The RAF Pathfinders

Bomber Command's Elite Squadrons

Martyn Chorlton

• Publisher: Countryside Books
• Year: 2012
• eBook ISBN: 9781846748349
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: World War II
• Index: History

The formation of the Pathfinder Force in August 1942 produced a steady but certain change in the fortunes of Bomber Command. During the early years of the war, aerial photographs showed that less than one third of the aircraft were successfully placing their bombs with accuracy. There was a basic lack of navigational skills, as well as what came to be known in the RAF as the will to 'Press On'. These shortcoming were addressed, and the special force of elite aircrew, the Pathfinder squadrons, whose purpose was to locate targets and mark them, proved indispensible to the success of the RAF's overall bombing campaign. Led by the inspirational and imaginative Don Bennett, Pathfinders were equipped with the best available aircraft, which included the famous Lancaster bomber and later, increasingly, the Mosquito. To join a Pathfinder squadron (all crewmen were volunteers) was a rare privilege but with it went a huge leap in the likelihood of being shot down. Pathfinder aircraft led the way for their following bomber force in hazardous raid after raid. They were highly vulnerable to the wall of flak thrown up by German city defenders, as well as to attacks by night-fighters; and it took a full 25 minutes to run the gauntlet of the Berlin defences from end to end at full stretch. By the end of the war, some 56, 000 crewmen of Bomber Command had lost their lives. Martyn Chorlton has written a gripping account of the RAF's Pathfinder squadrons, recalling the often reckless heroism of the young aircrew and the challenges they faced in the smoke-filled skies over occupied Europe. His book also contains a moving foreword by Michael Wadsworth, chaplain to the Pathfinders Association.

1

Operations

1942

August 1942 – A tentative start

The first Pathfinder-led operation took place on 18/19 August 1942 against the port of Flensburg on the Baltic coast. Despite having formed only three days earlier, the new PFF was able to contribute 31 aircraft in this historic raid for the new PFF. A total of 31 crews from 7, 35, 83 and 156 Squadrons took part in the raid and competition was fierce to become the first Pathfinder aircraft to cross the enemy coast. The prize went to Flt Lt D. R. Greenup and his crew in their 156 Squadron Wellington, from Warboys.

Being on the coast, Flensburg should have been a relatively straightforward target but the weather dictated otherwise. Strong winds which had not been forecast by the Met men pushed the force of 118 aircraft north of the target along the Danish coast. This area, with its many inlets, gave the (wrong) impression of being very similar to the Flensburg area and 16 Pathfinder crews claimed to have marked the target. This marking was then bombed by 78 aircraft from the main force. Unfortunately, the target marked was, in fact, the Danish towns of Sønderborg and Abenra which were both hit, along with a large area of countryside. Twenty-six houses were destroyed, 660 damaged but only four Danish people were killed.

This was not an auspicious start for the force and its critics reared their heads, stating that Bomber Command operations back in 1940 were more accurate than this attack. In defence of the Pathfinders, the poorly forecast weather conditions made success an impossible task. To add insult to injury, 35 Squadron became the first PFF unit to lose an aircraft when Sgt J. W. Smith in Halifax II W1226 was shot down by enemy fighters half a mile east-south-east of Sønderborg at Ladegården Farm. The Halifax was actually attacked by a pair of Messerschmitt Bf110 night-fighters from 5/NJG3, one of which was claimed as shot down. A second Bf110, being flown by Fw Herbert Altner, sent several shells into the fuselage which started a fire at approximately 0008 hrs. All the crew managed to escape the crippled aircraft, only to be arrested by Danish police and handed over to the Wehrmacht to become POWs for the rest of the war.

Frankfurt on 24/25 August was selected as the second Pathfinder operation but, like Flensburg, the marking force had difficulty finding the target in the cloudy conditions. The force of 226 aircraft, the majority of which were Wellingtons, dropped most of their bombs in open country to the north-west of the city. However, local reports did state that some bombs fell within the city, causing minimal damage.

