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 first operation was to Berlin on 16 December. Returning safely to England, they crashed in a horrific accident caused by dense fog. See Why the Archive Began on our new website.
Author: RAF PATHFINDERS ARCHIVE
The Archive covers many aspects of life in RAF Bomber Command from 1942, the year in which the Path Finder Force (the PFF, later known as 8 Group) was formed. However, the Archive's specific focus is upon the Pathfinders as they were generally called. Historically, this Archive has always been centred around 97 Squadron, which belonged to the Pathfinders for one year. However, we are now looking to substantially increase the Archive to include all PFF squadrons, PFF HQ, and the wider Bomber Command and Home Front milieus. The aim of the Archive is to provide an in-depth illustration of what life - and death - were like for Pathfinder aircrew, their working comrades, their friends, and their families.
Black Thursday Remembered
Our new website is commemorating Black Thursday, 16/17 December 1943, with a number of new pages about the events of that night and the crews who were involved. The first two posted below are is an overview of the night itself, and an article about FIDO and landing aids.
Dominion Aircrew
There are three new pages on our new website, all to do with Dominion crew. This photograph of a rescued Wellington crew comes from Allan Templeton’s logbook, from the time he was with Air Sea Rescue. Allan was a Newfoundlander. The other two pages focus on Australian and New Zealander airmen in training.
Remembrance Sunday
We are remembering all the Pathfinder losses tomorrow and on Remembrance Day, but one particular grave has been chosen to symbolise all, that of Bob Stewart, a twenty-one year old navigator. See the page on our new website
Pathfinder War Losses: https://rafpathfinders.com/2020/11/07/pathfinder-war-losses/
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 from 9 May 1943 until 2 November 1943
- Station Commander at Upwood from 20 November 1943 until 10 February 1944.
- Station Commander at Warboys from 3 June 1944 until 24 July 1944 (the June date is given as being in 1943, but this has to be a mistyping)
In September 1943, Searby wrote a note of commendation in the Flying Log Book of Pat Menzies. This is the first note we have seen like this in a logbook. See: Searby & the End of a Kiwi Gunner’s Tour
Harris, Bennett and Flying Boats
One of the pages on our new website, The Pathfinders and the World They Knew: https://rafpathfinders.com/harris-bennett-flying-boats/
New Website for the Archive
At the RAF Pathfinders Archive, we have begun a review of this entire website: raf-pathfinders.com
It has been added to and expanded for many years, and is now very much in need of an overhaul.
To facilitate the clean-up, a new website has been set up which has the marginally different address of: rafpathfinders.com
Whilst this is very much an ongoing project, it is probable that all the information will eventually be transferred to the new site.
On it, we are using a whole new cataloging system which should make subjects and groups of subjects very much easier to find. Much improved search facilities have also been installed.
All new material will be added there but for the time being posts will keep this old website very much up to date.
Donald Margach and Guy Gibson
We always welcome corrections or additions to the information on these pages. Sometimes it is the smallest details which really count. Amongst other points, Clive Smith, who specialises in 106 Squadron on which Donald Margach served with Guy Gibson, has kindly pointed out that Donald Margach’s epitaph as recorded on the CWGC website, reads: DEAR HUSBAND OF GRETA, DADDY OF ALISON, LOVED SON OF MR. AND MRS. W. MARGACH – so this almost certainly clears up the identity of the unknown woman and baby in a touching informal portrait of Donald. See: Donald Margach and Guy Gibson
PFF HQ and Hamish Mahaddie
From: Jennie Mack Gray – It has been quite a while since this website was updated, due mainly to me taking a sabbatical to finish my book on the Pathfinders (this was delayed, like so much else, by COVID-19).The book is not yet entirely done but it is very close. The working title is
Belonging to the Elite: Courage, Love and Loss in the Pathfinders of Bomber Command
The website will have a number of updates in the course of the next few weeks, but tonight two pages have been added about the Pathfinder leadership:
Pathfinder HQ; Ops Room and Group Photo 1944
Hamish Mahaddie, IWM sound recordings (1972 & 1989)
Johnny Nicholls’ Article in ‘Aviation Heritage’
Can anyone help us locate a copy of the article in ‘Aviation Heritage’ written by Johnny Nicholls? (Nicholls Crew page) We have a photocopy of part of the article but are missing pages 151 and 152 in particular. Here is a photocopy of the cover details.
