Pathfinder Squadrons... - Aircraft of World War II

Lucky13 · 08-13-2008, 01:14 PM

On both sides, which were the pathfinder squadrons, or was it just one or few aircrafts within a squadron the flew as pathfinders? What was the bombload of the pathfinders, was it just markers or did they carry normal bombs with them as well?

Gnomey · 08-13-2008, 01:47 PM

In the RAF it was specific squadrons (an example would be 617) that were formed (from the best bomber squadrons) to lead the raids and mark the targets. This started in 1942 and so they were the elite of the bomber force and as such got the best aircraft as they came online (such as the Mosquito - originally had the same equipment as everyone else).

Pathfinder (RAF - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
156 Squadron RAF - 8 Group Pathfinder Force

Don't have any details on any of the other countries Pathfinders but some of the Luftwaffe guys will surely give you something.

Lucky13 · 08-13-2008, 01:49 PM

Cheers Gnomey!

Erich · 08-13-2008, 02:57 PM

check here for the RAF, great guys by the way .........

Johnny Clifford, Museum Currator

Royal Air Force Wyton
Huntingdon
Cambridgeshire PE28 2EA

details in their archives of the 20 squadrons making the Pathfinders

pbfoot · 08-13-2008, 04:22 PM

405 Squadron was the RCAF pathfinder sqn attached to 8gp

08-13-2008, 01:14 PM	#1
Lucky13 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: A Swede living in Glasgow, Scotland Posts: 15,144	Pathfinder Squadrons... On both sides, which were the pathfinder squadrons, or was it just one or few aircrafts within a squadron the flew as pathfinders? What was the bombload of the pathfinders, was it just markers or did they carry normal bombs with them as well? __________________ JAN "Felicis Tredecim" "I´m going back to the front to relax" "THE BLACK CATS FLIES TONIGHT" "Find your enemy and shoot him down - everything else is unimportant!" "When you're out of F-8's... You're out of fighters!"

08-13-2008, 01:47 PM	#2
Gnomey "World Traveller" Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Royal Deeside/St Andrews, Scotland, UK Posts: 15,224	In the RAF it was specific squadrons (an example would be 617) that were formed (from the best bomber squadrons) to lead the raids and mark the targets. This started in 1942 and so they were the elite of the bomber force and as such got the best aircraft as they came online (such as the Mosquito - originally had the same equipment as everyone else). Pathfinder (RAF - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) 156 Squadron RAF - 8 Group Pathfinder Force Don't have any details on any of the other countries Pathfinders but some of the Luftwaffe guys will surely give you something. __________________ "Success is not Final, Failure is not Fatal, it is the Courage to Continue that Counts" Sir Winston Churchill "To him the People of the World Largely owe the Freedom and Liberties they Enjoy Today" Enscription on Hugh Dowding's (AOC Fighter Command 1936-40) statue in London WW2 Talk: A WW2 Discussion Forum My Photo Collections on Flickr

08-13-2008, 01:49 PM	#3
Lucky13 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: A Swede living in Glasgow, Scotland Posts: 15,144	Cheers Gnomey! __________________ JAN "Felicis Tredecim" "I´m going back to the front to relax" "THE BLACK CATS FLIES TONIGHT" "Find your enemy and shoot him down - everything else is unimportant!" "When you're out of F-8's... You're out of fighters!"

08-13-2008, 02:57 PM	#4
Erich the old Sage Join Date: May 2004 Location: Platonic Sphere Posts: 10,775	check here for the RAF, great guys by the way ......... Johnny Clifford, Museum Currator Royal Air Force Wyton Huntingdon Cambridgeshire PE28 2EA details in their archives of the 20 squadrons making the Pathfinders __________________ Rip it up !

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08-13-2008, 04:22 PM	#5
pbfoot Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: niagara falls Posts: 5,588	405 Squadron was the RCAF pathfinder sqn attached to 8gp