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Index
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 begins
April – More squadrons, more airfields
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-bomb
July – ‘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 III
The 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
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