HOME Pathfinder Book Book Commendations Exciting Multimedia CD Fly with Pathfinders The 2nd Book Fascinating Comments SECURE ORDER FORM

RAFpathfinder history

including history of France, history of Germany and history of Italy

Tom Scotland, an Australian pilot, details his part in the history of France, the history of Germany and the history of Italy in his rivetting autobiography "Voice from the stars, a Pathfinder's Story".
 

plane - history of France

History of France

Australian Don Bennett arranged for selected and specially trained flying crews to form the RAF PathFinder Force (PFF). Pathfinders would prove to be the big turning point in the history of France, and world war 2 generally, for the effectiveness of RAF bombers and the beginning of victory.

Tom Scotland's Pathfinder Squadron (614) became the PathFinder Force in Italy, leading RAF bombers into France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Roumania, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia and N. Italy.

Read more about the history of France in Tom's autobiography "Voice from the stars, a Pathfinder's Story"
 
 

History of Germany

plane - history of GermanyTom Scotland experienced the history of Germany in 1942 as an RAAF pilot on the way to Britain when his convoy had to survive attack by submarines. He arrived in a Britain on her knees from loss of shipping sunk by German submarines and bombing. RAF bombers were flying from England to destroy German manufacturing, but many obstacles including German defences frustrated their attacks.

Read more about the history of Germany in Tom's autobiography "Voice from the stars, a Pathfinder's Story"
 

plane - history of Italy

History of Italy

A history of Italy excerpt from "Mare Nostrum" of July 1945
   "From small beginnings in the spring of 1944, when the nucleus of the force was sent to Italy after training in Pathfinder technique in England, it steadily increased its efficiency in target finding until navigational errors at the end of the war were reduced to nil, even though targets were sometimes small and difficult to locate.
   When the pathfinder force first began its operations from Italy the losses were considerable, owing in part to weather conditions over the mountainous regions and to the strong defences covering the strategic targets selected."


Read more about the history of Italy in Tom's autobiography "Voice from the stars, a Pathfinder's Story"
 

arrow image - history of France - history of Germany - history of ItalyReturn to top of page

OR find out more,
autobiography | RAFpathfinder history | RAF (Royal Air Force) | world war ii story
personal affects of world war ii | personal world war ii pictures