35 (Pathfinder) Squadron

35 Squadron, originally formed during the Great War as a unit within the Royal Flying Corps, was resurrected in November 1940, specifically to introduce into service the Handley Page Halifax heavy bomber. Initially part of Bomber Command's 4 Group, the squadron took part in epic operations against the German cruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, and the battleship Tirpitz. After participating in the first Thousand Bomber Raids in 1942, 35 Squadron was transferred in 1942 Path Finder Force. It was to remain with this elite band until the end of the war in Europe. First published in 1998, Alan Cooper's detailed history of this esteemed squadron has been refreshed and republished.