MANY OIL TARGETS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 233, 29 June 1944, Page 5

MANY OIL TARGETS

Bombers Over Europe LONDON, June 27. A communique issued by the Eastern Command of the United States Air Force in Moscow says that heavy bombers operating from Russian bases attacked the German-operated synthetic oil plant at Drohobyc, in Poland, about 75 miles west of the Russo-German front. The escorting fighters included Red Air Force Yaks and also Mustangs. The weather was excellent and good bombing results were obtained. More than 560 American Fortresses and Liberators flying from bases in Italy today bombed the Budapest area and also the railway yards at Brod, in Yugoslavia. A number of German fighters were shot down. The pilots reported that both targets were well covered by bombs. The Italy communique says that strong forces of heavy bombers yesterday attacked oil installations and an aircraft factory in the Vienna area. Fighterbombers attacked objectives in Yugoslavia. Our bombers last night attacked the Aquilla oil refinery at Trieste. At least 55 enemy planes were destroyed in these operations. Thirty-six of our heavy bombers and eight other. planes are missing from the operations, including tactical support in Italy. The Mediterranean Air Force flew approximately 2600 sorties. An Air Ministry communique says that Bomber Command Mosquitoes last night attacked objectives at Gottingen and laid mines in enemy waters. One bomber is missing. Air photographs show that the Gelsenkirchen synthetic oil plant was completely inactive for eight days after the Bomber Command’s attack on the night of June 12. Every day’s stoppage cost the enemy more than 1000 tons of oil. Expert opinion is that the plant’s future capacity is seriously curtailed.