As one of our two contributions to the Jubilee celebrations, here is a picture of the Queen when she was still Princess Elizabeth. The RAF navigator who is fourth from her left is Flying Officer Ramesh Chandra Datta, of the… Read More ›
ARCHIVE (RPA)
News and items about the RAF Pathfinders Archive
Crisis in Ukraine
The recent terrible events in the Ukraine have raised deeply disturbing echoes of the Second World War. Our Archive works to commemorate the RAF Pathfinders who died or were injured, physically or psychologically, in that bloody conflict. Their sacrifices, and… Read More ›
An Unknown ex-Pathfinder?
We have recently received this intriguing image, showing a young man seemingly wearing a Pathfinder badge with his specialised clothing. We would welcome any suggestions as to who he is or which task he is engaged in. He is not… Read More ›
HAPPY XMAS and Best Wishes for 2022
Menu card for the Sergeants’ Mess at RAF Station Graveley, on Christmas Day 1944, when Victory was just beginning to look certain. With our our very best wishes to all our readers and supporters THE RAF PATHFINDERS ARCHIVE team From… Read More ›
Remembrance Sunday
The total wartime losses for the Path Finder Force were given by their commander, Donald Bennett, as being 3,618 men.[1] It was a large figure for a small Force which only came into existence in the fourth year of the war…. Read More ›
Remembrance Day, 2021
Remembering all the Pathfinders lost in the war, and those who survived but suffered from terrible memories in after years, and all their friends and families. ONE OF THE MANY PATHFINDER CREWS LOST After three and a half months of… Read More ›
Pathfinder Aircrew
This book has been 14 years in the making; it contains many personal stories, letters and photographs from the Archive, and has been written by our Chairperson, Jennie Mack Gray. It is on sale in our new Shop from which… Read More ›
Working on this New Website
Last year, we began a review of our old website: raf-pathfinders.com It had been added to and expanded for many years, and much of it dated back to a time when the ways of creating and running a website were… Read More ›
Christmas at Graveley, Last Year of the War
From all the team at the RAF Pathfinders Archive Happy Christmas to everyone who has supported us over the years, and may next year, 2021, see life restored to something like normality after the immense problems and sorrows caused by… Read More ›
16/17 December 1943: Remembering the Thackway Crew
The Archive has its roots in a tragedy which occurred on 16/17 December 1943, afterwards known as Black Thursday. At that time, the crew of Ted Thackway were serving with 97 Squadron, which was stationed at Bourn in Cambridgeshire. The crew’s… Read More ›
Reviewing the RPA Website
At the RAF Pathfinders Archive, we have begun a review of our entire website: raf-pathfinders.com This has been added to and expanded for many years, and is now very much in need of an overhaul. To facilitate the clean-up, this… Read More ›