Charged with the formidable task of locating and marking German targets for attack by the main force of Bomber Command, the Path Finder Force - 8 (PFF) Group and those in 5 Group - was perhaps the most experienced and highly trained elite group created within the Royal Air Force during World War II. Its aircrew members were almost entirely volunteers and despite the terrifying odds against any individual (or complete crew) ever completing the sixty-sorties tour of operations with the PFF, the most feared 'punishment' was to forfeit their coveted Path Finder wings and be posted away to other units. This remarkable evocation of a remarkable force is made up largely of narrative and photographs from the men who flew with or were an integral part of the PFF. They alone are best qualified to recount the Path Finder story. While the subject matter herein largely covers the four-engined Stirlings, Halifaxes and Lancasters and twin-engined Mosquitoes of 8 (PFF) Group, the Path Finding techniques used by 5 Group are not forgotten and there are two chapters detailing the work of the 'Oboe' Mosquitoes and other markers in support of the night and day Main Force raids on German and Italian cities and individual targets in the Reich. This book is a fitting tribute to the PFF and in particular, to the crews who failed to return from the PFF's many operations. AUTHOR: Martin Bowman is one of Britain's best-known Second World War aviation historians and authors. His previous books have included works such as 'Legend of the Lancaster', 'Confounding the Reich', 'Duxford and the Big Wings', 'Clash of Eagles', 'Mosquito: Menacing the Reich' and numerous titles in the exhaustive Air War series providing extensive coverage of operations carried out on D-Day and during the Market-Garden offensive at Arnhem. SELLING POINTS: ? During its brief existence from August 1942 to December 1945 the PFF was a select formation with specific terms of reference and became the spearhead of Bomber Command's part in the awesome destruction of Nazi Germany during the last three years of World War Two. ? This engaging narrative history consolidates the stories of the men who flew with the PFF during this momentous conflict. ? Includes a thoughtful selection of photographic illustrations. 50 illustrations
