Pathfinders (TV series)
 | This article needs more citations. (February 2023) |
| Pathfinders | |
|---|---|
| Created by | Gerry Brown |
| Starring | Robert Urquhart Jack Watling Julian Orchard |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| No. of episodes | 13 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | ITV |
| Release | 27 September 1972 – 25 January 1973 |
Pathfinders (1972–1973, aka The Pathfinders) is an ITV drama set in the Second World War, telling the story of the fictitious Royal Air Force 192 Pathfinder squadron. The Pathfinders were specialised RAF squadrons that marked targets for RAF Bomber Command.
The series used radio controlled Avro Lancaster models for the flying scenes.[citation needed] The technical adviser for the series was Group Captain Hamish Mahaddie. The music was by Malcolm Lockyer.[citation needed]
Premise
A new squadron is formed with hand-picked, volunteer crews to rectify the highly inaccurate bombing of the Royal Air Force: 95% of all bombs are more than 10 miles (16 km) away from the target, according to Wing Commander MacPhearson. They are supposed to receive three weeks training and evaluation, but are instead given their first mission for that night by naysayers eager to discredit the concept.
Cast
- Robert Urquhart as Wing Commander MacPhearson (13 episodes)
- Jack Watling as Doc Saxon (12 episodes)
- Julian Orchard as The Padre (4 episodes)
- Jack May as Squadron Leader Shanks (3 episodes)
- Christopher Cazenove as Flight Lieutenant Doug Phillips (2 episodes)
- Jonathan Sweet as Flying Officer Bill Short / F (2 episodes)
- Mark McManus as Flight Sergeant Joe Cameron (1 episode)
Episodes
| No. | Title | Original release date | Guest cast |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Into the Fire" | 27 September 1972 | |
| 2 | "For Better, For Worse" | 4 October 1972 | |
| 3 | "Fog" | 11 October 1972 | |
| 4 | "Fly There, Walk Back" | 18 October 1972 | |
| 5 | "Jonah Man" "Forced to Ditch" (NTSC VHS) | 1 November 1972 | |
| 6 | "One Man's Lancaster" | 8 November 1972 | |
| 7 | "Sitting Ducks" | 15 November 1972 | |
| 8 | "Our Daffodils Are Better Than Your Daffodils" "Assignment Top Secret" (NTSC VHS) | 6 December 1972 | |
| 9 | "Codename Gomorrah" | 13 December 1972 | |
| 10 | "Sweets From a Stranger" "Unusual Ally" (NTSC VHS) | 3 January 1973 | |
| 11 | "Operation Pickpocket" | 10 January 1973 | |
| 12 | "Nightmare" | 17 January 1973 | |
| 13 | "In the Face of the Enemy" | 25 January 1973 |
In 2006, Simply Media released the series on DVD in the UK. Despite being sold as "The Complete Series", the release is actually missing Episode 8 "Our Daffodils Are Better Than Your Daffodils", without any explanation. The episode was also missing from the 2002 four-tape UK VHS release of Pathfinders from DD Video, although the episode was released in the US on VHS using the title "Assignment Top Secret".[citation needed]