GREATEST RAIDS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 283, 26 August 1944, Page 7

GREATEST RAIDS

Over 2000 Heavy Bombers BLOW AT NAZI OIL

ißy Telegraph.—Press Assn -Copyrimn LONDON, August 24.

Today has been marked by a record American offensive by more than 2000 heavy bombers from Britain and Italy which attacked German oil targets in Germany- and Czechoslovakia. . From a great operation in which I.»UU Fortresses and Liberators from Britain struck at Germany’s oil production, -i> bombers and five fighters failed to return. The attack followed the reported surrender of Rumania, implying the potential loss of the Ploesti oilfields to Germany. Another 750 heavy bombers from Mediterranean bases attacked oil refineries in Czechoslovakia and also aerodromes and communications in Yugoslavia. „ . , , , The targets in Germany included synthetic oil plants at Merseburg, Misburg, Rutland, and Brux, an oil refinery near Dresden, two aircraft plants in Brunswick, air force stations near Merseburg and Hanover, a radio equipment factory at Weimar, and industrial targets at Kiel. The Fortresses and Liberators were very strongly escorted. For the second consecutive day, heavy bombers attacked military installations in tbe Vienna area today, says a Rome correspondent. Other formations bombed a railway bridge across the Po River at Ferrara, in northern Italy. Early -reports indicate that a considerable number of fighters were encountered. E-Boats Chased. R.A.F. Lancasters, escorted by fighters, today flew to Holland to attack German E-boat shelters. They dropped 12.0001 b. bombs. Halifaxes attacked German shipping at Brest. Strong forces of light surface warships, including E-boats and R-boats, were found evacuating Le Havre and making toward Boulogne. These were relentlessly pursued and bombed. The vessels, which sought shelter at Boulogne, then attempted to make a getaway to the north-east, and were compelled under fire from aircraft to return to port. Seine crossings have been bombed flgain. Reports show that there was not much enemy movement during the night nortb-east of Paris.