On our new site we have published a post on a public information poster from Berlin 1940, which was a forewarning of the later demonisation of the RAF bomber crews as terrorflieger, ‘the terror fliers’. This was used as justification for violence against them if they were shot down. See: Der Feind, The Fiend
Category: Archive News
The annual lighting of candles on the 167 graves at the War Cemetery at Den Burg, Texel, took place yesterday evening, Christmas Eve.This is a very simple but extremely moving and quietly spectacular ceremony, and for the last three years we have published photographs of it. See our new website: Den Burg, Texel, Xmas Eve
Christmas Greetings
From all the team at the RAF Pathfinders Archive:
Happy Christmas to everyone who has supported us over the years, and may next year, 2021, see life restored to something like normality after the immense problems and sorrows caused by the Corona virus. To see the menu at RAF Station Graveley on December 1944, visit our new website: Christmas at Graveley Last Year of the War
Victoria Cross: 23 December 1944
On 16 December 1944, German Panzers spearheaded a surprise attack in the Ardennes that smashed through thinly held Allied lines, catching the Allied commanders completely off-guard. The Allied fight-back included this extraordinary feat of heroism which won Bob Palmer one of the three VCs awarded to Pathfinders: Victoria Cross, 23 December 1944: “Heroic Endeavour” The story is told by Sean Feast.
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.
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.
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)
Sean Feast & Meet The Team
We are delighted to welcome Sean Feast as a Trustee of the Archive. Sean is a keen supporter of the military with a passion for aviation. Amongst his many books is The Pathfinder Companion, which was published in association with the Pathfinder Collection at RAF Wyton.
With Sean’s arrival, we have set up a Meet the Team page which gives details of who is behind the scenes at the Archive.