TRIER
113 Lancasters of 3 Group again attempted to bomb the railway yards in 2 waves. No Lancasters lost.
The bomber crews were unable to observe results because of the cloud, although a large column of smoke eventually appeared. The Trier report can only state that the second wave of the bombing caused heavy casualties, but no other details are available.
1 Hudson flew a Resistance operation.
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PLITZ
207 Lancasters and 1 Mosquito of 5 Group attacked the synthetic-oil refinery at Plitz, near Stettin. 3 Lancasters were lost and 5 more crashed in England.
Post-raid reconnaissance showed that the power-station chimneys had collapsed and that other parts of the plant were damaged.
COLOGNE/NIPPES
136 aircraft - 67 Lancasters, 54 Halifaxes, 15 Mosquitoes - of 4, 6 and 8 Groups attacked the important Nippes marshalling yards which were being used to serve the German offensive in the Ardennes. No aircraft lost.
The target was cloud-covered and only a few bombs hit the railway yards but these caused the destruction of 40 wagons, a repair workshop and several railway lines. The city slaughterhouse in nearby Ehrenfeld was also destroyed. 14 people were killed and 13 injured.
BONN
97 Lancasters and 17 Mosquitoes of 1 and 8 Groups attempted to attack railway areas but thick cloud cover prevented an accurate raid and later reconnaissance showed that the railway target was not hit. No other details are available. No aircraft lost.
Minor Operations: 4 Lancasters of 5 Group to Schneidmhl as a diversion for the Plitz raid, 15 R.C.M. sorties, 12 Mosquito patrols, 30 Lancasters and 23 Halifaxes minelaying in the Kattegat. No aircraft lost.
Total effort for the night: 542 sorties, 3 aircraft (0.6 percent) lost.
