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RAF PATHFINDERS ARCHIVE

RAF PATHFINDERS ARCHIVE

The Pathfinders & the World they Knew

  • HOME: latest feature article
  • LATEST POSTS
  • ABOUT THE ARCHIVE
    • ABOUT THE ARCHIVE
    • Why the Archive Began
    • Collecting Material for the Archive
    • Donating Digital Material – What you need to know.
    • Charity & Contact Details
    • Copyright & Permissions
    • RESEARCH ENQUIRIES
    • Migrating from Old Website
    • Partners: Pathfinder Collection, RAF Wyton
    • Partners: Queensland Air Museum
  • About the Pathfinders
    • The PFF – A Quick Overview
    • PFF – Unique Conditions of Service
    • The Pathfinder Eagle
    • PATHFINDER AIRCREW: Courage, Love and Loss in Bomber Command’s Elite Force
    • Meteorology and the Pathfinders
    • Publicity and the Pathfinders
    • What’s in a Name? 8 Group or PFF?
    • Development of The Pathfinders
      • The Pathfinders – Controversial Beginnings
      • Harris and the Pathfinders
      • Harris Chooses Bennett as PFF AOC
      • PFF Losses in First Month, 1942
      • Early Months of the Path Finder Force
  • Squadrons, Bases & Ground crew
    • PFF Squadron Names and Codes
    • PFF Bases
    • PFF Mosquito Ground Crew
    • Pathfinder Squadrons in 5 Group
  • Leadership
    • Don Bennett, Air Officer Commanding
      • Harris, Bennett & Flying Boats
      • Bennett and the Tirpitz
      • Bennett, PR and 5 Group
      • Donald Bennett, IWM Sound Recordings (1986)
    • Hamish Mahaddie, IWM sound recordings (1972 & 1989)
    • Anderson’s Logbook: First PFF Sortie
    • Robert Murray Buchan, Navigation Staff Officer
  • FEATURE ARTICLES
    • A War Artist and the Pathfinders
    • Carrier Pigeons in the Bomber War
    • Christmas 1944 in a POW Camp
    • New Year’s Eve, Stalag IVb, 1944-45.
    • Lancaster Gunners “Hotting Up”
    • Leslie Barr and P/O Prune
  • The Night of the Fog, 16/17 December 1943 (Black Thursday)
    • The Night of the Fog, 16/17 December 1943 (Black Thursday)
    • Why the Archive Began
    • Pathfinder Losses on 16/17 December 1943
    • 97 Squadron Aircrew Flying on 16/17 December 1943
      • De Wesselow Crew
      • Kirkwood Crew
    • 16/17 December 1943: FIDO & Landing Aids
  • Library
    • Library
    • “A CHANCE ENCOUNTER” by Dr Olav Heinemann, Duisburg-Essen University
    • “AN AUSTRALIAN PATHFINDER OVER GERMANY”, by Professor Tim Willasey-Wilsey, King’s College, London
    • GEOFF BAKER, RAAF Pilot with 97 Squadron, by Stan Hurd
    • MARK GLEED, Navigator with 139 Squadron, by Len Gleed
    • The Loss of the Robertson Crew – German Reports
    • THE DANISH SHOULDER FLASH, by Mikkel Plannthin
  • Archived Articles
    • Frostbite and Flying Boots
    • Pathfinders in Civvie Street
    • The Dangers of the Weather – Icing
  • Support Us
    • Support Us
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  • CONTACT
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  • Category: Significant Events: Black Thursday

    The tragic night of 16/17 December 1943 which saw multiple aircraft crashes due to fog

  • Remembrance: Black Thursday

    Posted by RAF Pathfinders Archive on December 16, 2022December 16, 2022

    This detail from a photograph shows part of the funeral procession for 405 Squadron members, mostly Canadians, who were buried on 22 December 1943 at Cambridge City Cemetery. At the rear are Bill Bessent (nearest …

    156 Squadron, 405 Squadron, 83 Squadron, 97 Squadron, Significant Events: Black Thursday
  • Remembrance: 16/17 December 1943, Black Thursday

    Posted by RAF Pathfinders Archive on December 15, 2021January 7, 2022

    On Thursday and Friday this week we remember the 50 Pathfinder aircrew who were killed in crashes in England on Thursday and Friday 78 years ago. The crews had just returned safely from that night’s …

    PFF REMEMBRANCE, Significant Events: Black Thursday
  • RAF Wound Stripes

    Posted by RAF Pathfinders Archive on July 11, 2021July 9, 2022

    The wound stripe, which was an unusual emblem on RAF uniforms, was a small gold band or pair of gold bands worn on the left sleeve. The airmen who wore these stripes had recovered from …

    Significant Events: Black Thursday, Uniforms, tags and ensignia
  • 16/17 December 1943: Remembering the Thackway Crew

    Posted by RAF Pathfinders Archive on December 16, 2020August 17, 2021

    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 …

    97 Squadron, ARCHIVE NEWS, PFF REMEMBRANCE, Significant Events: Black Thursday
  • 16/17 December 1943: FIDO & Landing Aids

    Posted by RAF Pathfinders Archive on December 15, 2020February 9, 2023

    One of the reasons why 16/17 December 1943 was so disastrous was the extreme limitations of landing aids. The only facilities available for such severe bad weather conditions were FIDO and a system known as SBA. Read the …

    Significant Events: Black Thursday, Technical Aids
  • The Night of the Fog: 16/17 December 1943:

    Posted by RAF Pathfinders Archive on December 15, 2020July 9, 2022

    The disastrous night of 16/17 December 1943 came just one month into the Battle of Berlin,  Bomber Command’s all-out attempt to win the war by attacking the German capital and other key cities. But it was not …

    PFF REMEMBRANCE, Significant Events: Black Thursday
  • Pathfinder War Losses

    Posted by RAF Pathfinders Archive on November 7, 2020February 12, 2023

    Above: Temporary grave marker for the Coates crew, killed 25 March 1944, RPA/H97/Coates The total Pathfinder losses, incurred from August 1942 to May 1945, were given by Donald Bennett, their Air Officer Commanding (AOC), as …

    97 Squadron, Donald Bennett, AOC, PFF REMEMBRANCE, Significant Events: Black Thursday
  • O Valiant Hearts

    Posted by RAF Pathfinders Archive on June 26, 2019July 10, 2022

    The epitaphs on many aircrew graves came from the hymn “O Valiant Hearts”. This remarkable and deeply poignant hymn is connected with the death of the outstanding pilot Ernest Deverill, seen here with his wife …

    Significant Events: Black Thursday, WAR BACKGROUND
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