J.C. MacGown, Pathfinder Group Medical Officer

[Greg Bloomfield]

Mark

The same book also says that every member of a Pathfinder crew had to be proficient in every other crew members job. Clearly a gunner could not be expected to fly a bomber to any great degree other than to maybe hold the plane steady and do a few gentle turns or do a very basic piece of navigation. My take on that was that crew members were given simple tasks to perform in other disciplines so that they could prove they had a basic ability and to maybe get the plane home, or at least have a good stab at it, if a key member was lost. It took the best part of two years full time training and full time operations for a pilot to get to PFF. I hardly think a full time MO would be entrusted with the job of aircraft captain.

[PeteS]

There is a photo of him in Pathfinders at War by Chaz Bowyer, page 155. Nice cockpit shot of him wearing Pilots wings and WW1 medal ribbons.
cheers PeteS

[bvs]

There is a photo of him in Pathfinders at War by Chaz Bowyer, page 155. Nice cockpit shot of him wearing Pilots wings and WW1 medal ribbons.
cheers PeteS

You mean like the photo I posted in #14 Pete ? ;)

[bvs]

'The Pathfinders' Will Iredale

A letter from MacGown to his wife June, 1943 -

Darling, I got my Pathfinder Wings today. I passed the exam in navigation, flying a Lancaster, use of sextant for finding your position from the stars, use of some secret radio-devices for target location, meteorology and beam-approach blind flying. You have to do ten trips with the Pathfinders. I've done 12.

Also he received the Air Efficiency Award in 1950 as he was a pre-war RAFVR !

Mark

I would take this to mean he did the Pathfinders Training Course at Upwood or Warboys (NTU),he would have no trouble flying a Lancaster as it looks like he was an active pilot in the inter war years and therefore very experienced.
The Pathfinder 'Wings' comment would presumably mean the Pathfinders pocket badge.

[Marks]

Pathfinder Cranswick - Michael Cumming

Some 2,000 hours as a pilot, a skilled navigator

Normally flew as second pilot or assistant flight engineer !

Mark