GERMAN OIL PLANTS

Grey River Argus, 27 November 1944, Page 5

GERMAN OIL PLANTS

BOMBED BY U.S. ’PLANES. (Rec. 7.30.) LONDON, Nov. 26. A United States Air Force communique says:/ We bombed the Leuna and Lutzekdorf synthetic oil plants near Merseburg on Saturday. The raid was performed under adverse conditions, bombing being done by instruments through cloud. Escorting lighters, on strafing forays, reported the disabling of seventeen locomotives and thirty-live railcars. Fighter opposition was negligible, but the flak was intense over both oil plants. Some raiders were able to bomb visually Bingen, on the Rhine, which is a communications centre, west of Mainz, and through which supplies flow to the front. The Press Association states: The great Leuna plant, more than two miles long and half a mile broad, is one of the most vital in Germany. Both the Leuna and Lutzokdorf plants .are among the most heavily defended areas of the RaichMore than a thousand U.S. I ogresses and Liberators of the United States Eighth Air Force on Saturday took part in the attacks on the large Leuna synthetic oil plant at Merseburg and oil storage facilities and marshalling yards at Bingen, (east of Mainz). The bombers were escorted by more than a thousand Mustangs, and Lightnings of the Sth and 9th Air Forces. ' -r-. ■, Unfavourable weather on Friday caused curtailment of most air operations. ,