
targets in areas east and northeast
OF Paris, southeast of Bordeaux, and
In the Amiens region.
Moscow disclosed that United
States heavy bombers flying from
England yesterday pounded a Naz
aircraft plant at Rahmel, 10 miles
northwest of the Polish port OF
Gdynia, and then flew on to Russian
bases without loss.
American Marauder bombers
maintaining pressure to seal ir
whatever Germans are left on the
Breton Peninsula, made direct bomt
hits on two enemy freighters in the
harbor of Brest before noon TODAY
Other mediums bombed Seine Rive,
railway bridges 30 miles south OF
Paris at Corbeil, and at Corbie neal
Vernon.
While British heavy bomber
rained explosives on the enemy
important north-south supply route
last night. Mosquitoes ranged owe
Germany and wide area of France
hammering targets near the battl,
zone and 100 miles beyond.
The RAF heavies smashed a
Hazebrouch, rail junction south O.
Dunkerque.
Rail Transport Attacked.
Most of the Mosquito attacks were
aimed at rail transport in continu.
alton OF efforts to block movement
OF German forces withdrawing
rapidly from the Western front.
Other Mosquitoes continued thu
assault on Germany's shrinking oi
supply by bombing a synthetic oi
plant at Castrop-Rauxel, near tn,
eastern end of the Ruhr, and still
others returned with two-ton block.
busters to the oft-battered city O.
Cologne.
More than 1000 American heavy
bombers hit Berlin and other Ger
man industrial centers yesterday
1t. Gen. James H. Doolittle, com
mander of the United States 8ti
Tactical Air Force. said air attack
had curtailed production seriousl,
at % of Germany's major oil re-
fineries and synthetic oil plants.
2,100 S0rties Flown.
The Mediterranean Air Force flev
2.10O sorties yesterday. More thar
500 United States 18th Air Fore
heavy bombers flew over Southern
France and smashed at IA objectives
The heavy bombers scored goot
results on four or five railwa.
bridges along the Lower Rhone, ;
historic invasion route; left fire
burning in submarine pensl a
Toulon and cut most Of the track
in the rail yards at Miramas.
Lightnings attacked the Tarasco1
bridge on the main line between
Nice and Marseille four times yes
terday and destroyed section of it
Offensive sweeps were carried ou
over the Ploesti and Bucharest area:
in Romania. Twelve planes werl
(See AERIAL, Page A-4D