No. 8 Group RAF

No. 8 Group RAF
Unit name	No. 8 Group
Dates	1918–1919, 1941–1945
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Air Force
Type	Pathfinder Group
Role	Bomber guidance and marking
Size	Group
Command structure	RAF Bomber Command
Garrison	RAF Wyton
Notable commanders	Air Vice-Marshal D. C. T. Bennett

No. 8 Group RAF. It was a specialist group within the Royal Air Force, most famously serving as the Pathfinder Force of RAF Bomber Command during the Second World War. Formed initially in the closing stages of the First World War, it was disbanded before being re-established in 1942 under the dynamic leadership of Air Vice-Marshal D. C. T. Bennett. The group's primary mission was to locate and accurately mark targets for the main bomber stream, dramatically improving the effectiveness of the strategic bombing campaign against Nazi Germany.

History

The first incarnation of the group was established in September 1918 as part of the Royal Flying Corps's transition into the newly independent Royal Air Force. It was a training formation based in the Midlands during the final months of the First World War and was disbanded in 1919. The group was reformed in September 1941, initially as a general bomber group, but its destiny changed in August 1942 when it was formally designated the Pathfinder Force. This reorganization was a direct result of the Butt Report, which highlighted the inaccuracy of area bombing, and the advocacy of Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Harris.

Structure

The group was a unique formation composed of elite squadrons drawn from across RAF Bomber Command. Its core comprised dedicated Pathfinder squadrons flying aircraft like the Lancaster, Mosquito, and Halifax. These units were organized into specialized roles: finder, illuminator, marker, and backer-up. The group also controlled the Light Night Striking Force, composed entirely of fast Mosquito bombers for precision raids. Key operational squadrons included No. 7, No. 35, No. 83, No. 97, No. 105, No. 109, No. 139, No. 156, and No. 582 Squadrons.

Operational history

The group's operational history is defined by its pivotal role in every major Bomber Command offensive from late 1942 until the end of the war in Europe. It pioneered and perfected target marking techniques using flares and pyrotechnic markers like the "Red Blob Fire" and "Pink Pansy". The group led the way in significant raids such as the Battle of the Ruhr, the Battle of Hamburg during Operation Gomorrah, and the Battle of Berlin. Its Mosquito squadrons also conducted highly accurate nuisance raids, attacking V-weapon sites, and precision attacks like the raid on the Gestapo headquarters in Copenhagen.

Aircraft and equipment

The group operated a mix of heavy bombers and fast, light aircraft, each selected for specific Pathfinder tasks. The primary marking aircraft were the Avro Lancaster B.Mk I and III and the Handley Page Halifax B.Mk III. The versatile de Havilland Mosquito B.Mk IV, IX, and XVI served as both light bombers and master markers for the Light Night Striking Force. It was an early and prolific user of advanced radar navigation aids such as Oboe and H2S, and its No. 109 Squadron was dedicated to developing and using these electronic systems.

Commanding officers

The group was commanded by several officers during its brief initial existence. Its legendary wartime reputation, however, is inextricably linked to its first and most famous commander upon reformation as the Pathfinders. The officers were: * September 1918 – 1919: Colonel W. G. H. Salmond * 1 September 1941 – 4 January 1942: Air Commodore S. O. Buffon * 5 January 1942 – 28 April 1942: Air Vice-Marshal D. A. Boyle * 29 April 1942 – 28 May 1942: Air Commodore A. P. M. Sanders * 29 May 1942 – 1945: Air Vice-Marshal D. C. T. Bennett

Bases

The group's headquarters was established at RAF Wyton in Huntingdonshire in 1942, where it remained for the duration of the war. Its constituent squadrons were dispersed across several stations in Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire, known as the Pathfinder airfields. Major operational bases included RAF Oakington, RAF Warboys, RAF Graveley, RAF Gransden Lodge, and RAF Upwood. The Light Night Striking Force Mosquito squadrons were primarily based at RAF Marham in Norfolk.

Category:Royal Air Force groups Category:Pathfinder Force Category:Military units and formations established in 1918