Image of the Air Force wings with the museum name underneath

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Strategic Bombing Resumed

On June 20, the AAF's heavy bombers returned to strategic operations to destroy Germany's war production industries. Throughout the summer, they waged their campaign, halting only long enough during the latter part of July to join tactical air units in assisting the ground forces in breaking out of the Normandy beachhead. By the fall of 1944, enemy production for the war had been seriously reduced. For example, Germany's synthetic oil industry had been so heavily damaged that little fuel remained for training flyers and tank crews. The AAF, however, lost 922 bombers and 674 fighters during the summer in carrying out its strategic bombing offensive against Germany.

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