The Pathfinders cover art

The Pathfinders

The Elite RAF Force That Turned the Tide of WWII

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The Pathfinders

By: Will Iredale
Narrated by: Richard Burnip
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

Military History Matters Book of the Year Bronze Award Winner

The incredible story of the crack team of men and women who transformed RAF Bomber Command and helped the Allies deliver decisive victory over Nazi Germany.

The Pathfinders were ordinary men and women from a range of nations who revolutionised the efficiency of the Allies' air campaign over mainland Europe. They elevated Bomber Command—initially the only part of the Allied war effort capable of attacking the heart of Nazi Germany—from an impotent force on the cusp of disintegration in 1942 to one capable of razing whole German cities to the ground in a single night, striking with devastating accuracy, inspiring fear and loathing in Hitler's senior command.

With exclusive interviews with remaining survivors, personal diaries and previously classified records, The Pathfinders brings to life the characters of the airmen and women—many barely out of their teens—who took to the skies in legendary British aircraft such as the Lancaster and the Mosquito, facing almost unimaginable levels of violence from enemy fighter planes to strike at the heart of the Nazi war machine.

©2021 Will Iredale (P)2021 Penguin Audio Air Forces Armed Forces Military War Aviation
All stars
Most relevant  
Great overall story and many solid facts to support it. A few rather peripheral small topics distracted slightly from this and felt unnecessary

Surprising facts on how personalities and politics stood in the way of the Pathfinder’s creation and development

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Well presented giving insight into the horrors of war including genius to bring about subjection to the intentions of an evil regime, involving the best of talents and flying skills

The high cost of victory

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Right mixture of fact and background testimony, riveting from start to finish.
I recommend it for all those interested in what it took for our young people who participated in this tragic episode of our history.

Excellent

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This offered a great insight into the trials and tribulations of the pathfinder airmen and women. The additional information from veterans diaries added a very human element which I found quite moving especially as I grew up around the derelict 8 Group airfields many years after the war.

A great insight into the activities of the pathfinders.

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Horrific losses to secure civilisation. Well read and written. Does not glorify conflict but emphasises the inhumanity imposed on very human ordinary people.

Makes war personal and real

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A really good book and read really well. Only problem is you get to the end. A lot of well done research put in to a book.

Excellent

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What terrific account of the pathfinder s story (s). Well presented as well. The honesty of the authors account is well appreciated

Terrific

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