6 Group Unavailable
160 Lancasters of 3 Group to attack the oil refinery. 3 Lancasters lost.
The bombing was scattered at first but then became very concentrated, culminating, according to the Bomber Command report, in 'a vast sheet of yellow flame followed by black smoke rising to a great height'. This was a very satisfactory raid after several previous attempts by Bomber Command to destroy this oil refinery.
source: The Bomber Command War Diaries, Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt
514 Sqn (Nil Obstare Potest). Lancaster I aircraft PD 265 JI-G lost on a daylight operation against Homburg, Germany.
Approaching Rhein-Preussen synthetic oil plant with intention of bombing it. Hit by flak leading to catastrophic loss of control. Pilot and Navigator apparently baled out as aircraft disintegrated. Aircraft impacted waterway surrounding Moers Guildhall. Remaining crew fatally injured.(Aviation Safety Network) Those who perished were initially buried in Lohmannshelde Forest Cemetery. Reinterred 26 June 1947. (CWGC) Flying Officer KH Barker (RCAF), Sergeant PA Gosnold (RAF), Sergeant RW Harding (RAF), Flying Officer P Slater (RAF) and Sergeant LP Coles (RAF) were killed. Flying Officer GC France (RAF) and Flying Officer FJ Eisberg (RAF) survived and were taken Prisoner of War.