As if to rub salt into the wound, and I’m sure it was not deliberate, a small 5 Group operation involving just three Lancasters and three targets took place ahead and on the same route as the main Frankfurt attack. The towns of Bingen, Mayen and the home of the Western Army Headquarters at Bad Kreiznach were successfully attacked without loss. The AOC 5 Group, ACM Sir Alec Coryton KCB, KBE, MVO, DFC was still seething about losing his best unit, 83 Squadron, to the PFF and this possible resentment of the new group brought about a new level of competiveness from 5 Group who would continue to prove its own point, that it was the best group in Bomber Command.

The Pathfinders were praised by Bomber Command Headquarters for their precision marking over Nuremberg on the night of 28/29 August. The force was ordered to attack from as low as possible and this was probably the main reason for the PFF accuracy. On this night the Pathfinders used ‘Red Blobs’ for the first time, giving the main force an excellent indication of the A/P (Aiming Point). As the name suggests, the new TI (Target Indicator) burned bright red because of a mix of rubber, benzol and phosphorous, all contained within a converted 250 lb bomb casing.

The PFF lost another five aircraft on the Nuremberg raid although, of the two 7 Squadron Stirlings lost, both crash-landed without loss away from their home bases. The first month of PFF operations had achieved mixed results from the 175 sorties flown but it was obviously early days and techniques needed to be fine-tuned while new ones were being developed behind the scenes. The loss rate, which equated to 9% of the PFF squadrons and 15 aircraft lost, did nothing to help recruit volunteers.

One of those new techniques which would change not only PFF operations but Bomber Command tactics as a whole was being developed by 109 Squadron who had moved to Wyton on 6 August 1942. It would be several months before their efforts would be rewarded.

September 1942 – Illuminating, marking/route-marking and backing-up

The month did not start well, with the very reason for the PFF’s existence being questioned by Harris himself. The target was Saarbrücken, capital of the Saarland, located just over the French/German border. A mixed bunch of 231 bombers set out on this attack and all seemed well as the PFF markers were placed on what they thought was the middle of the town, followed by 205 bombers accurately bombing on the flares. The PFF had actually ‘accurately’ marked the smaller industrial town of Saarlouis, 13 miles to the north-west. The town and several surrounding villages were heavily bombed and, despite not a single bomb dropping on the intended target, the industrial damage caused to Saarlouis meant that the raid was not a failure. Success the following night over Karlsruhe was welcomed and on 4/5 September the opportunity for Bennett’s men to explore new techniques was taken over Bremen.

A force of 251 aircraft approached Bremen, once again led by the PFF who split themselves up into three smaller groups. The first, named ‘illuminators’, lit up the target area using white flares, the second, the ‘visual backers’ dropped coloured flares, called PVMs (Primary Visual Markers) onto the A/P, and the third group, called the ‘backers-up’, dropped their all-incendiary bomb loads onto the coloured flares. This system of illuminating, marking and backing up would form the basis for all PFF operations for the duration of the Second World War. The raid was a total success and the PFF suffered no losses.

Düsseldorf, on the night of 10/11 September, played host to another new marking device. The PVMs used were called ‘Pink Pansies’ which were filled with the same ingredients as the Red Blob but with a different colour and considerably larger in size. The Pink Pansy used the casing from a 4,000 lb bomb although its actual weight was nearer to 2,800 lb. Coloured flares were also used on this night to guide a force of 479 aircraft towards the target. The Pink Pansy or PVM was dropped on the A/P while red flares were dropped on the western side of the town and greens on the east. The force simply flew between the red and greens and dropped on the bright pink PVM. The target was marked accurately and the bombing tore out the heart of Düsseldorf. Flak and fighters claimed 33 aircraft out of the main force, sixteen of them from three training groups which made up a large proportion of the Wellingtons, Whitleys and Hampdens that took part. Two 7 Squadron Stirlings and a single 83 Squadron Lancaster failed to return from the PFF contribution.

The Pink Pansy played its part again when the PFF returned to Bremen on 13/14 September. Two Pink Pansies started a large fire of which the large main force of 446 aircraft was exploited. One of them was later seen on a target photograph exploding directly on the aiming point. The force was made up of several Wellingtons from various OTUs (Operational Training Unit) and, out of the 21 aircraft, fifteen of them were Wellingtons. Two of these were from 156 Squadron with the loss of all eleven crew onboard. The PFF accuracy continued the following night against Wilhelmshaven, resulting in the worst raid reported on this port since the beginning of the war.

