60th Anniversary of the formation of the Pathfinder Force signed by Flight Lieutenant Don Briggs DFC, Flight Lieutenant Harold Hernaman DFC and Master Engineer John Chapman DFM To mark the 60th Anniversary of the formation of the Pathfinder Force, which later became No 8 Group, we have produced a special commemorative cover. The cover artwork shows the four initial Pathfinder squadrons; No 7 Squadron with equipped with Short Strilings, No 35 Squadron with the HP Halifax, No 83 equipped with the Avro Lancaster and No 156 Squadron with the Vickers Wellington. The artwork shows No 7, 83 and 156 Squadrons on the first Pathfinder Raid on their way to mark and bomb Flensburg on the 18/18 August 1942, while the bottom half of the artwork shows a Halifax of No 35 Squadron being prepared. Although the initial raid was not a great success, given the very limited preparation and training of the newly formed force, however the Pathfinder Force was to prove an extremely important part of Bomber Command during the remainder of the war.
Each cover bears a British Forces Post Office special handstamp, dated the 15 August 2002, which shows the Pathfinder Badge and No 8 Group logo to and commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the formation of the Pathfinder Force. Furthermore the covers have been flown in Lancaster PA474 of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight in a flypast over RAF Wyton, the Pathfinders HQ.
This cover is handsigned by three wartime members of No 156 Squadron PFF who flew on Avro Lancasters. Covers bears DFC/DFM stamp - very appropriately:
The first signature is Flight Lieutenant Don Briggs DFC, who was a Flight Engineer with No 156 Squadron PFF in 1944/45 completing 62 operations and post war was retrained as a pilot and took part in Operation 'Grapple' as a Vickers Valiant pilot and dropping of the first British Atomic bombs, he later flew Avro Vulcans.
Flight Lieutenant Harold Hernaman DFC
The second signature is Flight Lieutenant Harold Hernaman DFC who was a No 156 Squadron PFF Navigator completing 48 operations with No 467 and 156 Squadrons.
Master Engineer John Chapman DFM
The third signature is that of Master Engineer John Chapman DFM who both served with No 156 Squadron PFF as a Flight Engineer completing 47 Operations before becoming an instructor at PFF training unit. He later took part in the Berlin Airlift.
Official special numbered and certified on reverse.
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