Image above: 97 Squadron (OF) crew names to be confirmed, (RPA)

There were 8 ‘Heavy’ Pathfinder squadrons, flying Lancasters, Stirlings, and Halifaxes. A programme of squadrons converting to Lancasters took place in the PFF’s three-year existence, There were 12 Mosquito squadrons, including 1409 Meteorological Flight, which flew unarmed Mosquitoes on survey flights.

When the Path Finder Force was first formed in August 1942, some Pathfinders were still flying the Wellington, a medium bomber with a five-man crew which was being superseded by the new, more technically advanced, heavy bombers. There were two Pathfinder formation squadrons which were flying the Wellington, 109 Squadron which converted to the Mosquito during December 1942, and 156 Squadron which converted to the Lancaster at the end of January 1943.

Above: a 35 Squadron Lancaster, note the code TL. Attribute tbc.

Squadron Name and Code

THE HEAVIES

7 Squadron – MG

35 Squadron – TL

83 Squadron – OL

97 Squadron – OF

156 Squadron – GT

405 Squadron – LQ

582 Squadron – 60

635 Squadron – F2

Dai Thomas and Sid Parlato, 139 Squadron. Courtesy of Michael Thomas.

THE MOSQUITOES

105 Squadron – GB

109 Squadron – HS

128 Squadron – reformed September 1944 – M5

139 Squadron – XD

142 Squadron – reformed October 1944 – 4H

162 Squadron – reformed December 1944 – CR

163 Squadron – reformed January 1945 – there is a seemingly unresolvable query over what code this squadron had

571 Squadron – 8K

608 Squadron – reformed August 1944 – 6T

627 Squadron – A2

692 Squadron – P3

1409 Met Flight 

Above: Maurice Briggs and John Baker with their 1409 Meteorological Flight Mosquito. Note the very bold markings on the aircraft. (RPA)