The experiences of a Pathfinder Squadron at War, 1944 - 1945

The Pathfinders were the corps d'elite of Bomber Command, the command that had been leading the fight back against Germany even before the fall of France in 1940. Formed in July 1942, the Pathfinder force was tasked with marking targets and leading bomber formations to the right place at the right time in order to cause maximum devastation to the enemy.

Pathfinder crews consisted of members who had flown a minimum of 45 operational sorties and while they were no doubt the best of the best, the force was made up of individuals from all ranks and backgrounds. Even amongst these elite there were gods, and these formed the crews of the master bombers.

The master bomber, as the name suggests, was the aircraft in charge of the whole attack. It was the crew of the master bombers who determined the accuracy of the target indicators dropped by the primary visual markers, and what further marking or illumination was required. They would transmit instructions over VHF radio to the main force telling them what coloured markers to ignore and what to bomb, exhorting them on to greater consistency. It took the proverbial nerves of steel to orbit high above the bomber stream over the target area, in constant fear of attack from fighters or flak, sometimes for over an hour.

Master Bombers is a comprehensive and detailed exploration of the key figures involved in Pathfinder operations throughout World War Two. From the author of Heroic Endeavour.