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 ›
PFF AIRCREW
This category is for Individual Pathfinder aircrew and their squadrons
Donald Margach and Guy Gibson
Donald Sinclair Margach was a bomb aimer from Edinburgh, who died in July 1944 when serving with 582 Squadron of the Pathfinders. Like many Pathfinders, he had had a very interesting flying career prior to joining the PFF.
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 ›
The Three Pathfinder VCs
The three Victoria Crosses awarded to Pathfinders were all gazetted in 1945, some time after the deaths of the recipients. The three men who performed extraordinary feats of heroism and self-sacrifice were Ian Willoughby Bazalgette, Robert Anthony Maurice Palmer, and… Read More ›
23 December 1944, “Heroic Endeavour”
On 16 December 1944, German Panzers spearheaded a surprise attack in the Ardennes that smashed through thinly held Allied lines, catching the Allied commanders completely off-guard. The Allied fight-back included the extraordinary feat of heroism which won Bob Palmer one… Read More ›
16/17 December 1943: RAF Wyton Display
For more details of the display at RAF Wyton Heritage Centre, see this page.
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 ›
Air Sea Rescue – Allan Templeton
Some Pathfinders had very unusual – and dramatic – pre-Pathfinder war service. Allan Templeton was one of these … Pre-Pathfinder War Service: Allan Templeton
An Aussie Navigator gets his Wings
Norman McIntyre, later of 97 Squadron, PFF, at the ceremony which marked the completion of his training as a navigator: RAAF Navigator receives his Wings
RNZAF Boys on Ship to Canada
An unusual photograph of trainee aircrew leaving their homeland: RNZAF Boys on Ship to Canada
Pathfinder War Losses
The total Pathfinder losses, incurred from August 1942 to May 1945, were given by Donald Bennett, their Air Officer Commanding (AOC), as being 3,618 men. One of those lost was the 21 year old Robert Stewart of the Kirkwood Crew… Read More ›
Searby & the End of a Kiwi Gunner’s Tour
John Searby (left, with Bennett in 1944, IWM: CH 20628) was one of the best known and most revered of the Pathfinder squadron and station commanders. According to the dates in Bennett’s book Pathfinder, he was: CO of 83 Squadron… Read More ›
Mentioned in Despatches
Allan Templeton (his first name was Arthur but he was known by his second name) was a wireless operator from Newfoundland. He had a flying career packed with incident even before he joined the Pathfinders in February 1945. See: Pre-Pathfinder… Read More ›
The RAF and the Channel Dash
On 11 February 1942, the prestigious German battleships the Scharnhorst, the Gneisenau and the Prinz Eugen broke out of the westerly French port of Brest and sailed east, up the English Channel, in a break for the security of the German-controlled… Read More ›