The Pathfinders

WILL IREDALE

Being able to bomb your enemy into oblivion is only possible if you can actually find the target, hundreds of miles from home, in pitch black darkness, or while under enemy fire. That was the problem for Bomber Command when it was left as the only way of striking back at Hitler’s Germany in the early years of the war.

What you get here is an introduction to the main characters followed throughout the book, the technological challenges facing the men who marked the way for the bombers to follow, then stories of various missions. These range from run of the mill operations to more well known raids like on Peenemünde. While the claim the Pathfinders turned the tide of WWII is ridiculous, it’s still a very entertaining read. ■

• Penguin

• ISBN 978-0-7535-5780-8

• 430 pages • Hardback • £20