Avro Lancaster B.Mk VI & de Havilland Mosquito B.Mk IX
In August 1942 Arthur Harris, head of Bomber Command, asked Donald Bennett to establish the Pathfinder Force, an elite night-bombing squadron. The strategy was for the Pathfinder pilots to be the first over a target and to drop flares and incendiaries in order to assist the aim of the main bombing force. The basis of Pathfinder tactics at this time was visual marking of the aiming point, either in the light of flares, or occasionally in moonlight, but the usual method was to make a timed run from a visually identified landmark. Using Wellingtons, Stirlings, Halifaxes, Lancasters and Mosquitoes they were formed under the auspices of No. 8 Group. The Lancaster seen here was flown by 635 Squadron from Downham Market, Norfolk in 1944 and is recognisable by its deleted nose and dorsal turrets and striped tail fin. The Mosquito served with 109 Squadron for 18 days between 17th June and 5th July 1943. LR507 carried out a diversionary operation dropping target indicators over Cologne for the main force attack on Aachen. In April 1944 it dropped Tl's for the first of three waves of Mosquitoes involved in the raid on Berlin.