avia.wikisort.org - Air_ForcesNo. 8 Group was a Royal Air Force group which existed during the final year of the First World War and during the Second World War.
Royal Air Force group during WWII
No. 8 (PFF) Group RAF |
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Active | 1918 - 1919 1 Sep 1941 - 28 Jan 1942 8 Jan 1943 – 15 Dec 1945 |
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Country | United Kingdom |
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Branch | Royal Air Force |
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Part of | RAF Bomber Command |
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Motto(s) | We Guide to strike |
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Group badge | A Mullet of eight points surmounted by an arrow enflamed, point downwards, in bend sinister The star and eight points represent the number 8 group and the astro-navigation undertaken by its crews. The flaming arrow was meant to demonstrate their Pathfinding role[2] |
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Military unit
First World War
No. 8 Group was formed in April 1918 as a training unit and designated 8 Group (Training). It remained in this function throughout the rest of the war and was disbanded in May 1919.
Second World War
The Group was re-established as No 8 (Bomber) Group on 1 September 1941 only to be disbanded around five months later on 28 January 1942.
8 Group was re-constituted when Bomber Command's Pathfinder Force was renamed No. 8 (Pathfinder Force) Group on 8 January 1943. The group consisted of specialist squadrons that marked targets for the main attacks of Bomber Command aircraft. The Force, which had been formed in August 1942 with five Squadrons from the existing Bomber Command Groups flying a mix of Short Stirlings, Handley Page Halifaxes, Avro Lancasters and Vickers Wellingtons. When new aircraft, such as the de Havilland Mosquito became available, 8 Group got the first ones. Its aircraft used navigation aids such as Gee, H2S and Oboe to find the targets of attack more accurately than the main force on its own could. Initially five squadrons, 8 Group ultimately grew to a strength of 19 squadrons.[4]
No. 8 Group was also responsible for the Light Night Striking Force, equipped with Mosquito bombers and used for harassing raids on Germany. It was disbanded on 15 December 1945, though its badge and motto ("We Guide to Strike") were subsequently authorized on 11 March 1953. While the majority of Pathfinder squadrons and personnel were from the Royal Air Force, the group also included many from the air forces of other Commonwealth countries. The PFF flew a total of 50,490 individual sorties against some 3,440 targets. The cost in human lives was grievous. At least 3,727 members were killed on operations and 675 aircraft lost.
Structure
- February 1943
- February 1944
- 22 March 1945
- No. 7 Squadron RAF at RAF Oakington with the Avro Lancaster I, III
- No. 35 Squadron RAF at RAF Graveley with the Avro Lancaster I, III
- No. 105 Squadron RAF at RAF Bourn with the de Havilland Mosquito IX, XVI
- No. 109 Squadron RAF at RAF Little Staughton with the de Havilland Mosquito IX, XVI
- No. 128 Squadron RAF at RAF Wyton with the de Havilland Mosquito XVI
- No. 139 Squadron RAF at RAF Upwood with the de Havilland Mosquito IX, XVI, XX, XXV
- No. 142 Squadron RAF at RAF Gransden Lodge with the de Havilland Mosquito XXV
- No. 156 Squadron RAF at RAF Upwood with the Avro Lancaster I, III
- No. 162 Squadron RAF at RAF Bourn with the de Havilland Mosquito XX, XXV
- No. 163 Squadron RAF at RAF Wyton with the de Havilland Mosquito XXV
- No. 405 Squadron RCAF at RAF Gransden Lodge with the Avro Lancaster I, III
- No. 571 Squadron RAF at RAF Oakington with the de Havilland Mosquito XVI
- No. 582 Squadron RAF at RAF Little Staughton with the Avro Lancaster I, III
- No. 608 Squadron RAF at RAF Downham Market with the de Havilland Mosquito XX, XXV
- No. 635 Squadron RAF at RAF Downham Market with the Avro Lancaster I, III
- No. 692 Squadron RAF at RAF Graveley with the de Havilland Mosquito XVI
Headquarters
- August 1942 - RAF Wyton
- June 1943 - Castle Hill House, Huntingdon
Air Officer Commanding
1918 to 1919
- 1918 Brigadier-General John Miles Steel
1941 to 1942
- 8 September 1941 Air Commodore Francis Fogarty
- December 1941 Air Vice-Marshal Donald Stevenson (appointment not certain)
1943 to 1945
- 13 January 1943 Air Vice-Marshal Don Bennett
- 21 May 1945 Air Vice-Marshal John Whitley
See also
References
Citations
- Delve, Ken (2005). Bomber Command 1939-1945 : a reference to the men - aircraft & operational history. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Aviation. p. 172. ISBN 1-84415-183-2.
- Royal Air Force, Bomber Command No.8 Pathfinder Force Group Archived 26 March 2017 at the Wayback Machine, accessed December 2011
Bibliography
- Bennett, D. C. T. (1988). Pathfinder: A War Autobiography (pbk. ed.). Wilmslow: Goodall. ISBN 978-0-907579-57-1.
- Falconer, J (2012). RAF Airfields of World War 2. UK: Ian Allan Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85780-349-5.
- Moyes, P. J. R. (1976). Bomber Squadrons of the RAF and their Aircraft. London: Macdonald and Jane's. ISBN 978-0-354-01027-6.
External links
Royal Air Force |
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Formations and units | Units |
- Commands
- Groups
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- Squadrons
- Flights
- Conversion units
- Operational Training units
- Schools / Training units
- Ferry units
- Glider units
- Misc units
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Stations | |
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Regiment | |
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Branches and components |
- Air Force Board
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Reserve forces |
- Royal Auxiliary Air Force
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Associated civil organisations |
- Air Training Corps
- RAF Association
- RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine
- RAF Benevolent Fund
- RAF Football Association
- RAF Museum
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Equipment | |
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Personnel |
- Officer ranks
- Other ranks
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Appointments |
- Chief of Air Staff
- Assistant Chief of the Air Staff
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- Commandant-General of the RAF Regiment
- Warrant Officer of the RAF
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Symbols and uniform |
- Ensign
- Badge
- Roundels
- Uniform
- Heraldic badges
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