The raid on Essen, on 16/17 September, appeared to be a success to the crews bombing overhead as a large explosion, followed by several raging fires, seemed to tear through the city. However, PRU photography the following day revealed very little damage. Although the bombing was scattered, it was still Bomber Command’s most successful attack on what was now being nicknamed the ‘elusive’ Essen by crews.

Two targets were selected for an attack by Bomber Command on the night of 19/20 September 1942. A total of 118 aircraft were detailed for Saarbrücken and another 68 Lancasters and Stirlings would attack Munich. It was the first time that the PFF led two separate attacks simultaneously and, on the Munich operation, it was also the first time route-marking was used. A turning point was selected near to the target which, on this occasion, was the 18-square-mile Ammer See, just over 20 miles west-south-west of Munich. A PFF aircraft dropped a coloured flare near to the lake and from that point the main force made an accurate DR (Dead Reckoning) direct to the centre of Munich which was also lit up by flares. This simple but innovative technique ensured that the bombers were on track at the beginning of the bombing run. While a local report from the Munich authorities is unavailable, crews reported seeing at least one large explosion and the last aircraft over the target also reported 17 fires burning strongly.

In contrast, the Saarbrücken raid was hampered by ground haze and the PFF crews found it difficult to accurately mark the target. Bombing was scattered and, additionally, it was an expensive night for the PFF. In particular, 35 Squadron lost its popular CO (Commanding Officer), Wg Cdr J. H. Marks DSO, DFC, and a very experienced crew. His aircraft, Halifax II W7657 was shot down by a Me110, crashing at Blesme, just over seven miles east of Vitry-le-Francois. Marks, Flt Lt A. J. Child DFC and Plt Off R. L. Leith-Hay-Clark all perished but three of the crew managed to bail out to become POWs.

Sqn Ldr A. Ashworth, in his 156 Squadron Wellington, ordered his crew to abandon the aircraft when his cargo of flares caught fire en route to the target. With smoke pouring through the floor of the Wellington, Ashworth made sure all of his crew were out when he reached for his parachute. To his astonishment, it was not there, so he quickly steered the smoking bomber towards open country and a place to crash land. While doing this, the smoke dissipated and the fire appeared to have extinguished itself. Ashworth continued on to England on his own, making a safe landing at West Malling, Kent.

The remainder of September was devoid of any PFF operations due to poor weather conditions although Bomber Command still attempted to attack several targets. The weather would hamper the PFF for the remainder of the year.

The Pathfinders gained their own Mosquito training unit at Marham on 29 September in the shape of the Mosquito Conversion Unit (MCU), making use of Downham Market as a satellite airfield. The unit was first formed at Horsham St Faith operating the Mosquito T.III, IV and at least one Blenheim IV.

Wg Cdr J. H. Marks DSO, DFC, the popular CO of 35 Squadron was lost, along with his crew, in Halifax II W7657 on 19/20 September 1942. (via Author)

The MCU was renamed 1655 Mosquito Training Unit (MTU) from 18 October in 2 Group to train crews for Mosquito squadrons, with an establishment of nine Mosquito IVs and six Blenheim IV and Vs. No.1655 MCU was absorbed by 13 OTU on 1 May 1943 but reclaimed back by Bomber Command on 1 June 1943, when 13 OTU was transferred to 70 Group control within the new 2nd TAF (Tactical Air Force).

The unit was reformed the same day as 1655 MTU at Finmere (satellite at Bicester) in 2 Group with the same tasking. On 1 July the unit returned to Marham and transferred to 8 Group using Warboys as a satellite airfield although it is probable that Downham Market played a role as well. By this stage the unit strength had swelled to 31 Mosquitoes. On 7 March 1944, the unit moved again, this time to Warboys as its main base, with a flight on detachment at Wyton from 27 June to 30 December. The unit continued to grow, recording a unit strength in June 1944 of 37 Mosquito IV, XVI and XXs, eleven T.3s and 24 Oxfords.

Finally the unit moved to Upper Heyford on 30 December 1944, being absorbed by 16 OTU the following day after 8 Group had relinquished control.

