♦ 45 operation tour without a break, other than the standard one week’s leave every six weeks awarded to aircrew, or the 48-hour survivors’ leave awarded to those who had had a sea ditching, baled out or crashed in the UK.
NOTES:
Main Force flew two tours, the first of 30 ops, the second of 20 ops (these tours were broken up by a posting to a non-operational unit such as a Heavy Conversion Unit, or HCU).
Initially the PFF requirement was set as 60 operations without a break, but better judgement prevailed on the impossibility of this task.
♦ the Pathfinder badge of a hovering gold eagle (above) awarded on a temporary basis after a number of operations, during which the required standard of proficiency was reached. This number of operations appears to have varied, perhaps at the discretion of the squadron CO, but seems to have generally been around 6-10 operations.
♦ one step up in acting rank, for example a Pilot Officer would become a temporary Flying Officer – pay was increased accordingly. *
♦ the Pathfinder badge awarded permanently after the completion of a tour, or in exceptional circumstances such as an outstanding airman going missing on operations (see the award to Pilot Officer McEgan, below; this award was made within one week of his being registered as ‘Missing’ – he had in fact been killed).
♦ An official certificate was issued, signed by the Air Officer Commanding, Donald Bennett.
♦ By 1943, all operational aircrew in Bomber Command had at least Non-Commissioned Officer rank (NCO). RAF ranks for operational aircrew or squadron commanders (who sometimes flew on operations) were:
NCO
Sergeant
Flight Sergeant
Warrant Officer
OFFICER
Pilot Officer
Flying Officer
Flight Lieutenant
Squadron Leader
Wing Commander
Group Captain