Until a full-scale invasion of occupied Europe could begin, the aircraft of RAF Bomber Command represented the only means available to attack the heart of the Reich, and this they did, day after day and night after night.

To begin with the results were not impressive, accuracy being a major problem, and this led to the formation of the Pathfinder Squadrons, whose role was to mark targets in a variety of ingenious ways to guide the bomb-aimers of the main bomber force and ensure greater accuracy.

This, of course, required them to be "first on the scene" and risk facing the full fury of enemy ground defences or night-fighters as they carried out their vital target-marking role ~ a role that called for cool courage and precision accuracy. 

Such was the hazardous and important role played by the aircraft and aircrews of No. 97 (Straits Settlements) Squadron in No.8 (PFF) Group and later in No.5 Group.

As the war progressed, the ability of Bomber Command aircraft to pinpoint and destroy specific targets became of greater strategic importance.

For instance, Bomber Command developed the capability of destroying heavily-fortified positions with their "blockbuster" bombs, and when these were used to knock-out the German heavy coastal batteries in Northern France prior to D-Day, this undoubtedly saved many lives amongst the invasion forces during Operation "Overlord".

Similarly, the destruction of many French railway marshalling yards by Bomber Command aircraft deprived the German army of the supplies it needed to repulse our invasion forces.

Later on, German "buzz bombs" would have destroyed large parts of Southern England had not their bomb stocks and launching sites been destroyed by our bombers, aided by very accurate target-marking provided by the Pathfinder Force.

Thousands of tons of high explosives were also dropped, time after time, by Bomber Command aircraft in the weeks after D-Day, in close support of our armies in Normandy, which had become bogged-down by German resistance.

The aircraft and crews of 97 Squadron were participants in all these wartime operations, and more.

Their activities are described in detail in this excellent book, which offers a unique insight into the lives of those involved in a Pathfinder squadron and salutes the important role they performed in Bomber Command's overall strategy.