Pathfinder Force
“We Guide to Strike”
Although 103 Squadron and 576 Squadron were not part of the Pathfinder elite they did provide several crews who went on to served with Pathfinder Units with great distinction
AVM Don Bennett CB CBE DSO
Australian Don Bennett was an exceptional pre war aviator and pioneer. On the 5 July 1942 with the rank of G/C he was selected to command the RAF Bomber Command's new Pathfinder Force whose job was to find and mark targets for Main Force crews. In January 1943 Bennett was promoted to A/C and placed in command of Bomber Command No 8 Pathfinder Force Group. He proved an outstanding leader and innovator and served in this role with great commitment and distinction to the end of WW2 rising to the rank of AVM. A remarkable and highly motivated man of immense talent and vision.
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In the early stages of WW2 it was found that under operational conditions locating a target deep inside Germany was extremely difficult due to the fighter, flak and searchlight defences, smoke screens, decoys and bad weather, cloud cover and fog and mist, which were particularly prevalent around the large industrial centres of Germany.
To assist in the location and identification of these targets it was proposed that a special Pathfinder Force ( PFF ) be established and this was done on the 15 April 1942.
Its purpose was to use the best and specially trained bomber crews to find the targets and mark clearly and distinctively so that the following main bomber force could attack with the full weight of their bomb loads.
The Pathfinder Force was formed in the face of some quite vigorous opposition as many felt that the forming of an special unit for this role would deprive the rest of the squadrons of their best and most experienced crews.
Another objection was that the Pathfinder crews would be considered an elite over and above the Main Force squadrons. Pathfinder Force airmen would be entitled to special Pathfinder badge and after the completion of 6 successful operational trips a boost in rank almost always followed. However the Pathfinder crews flew an extended tour of 45 operations with 14 days leave at the end of which they were asked to carry on to 60.
Unfortunately the Pathfinders got off to a very unfortunate start. 7, 35, 82, 19 and 156 Squadrons were formed as 8 Group. These were based at Oakington (7 Squadron), Gravely ( 35 Squadron), Wyton ( 83 Squadron, 109 Squadron and Pathfinder HQ ) and Warboys ( 156 Squadron ).
The first occasion on which the new force was used was to mark Flensburgh and the new U Boat base north of Kiel. At this time the only navigation available was GEE radio navigation system and dead reckoning with the aircraft equipped solely with parachute flares.
The raid was a complete failure due to the inaccurate weather forecast which was almost exactly the opposite of what was expected and the target could not be identified.
Other Bomber Command Groups were disinclined to co-operate with the Pathfinder Force at first and were reluctant to supply good crews but eventually the system started to work.
Crew training for the Pathfinder Force started with the Navigation Training Unit were crews were told to unlearn their previous knowledge and training and the new advanced techniques were then taught. The training for the Pathfinder Force crews was of an exceptionally high standard throughout. The entire effort depended on every crew member being able to navigate and training depended entirely on the ability of the crew to learn and retain all the training given.
The next step was for the crew to fly as a Main Force crew and after showing a good return on navigational and photographic sorties they then flew as “Backers Up” with the task of backing up the markers at the point of aim with distinctive markers or flares and also carry out route marking – only one point en route was marked by each aircraft.
The next stage was “ Blind marking” – marking targets by instrument and radar only which comprised of G-H, Oboe and H2S when then became available.
Finally they graduated to the visual markers which was the most rewarding task as this required visual identification of the target followed by marking.
It should be appreciated that in the early stages GEE was the only navigational aid available. It was not until sometime later this was augmented by G-H, Oboe and H2S.
Another important task of the Pathfinder Force crews was “Recentering”. During an attack the bombing concentration tended to creep back or wander and the task of Recenters was to shift the point of aim back again so that the late arrivals bombed more accurately.
Finally came the “Master Bomber”. His task was to orbit the target throughout the attack giving instructions to the Main Force over the Radio Telephone link as to which markers to bomb or shift the aiming point as required.
Several conditions were paramount when target marking:-
1/ No jinking or evasive action over the target.
2/ An exact altitude, Indicated Air Speed and timing had to be adhered to as the release time of the markers or flares were worked out to a quarter of a second. Usually the attack consisted of a single run over the target at a given speed and whenever possible in a downwind direction.
In their early days the Pathfinder Force operated some Mosquito and Wellington aircraft but in the main were equipped with heavy bombers – Lancasters, a few Halifaxes and originally some Stirlings. The heavies took off at an all up weight of 65000 lbs and carried a full bomb load in addition to flares and target markers. I have never really understood why it was deemed necessary for Pathfinders to carry a bomb load as their prime and principle role was obviously that of target marking and nothing more. Main Force crews often reported early bombing of the target until it was explained to them that his was probably the Pathfinder Force crews dropping their loads after marking.
The usual altitude for an attack was 18000 ft but for Paramatta or Newhaven this was often as low as 12000 ft
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In September 1942 35 Squadron was equipped with Halifaxes, 7 Squadron with Stirlings, 83 Squadron with Lancasters and 156 Squadron with Wellingtons.
