Leading the Way by Gerald Coulson.

On August 15th 1942, under the leadership of Don Bennet, a new group was formed from Bomber Command to develop specialised target finding and target marking. Made up purely from experienced volunteers, this elite and highly trained group of men were known as the Pathfinders. Up until this point the means available to Bomber Command of accurately finding their targets were totally lacking and the task of the Pathfinders was to develop techniques to precisely define these targets ahead of the main force. Initially made up of four Squadrons Nos. 7 (Stirlings) 35 (Halifax) 83 (Lancaster) and 156 (Wellingtons) they were based at a clutch of airfields between Cambridge and Huntingdon. Originally part of No.3 Group Bomber Command the Pathfinder Force was directly answerable to C-in-C Air Marshal Arthur Harris until January 1943 when it became a separate group, No.8 (PFF) . Personally selected for the task by Arthur Harris, the Australian born Don Bennet, just 32 years of age proved to be and inspired choice to form the Pathfinders. A navigation expert without peers he was widely experienced in flying all types of aircraft including fighters, flying boats and bombers and already an experienced operational bomber captain. Along with many of his colleagues, such as Hamish Mahaddie and John Searby he was responsible for instilling in his men the Pathfinder Spirit - an intangible quality of dedication which bonded them together. Pathfinder crews used a combination of personal skill and technical equipment to locate their targets. Often flying against overwhelming odds and in appalling conditions they transformed the performance of a bomber force that in 1941 was dropping almost half its bombs on open countryside. The first Pathfinder unit to fly the Halifax was 35 Squadron based at Graveley. With some of the greatest Bomber Aircrew amongst their number the unit quickly gained a reputation for excellence that was second to none. This superb painting from one of the worlds most highly regarded Aviation Artists, Gerald Coulson, depicts a Halifax B.MkII series 1A of 35 (PFF) Squadron on an operation over occupied Europe. Flying at around 20,000 feet and completely alone and unprotected, the crew navigate their bomber well ahead of the main force, leading the way to their target.

Signed limited edition of 500 prints. Image size 31 inches x 26 inches (79cm x 66cm). Price £180.00

Signed by Flight Lieutenant John Rollins DFC AFC, Warrant Officer Ernest Kenwright DFC DFM and Squadron Leader Pat Carden DFC AE (deceased).

Limited edition of 50 artist proofs. Image size 31 inches x 26 inches (79cm x 66cm). Price £295.00

Signed by Flight Lieutenant John Rollins DFC AFC, Warrant Officer Ernest Kenwright DFC DFM, Squadron Leader Pat Carden DFC AE (deceased), Flight Lieutenant David Codd DFC, Flying Officer Sir Michael Hanham DFC and Flying Officer Don Carruthers.

Limited edition of 75 pathfinder proofs. Image size 31 inches x 26 inches (79cm x 66cm). Price £

Signed by Flight Lieutenant John Rollins DFC AFC, Warrant Officer Ernest Kenwright DFC DFM, Squadron Leader Pat Carden DFC AE (deceased), Flight Lieutenant David Codd DFC, Flying Officer Sir Michael Hanham DFC, Flying Officer Don Carruthers, Warrant Officer Harold Kirby, Wing Commander Ernest Rodley DSO DFC AFC AE, Air Vice Marshall Donald Bennett (deceased), Group Captain Hamish Mahaddie DSO DFC (deceased) and Air Commodore John Searby DSO DFC (deceased).

ITEM CODE DHM2250