6 Bomber Group September 27, 1944
239 Halifaxes from 408, 415, 420, 424, 425, 426,427, 429, 431, 432, 433, and 434 squadrons were joined by 44 Lancasters from 419 and 428 squadrons on an attack of the oil plants at Bottrop and Sterkrade. The crews were over the targets at between 16,000 and 21,000feet, releasing 2,117,000 lbs of high explosives. There was thick cloud over the target and some crews bombed the alternate target at Duisberg. Richard Koval (6bombergroup.ca)
175 aircraft - 96 Halifaxes, 71 Lancasters, 8 Mosquitoes - of 6 and 8 Groups attacked the Ruhroel A.G. synthetic-oil plant in the Welheim suburb ofBottrop. The target was almost entirely cloud-covered and most of the bombing was aimed at Oboe sky-markers, although a few aircraft were able to bomb through small breaks' in the cloud. Explosions and black smoke were seen. No aircraft lost.
source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt
