The RAF Pathfinders: Bomber Command's Elite Squadron

Description

Cover; Title; Copyright; Contents; Foreword; Introduction; Leading the way; The Butt and Cherwell reports; The Pathfinder Concept; Group Captain S.O. Bufton (1908-1993); Early Beginnings and Formation; 1 Operations 1942; August -- A tentative start; September -- Illuminating, marking/route-marking and backing up; October -- Italian targets; November -- Boozer; December -- OBOE trials & Wanganui into service; 2 Operations 1943; January -- 8 Group is born, new TIs, ground-markers & H2S Operational; February -- Blind-Bombing success and FIDO (Fog Investigation Dispersal Operation). Cover Title Copyright Contents Foreword Introduction Leading the way The Butt and Cherwell reports The Pathfinder Concept Group Captain S.O. Bufton (1908-1993) Early Beginnings and Formation 1 Operations 1942 August -- A tentative start September -- Illuminating, marking/route-marking and backing up October -- Italian targets November -- Boozer December -- OBOE trials & Wanganui into service 2 Operations 1943 January -- 8 Group is born, new TIs, ground-markers & H2S Operational February -- Blind-Bombing success and FIDO (Fog Investigation Dispersal Operation). March -- The Battle of the Ruhr beginsApril -- More squadrons, more arfields May -- Mounting Losses June -- More Mosquitoes! July -- The Battle of the Ruhr ends and the Battle of Hamburg begins August -- Peenemünde and the long road to Berlin begins September -- Varying targets October -- High price for a new target November -- Battle of Berlin begins December -- Nightmare over Berlin 3 Operations 1944 January -- Berlin takes its toll February -- Battle of Berlin comes to an end March -- Tactical Targets increase April -- 8 Group lose, 5 Group gain! May -- D-Day build-Up. June -- Overlord and the Flying-bombJuly -- 'Heavy Oboe' attack method August -- 8 Group's first Victoria Cross September -- Operation Market Garden October -- The Second Battle of the Ruhr begins November -- LNSF attacks grow in strength December -- 8 Group's only Oboe VC 4 Operations 1945 January -- the Mosquito takes charge February -- Bomber Command's last VC of the war March -- The Allies push into Germany April/May -- 'Eagle's Nest', Exodus, Manna and Victory! 8 Group's Swan Song Appendix I 8 (Pathfinder Force) Group Statistics August 1942 to May 1945 Appendix II Aircraft types. Appendix IIIThe Pathfinder crews' eight duties Appendix IV 8 Group Squadrons August 1942 to August 1945 Appendix V Early Radar and navigational aids Appendix VI Pathfinder jargon buster Appendix VII Abbreviations Index.