By December 1943 all Squadrons except 35 Squadron were equipped with Lancasters and Mosquitos. 35 Squadron still flew Halifaxes. Also the number of Squadrons was increased to include 627, 139, 97, 405 RCAF, 582 and 105 Squadrons. The Mosquito Squadrons were 627, 139, 105 and 109. The last two units were equipped with Oboe and based at Marham, Norfolk.
The Mosquito crews were specially selected from light bomber training units or from experienced twin engined pilots and navigators. It is important to remember that in order to carry out training on all Pathfinder Force navigation and blind bombing aids the training flights had to be performed over enemy territory because of the intense radio interference over the UK.
In addition there was a special Meteorological Unit, 1409 Flight, based at Wyton and it was this airfield that became the central servicing depot for the Pathfinders in 1943.
In May 1944 No 1 Group set up their own Special Duties Flight for marking tasks at Binbrook. Among the crews involved was that of Charles Wearmouth of 576 Squadron who flew 5 operations with the Flight. Because of the lack of suitable opportunities this unit was disbanded on 11 August 1944 and the crews returned to their original Squadrons
By the end of WW2 there were 19 Pathfinder Squadrons split between 8 and 5 Groups.
11 of these were Mosquito Squadrons and 8 Lancaster Squadrons.
Two of the 8 Group Pathfinder Force leading lights. Left - John Searby. Right - Hamish Mahaddie
Searby was a pre war RAF regular, highly experienced airman and capable officer being a specialist in navigation. He was chosen by Arthur Harris to take command of 83 Pathfinder Squadron at Wyton. Searby quickly developed a superb reputation as a Pathfinder and was involved in numerous precision attacks including his role as Master Bomber on the legendary Peenemunde raid in August 1943.
Mahaddie was another RAF pre war regular of similar stature and experience to John Searby. During WW2 he completed a tour of operations with 77 Squadron before moving to Kinloss to instruct with 14 OTU. He completed another tour, this time with 7 Pathfinder Squadron at Oakington on Stirlings He then joined HQ Staff of No 8 (Pathfinder) Group and was very active in the selection and recruiting of new Pathfinder crews from Main Force Squadrons. He finished WW2 as Station Commander at RAF Warboys, home of PFF Navigation Training Unit.
Mahaddie was a very good after dinner speaker and gave the most interesting talks full of fascinating insights and amusing anecdotes. The best I have heard.
Note in the photo his Pathfinder Badge has been rather crudely erased for some reason.
Other famous Pathfinder barons include legends like Dennis Witt, Alec Cranswick
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Prominent 103 Squadron and 576 Squadron personnel who served with the Pathfinders.
Boyd Sellick, who was OC 576 Squadron in 1944, was OC 7 ( Pathfinder ) Squadron when they became a Pathfinder Unit in August 42 until October 42 when he was posted.
There were a number of 103 and 576 crews who were promoted to Pathfinders
103 Squadron
Sid Cook
Arthur Sydney Cook RAAF – 156 Squadron at Warboys – KIA 4 October 1943.
Sid Cook completed his tour with 103 Squadron in April 1943 and volunteered for Pathfinders. He was promoted S/L with a DFC and DFM and was 21 years old when he was killed
Donald P S Smith RAAF - 467 Squadron at Waddington – 1943/44 - 10/11 May 1944 shot down and evaded.
Flew tour with 103 Squadron in 41/42. Awarded DFC
Leslie Kilvington DFC RAAF and crew - 156 Squadron at Warboys - September 1943 - January 44 shot down. All crew POW
Anthony James Hiscock and crew - 156 Squadron at Warboys – February 1944
Reginald Frank Griffin and crew - 156 Squadron at Warboys – March 1944
Peter Pearson Hague and crew - 582 Squadron at Little Staughton – January 1945
Robert A Butts RCAF and crew - 582 Squadron at Little Staughton - January 1945
S G Folkes and crew - 582 Squadron at Little Staughton - February 1945
There may well have been others who completed their tours with 103 Squadron and were posted to Pathfinders for their second tour.
Charles Blumenauer
Canadian Charles Blumenauer who completed his tour with 103 Squadron in May 1943 would have been ideal for Pathfinders. His DFC citation clearly states that “He has never failed to reach his objective and has pressed home his attacks with accuracy and determination. In operations against Lorient, Milan and Cologne, Pilot Officer Blumenauer obtained excellent photographs.”
After he left 103 Squadron for a training unit there is no mention of him at all although he did survive the war. His operational flying career may have been curtailed due to subsequent accident or illness.
576 Squadron
Herbert Benson
Mervin Attwater and crew - 156 Squadron at Warboys where he eventually made Master Bomber.
Herbert Benson/Taylor and crew - 156 Squadron at Warboys. Benson’s real name was Herbert Taylor but he served under the name of Benson. He was killed with 2 of his crew - Woolstenholme. Goldsbury on the 31 March 1945
Raymond Boggianno and crew - 156 Squadron at Warboys.
John Edward Brown and crew – 582 Squadron at Little Staughton
Frederick Brian Gipson and crew – 582 Squadron at Little Staughton
A F Green RCAF and crew - 582 Squadron Little Staughton
Peter A Thomas and crew - 582 Squadron at Little Staughton – KIA 23 December 1944
Maurice T Wilson and crew - 156 Squadron at Warboys.
Compiled by David Fell with grateful acknowledgment and thanks to the late Bill Jones. Photos from wiki and my archive.
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