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Leading the Way by Gerald Coulson. (Y) 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. AMAZING VALUE! - The value of the signatures on this item is in excess of the price of the print itself! Item Code : DHM2250Y Leading the Way by Gerald Coulson. (Y) - This Edition TYPE EDITION DETAILS SIZE SIGNATURES OFFERS YOUR PRICE PURCHASING EX-DISPLAY PRINT **Signed limited edition of 500 prints. (One print reduced to clear) Ex display prints in near perfect condition. Image size 31 inches x 26 inches (79cm x 66cm) Carden, Pat Rollins, John Kenwright, Ernest + Artist : Gerald Coulson Signature(s) value alone : £125 £75 Off! SOLD OUT NOT AVAILABLE All prices on our website are displayed in British Pounds Sterling

Other editions of this item : Leading the Way by Gerald Coulson. DHM2250 TYPE EDITION DETAILS SIZE SIGNATURES OFFERS YOUR PRICE PURCHASING PRINT Signed limited edition of 500 prints. Less than 20 now available. Image size 31 inches x 26 inches (79cm x 66cm) Carden, Pat Rollins, John Kenwright, Ernest + Artist : Gerald Coulson Signature(s) value alone : £125 £30 Off! Now : £170.00 VIEW EDITION... ARTIST PROOF Limited edition of 50 artist proofs. Image size 31 inches x 26 inches (79cm x 66cm) Carden, Pat Rollins, John Kenwright, Ernest Codd, David Hanham, Michael Carruthers, Don + Artist : Gerald Coulson Signature(s) value alone : £210 £55 Off! Now : £295.00 VIEW EDITION... PRINT Limited edition of 75 pathfinder proofs. SOLD OUT (January 2010) Image size 31 inches x 26 inches (79cm x 66cm) Rodley, Ernest Mahaddie, Hamish Carden, Pat Bennett, Donald Rollins, John Kenwright, Ernest Codd, David Hanham, Michael Carruthers, Don Kirby, Harold Searby, John + Artist : Gerald Coulson Signature(s) value alone : £485 SOLD OUT VIEW EDITION... SLIGHT BORDER DAMAGE Signed limited edition of 500 prints. The print has slight damage to the border area, mostly on a corner. Not noticeable once framed. Image size 31 inches x 26 inches (79cm x 66cm) Carden, Pat Rollins, John Kenwright, Ernest + Artist : Gerald Coulson Signature(s) value alone : £125 £60 Off! Now : £140.00 VIEW EDITION... General descriptions of types of editions :

Extra Details : Leading the Way by Gerald Coulson. (Y)

About all editions : A photograph of an edition of the print :

Signatures on this item
*The value given for each signature has been calculated by us based on the historical significance and rarity of the signature. Values of many pilot signatures have risen in recent years and will likely continue to rise as they become more and more rare.
Name	Info
Flight Lieutenant John Rollins DFC AFC (deceased) *Signature Value : £45	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 Dakotas in the Far East and left the RAF in mid 1946. Died 26th March 2005.
Squadron Leader Pat Carden DFC AE (deceased) *Signature Value : £45	Joining the RAF in 1932, after qualifying as a pilot, he served as an instructor until 1942, when he joined 15 Squadron at Mildenhall, flying Lancasters. Volunteering for the Pathfinder Force he joined 35 Squadron at Gravely on Halifaxes, followed by 582 Squadron on Lancasters, taking part in many bombing sorties over Normandy, including two missions on D-Day. He finished the war having completed 66 operations. Pat Carden sadly died 28th June 2008, aged 96.
Warrant Officer Ernest Kenwright DFC DFM *Signature Value : £35	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 Halifaxes. 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

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