Signatures
for 'Leading the Way': The following three signatures an on all editions:
Flight Lieutenant John Rollins DFC AFC : After
joining the RAF in 1940 he was called up in early 1941 and entered OTU
where he qualified as an observer and was then posted operationally to 466
Sqn at Leconfield on Wellingtons. At the end of 1942 he joined 35
Sqn as a Navigator at Gravely as part of the Pathfinder Force, initially
on the Halifax and later converting to Lancasters. He remained with
the Pathfinders until 1944 when he was posted to Stoney Cross to convert
back to Wellington 1C's as a way of becoming reacquainted with two engined
aircraft. he spent the remainder of the war flying Dakota's in the
Far East and left the RAF in mid 1946.
Warrant Officer Ernest Kenwright DFC DFM : Joining
the RAF in 1940 he was initially posted to Cardington as a driver and
ended up on the Isle of Sheppey releasing explosive met balloons in order
to hamper enemy aircraft. Volunteering for aircrew he attended a
gunnery course at Stormy Down in 1942 and shortly after joined 51 squadron
at Snaith in Yorkshire, as a Rear Gunner on Lancasters. In 1943
after many operations with the main force he volunteered for the
Pathfinders and joined 35 Squadron at Gravely on both the Halifax and
Lancaster. He remained with this unit until the end of the war
completing 82 operations and left the RAF in 1946
Squadron Leader Pat Carden DFC AE : He initially
joined the RAF in 1932 on a short service commission and qualified as a
pilot, becoming an instructor. He served at the Central Flying
School at Uphaven between 1939 and 1942 and was then released for an
operational tour with 15 squadron at Mildenhall, flying Lancasters.
He then moved to Feltwell as Chief Flying Instructor before volunteering
for the Pathfinder Force and joined 35 squadron at Gravely on Halifax's
followed by 582 squadron at Little Staunton on Lancasters, gaining a
Mention in Despatches. He finished the war with 66 operations and
joined Transport Command, serving in Cairo and Malta, leaving the RAF in
1946.
The following three signatures an on the Artist Proof
and Pathfinder Proof editions :
Flight Lieutenant David Codd DFC : Joining the Army
in 1938 he initially served with Royal Engineers at Dunkirk before
volunteering for aircrew and transferring to the RAF in 1941. He
qualified as a navigator and in 1942 joined 10 squadron at Leeming on
Halifax's before moving to 35 squadron with the Pathfinders, again on
Halifax bombers. In 1943 his aircraft was shot down near Cologne and
he became a POW at Stalagluft 3, having completed 42 operations. He
returned to England in May 1945 and left the RAF in 1947.
Flying
Officer Sir Michael Hanham DFC : He joined the RAF straight from school in
1942 and initially qualified as a navigator but then retrained as a flight
engineer in 1943. He volunteered for the Pathfinder Force and joined
35 squadron as a flight engineer on Halifax's and Lancasters, completing
55 operations with this unit. In May 1945 he became a Flying Control
Officer and was posted to India, leaving the RAF in 1946.
Flying
Officer Don Carruthers : Joining the RAF in 1941 he trained as a wireless
operator and completed his ops training at Lossiemouth on Wellingtons
where he formed up with a crew that was to stay together for his entire
operational career in Bomber Command. In 1943 he was posted to 466
squadron at Leconfield on Wellingtons before converting to the
Halifax. He and his crew volunteered for the Pathfinder Force and
joined 35 squadron on Halifax's and then Lancasters. In 1945 having
completed a total of 63 operations he moved to Transport Command flying
Dakotas in India with 238 squadron and then Calcutta with 52
squadron. He left the RAF in 1946.
The
following five signatures are only on the Pathfinder Proof edition :
Warrant
Officer Harold Kirby : Called up in 1942 he attended a flight mechanics
course at RAF Halton and then qualified as a flight engineer in 1943,
joining 467 squadron at Waddington on Lancasters. In August 1944 his
aircraft was forced to crash land after an operation when a 1000lb bomb
from another Lancaster ripped through their port wing and destroyed the
undercarriage over France. In September 1944 he joined 97 squadron
at Coningsby on Lancasters as part of the Pathfinders and remained with
this unit until the end of the war. He left the RAF in 1946.
Wing
Commander Ernest Rodley DSO DFC AFC AE : He initially joined the RAFVR in
1937 and was commissioned and posted to Bomber Command in 1941.
Joining 97 Sqn, flying Manchesters he was involved in the famous Augsberg
daylight raid for which he received a DFC. At the end of 1942 he
joined RAF Scampton helping to convert to Lancaster bombers before
rejoining 97 Sqn at Bourn as a Pathfinder. After a spell at Warboys
as an instructor he took command of 128 Sqn at Wyton, flying Mosquitoes as
part of the Light Night Striking Force. Staying with this unit he
finished the war having completed 87 operations.
Air
Vice Marshal Don Bennett CB CBE DSO : Born in Australia, Bennett had
joined the RAF before the war. He became widely experienced in
flying all types of aircraft including fighters, flying boats and heavy
bombers commanding 77 squadron, flying Halifax's. In 1942 whilst
commanding 10 squadron he was shot down on one of the attacks on the
Tirpitz, but evaded capture and returned to England. Widely regarded
as a navigation expert beyond compare, he was personally selected by
Arthur Harris to form the Pathfinder Force and his uncompromising attitude
and ceaseless devotion to his men made him a legendary figure in WWII
history.
Group Captain Hamish Mahaddie DSO
DFC AFC : Initially joining the RAF in 1928 as a Halton apprentice he
qualified as a pilot in 1935 and was involved in the first bombing raid of
WWII on the island of Sylt. In 1942 after a period instructing, he
joined one of the first Pathfinder units 7 squadron, flying Stirlings from
Oakington. After 50 ops he was given the task by Don Bennett of
finding 'volunteers' for the Pathfinder Force and over the next two years
he recruited around 17,000 of the best aircrew in the business for No 8
group. In 1944 he took command of Warboys, the PFF training unit and
had become a living legend in Bomber Command.
Air
Commodore John Searby DSO DFC : He joined the RAF in 1929 as a Halton
apprentice but was a Sergeant flying bombers when war broke out.
Joining 106 squadron he flew Lancasters with Guy Gibson and eventually
took over as Squadron Commander when Gibson left for 617 squadron. A
specialist in navigation, he was then chosen by Arthur Harris to take
command of No 83 Pathfinder Squadron at Wyton. Searby quickly
developed a superb reputation as a Pathfinder and was involved in
countless precision raids including his role as Master Bomber on the
Peenemunde raid, coordinating the attack by over six hundred heavy
bombers.
