U.S. Bombers Score Direct Hits On Leipzig Rail Station Columns of black smoke rise from the main railroad station of Leipzig in the heart of Germany, 100 miles (160 kilometers) southwest of Berlin, after direct hits U.S. Eighth Aray Air Force heavy bombers on July 7, 1944. Moe than 1,100 heavy bombers of the U.S. Eight Air Force, accompanied by a swarm of fighters, on that mission also attacked such high priority targets as synthetic oil plats and aircraft factories at 11 localities in the Leipzig area. Similar blows on German rail lines have disrupted enemy efforts to supply and reinforce its hard-pressed force on the French, Italian and Russian fronts. August 18, 1944.