The close involvement of the Pathfinders in the radar war waged by the Allies is symbolised by the service of two USAAF airmen – 2nd Lieutenant J.E. Russell (Jack) and 2nd Lieutenant R. Wright (Dick) – with 97 Squadron in the summer of 1943. The Americans were at the squadron to learn the latest route-finding and target-marking techniques and equipment. They then moved on to 482nd Bomb Group (P), the “P” standing for Pathfinder, meaning the 482nd would lead the Eighth Air Force, USAAF, on operations over Europe using radar and other electronic navigational devices, including the British invention H2S.
Jack Russell was killed less than two months after his transfer to 482nd Bomb Group (P) in a horrific crash in England. See these two new pages: