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8 (Pathfinder Force) Group Statistics August 1942 to May 1945
Group Statistics
During its three-year existence the Pathfinder Force operated five types of aircraft: the Wellington, Stirling, Halifax, Lancaster and Mosquito. By early 1944 Don Bennett had finally achieved his aim of making 8 Group an all-Lancaster and Mosquito force and, as a result, the high sortie rates of these types are reflected in the following statistics.
Only 156 Squadron brought the Wellington to 8 Group in August 1942 and flew just 305 sorties. However, seventeen aircraft were lost which equated to 5.6%, the highest loss statistic achieved by a single type in 8 Group.
The Stirling was introduced by 7 Squadron in August 1940 and was destined to operate the type until August 1943. It was the only unit in 8 Group to fly the Stirling, carrying out 826 sorties and losing 37 aircraft, 4.5%, in the process.
The Halifax was flown by one of the founding units, 35 Squadron until March 1944. Only 405 Squadron also flew the type but they only joined 8 Group in April 1943 and by September their Halifaxes had been replaced. Therefore the bulk of the 2,106 Halifax sorties were flown by 35 Squadron and 77 were lost, resulting in a loss rate of 3.7%.
The Lancaster featured prominently from the start within 8 Group, serving with 7, 35, 83, 97, 156, 405, 582 and 635 Squadrons to the end of the Second World War. As a result, the bomber flew 19,601 sorties for 8 Group but at a cost of 444 aircraft which, when viewed by a loss ratio of 2.3%, appeared to be an acceptable figure in the eyes of the senior staff of Bomber Command.
The statistical prizes go to the Mosquito which served with 105, 109, 128, 139, 142, 162, 163, 571, 582, 608, 627 and 692 Squadrons and 1409 Flight. The Mosquitoes of 8 Group had performed exceptionally well and, since its formation, they had flown 28,215 sorties, with the loss of just 100 aircraft (0.4%), 70 of them lost by 139 Squadron alone. Approximately 26,000 tons of bombs, of which nearly 10,000 of them were cookies, were dropped on Germany.
Worthy of special note is 1409 Flight which carried out 1,364 valuable PAMPA operations on 632 occasions, with the loss of just three aircraft (0.2%) since its formation at Oakington on 1 April 1943.
Total sorties for 8 Group totalled 51,053 with 675 aircraft lost (2.3%)