October 1942 – Italian targets

The first operation of the month was a PFF-led attack on Krefeld on 2/3 October but it was not a success. The PFF found dense haze over the target and late marking resulted in the 188-strong force causing little damage.

Heavy thunderstorms all over Britain did not deter Bomber Command from launching a 257-strong attack on Aachen on 5/6 October. However, the severe conditions were claiming victims even as they set out. No.156 Squadron suffered the most, with only five out of the twelve aircraft detailed becoming airborne.

Osnabrück was accurately route-marked and then bombed on 6/7 October without loss to the PFF. But poor weather conditions kept most of Bomber Command on the ground until the night of 13/14 October when the target was Kiel. Much of the bombing that night was successfully drawn away from the city by an effective decoy fire but this did not stop considerable damage being caused in the centre by those who managed to bomb the PFF markers. Once again a strong decoy fire managed to draw away the main force over Cologne on 15/16 October. This, coupled with un-forecast winds, made the PFF’s task to mark the centre of Cologne virtually impossible.

A pristine line of 35 Squadron Halifaxes during an inspection at Graveley in October 1942. The squadron operated the Halifax until January 1944, the last in 8 Group to do so. (via Author)

The PFF crews enjoyed a short but welcome break from operations while Bomber Command prepared its forces for a set of new targets. On the night of 22/23 October, Bomber Command recommenced its bombing campaign against Italian targets, the first of eleven operations which would continue until early December. A force of 112 Lancasters of 5 Group and the PFF set out on a clear moonlit night for Genoa and, on arrival, the PFF marking was described as ‘prompt and accurate’. Local reports describe heavy damage in the city centre and eastern districts, all without a single aircraft being lost. The following night, a slightly larger force of 122 aircraft returned to Genoa but this time the target was totally cloud-covered. The force did bomb but it was later reported that it had actually hit the town of Savona, 30 miles west of the target along the coast. Three bombers were lost, none of them from the PFF. Milan, on 24/25 October, was visited by 71 aircraft from 1 Group, 3 Group and the PFF but storms en route scattered the small force. Some aircraft strayed over Switzerland and all received a polite warning shot from antiaircraft fire. Only 39 managed to reach and bomb Milan but local reports do not confirm if much damage was caused.

November 1942 – Boozer

Only minor operations were carried out for the remainder of October and it was not until 6/7 November that the PFF were back in the air in force. Two operations were flown: the first was a return to Genoa with 5 Group and a force of 72 Lancasters. The raid appears to have been successful, with good marking by the Lancasters of 83 Squadron. However, the squadron took the brunt of that night’s losses with two Lancasters brought down over or near the target and a third within moments of touching down back in England. The second operation that night involved the Stirlings of 7 Squadron, leading a force of 65 aircraft mine-laying from Lorient to the Frisians. Four aircraft were lost on this operation, including Plt Off D. J. Totteman RNZAF and his crew in Stirling I W7620, shot down by Kreigsmarine flak off Vlieland.

It was Genoa again, on 7/8 November, which received a larger force of 175 bombers. This was the most successful of all attacks on this coastal city during the current campaign. The PFF marking was excellent and was described by crews as being ‘so well lit you could actually see the buildings topple’. On the down side, ten aircraft were lost; six of these were over England through mid-air collision or running out of fuel. Only one PFF aircraft and its crew were lost, Wellington III X3422, flown by Plt Off D. G. Chell.

A change of tack by Bomber Command on 9/10 November resulted in a return to Germany. A mixed force of 213 aircraft were assembled for an attack on Hamburg, which would turn out to be a complete disaster. For the PFF the raid started going wrong from the outset; 7 Squadron in particular suffering the most. Of the ten Stirlings it dispatched, five returned early because of severe icing and three more were destined not to return to Oakington.

A return to Genoa saw 7 Squadron make use of Boozer for the first time on 13/14 November. The device was a rear-facing aerial fitted in the tail of the aircraft, connected to a warning indicator in the wireless operator’s compartment. A red light would illuminate when...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Foreword
• Introduction
• 1 Operations 1942
• 2 Operations 1943
• 3 Operations 1944
• 4 Operations 1945
• Appendix I
• Appendix II
• Appendix III
• Appendix IV
• Appendix V
• Appendix VI
• Appendix VII
• Index