Pathfinders is a 1970s ITV drama set in World War 2 and follows the story of the fictitious Royal Air Force

Royal Air Force

The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...

 192 Pathfinder

Pathfinder (RAF)

The Pathfinders were elite squadrons in RAF Bomber Command during World War II. They located and marked targets with flares, which a main bomber force could aim at, increasing the accuracy of their bombing...

 squadron. The Pathfinders were specialised RAF squadrons that marked targets for the RAF's heavy bombers

RAF Bomber Command

RAF Bomber Command controlled the RAF's bomber forces from 1936 to 1968. During World War II the command destroyed a significant proportion of Nazi Germany's industries and many German cities, and in the 1960s stood at the peak of its postwar military power with the V bombers and a supplemental...

.

The series used radio controlled Avro Lancaster

Avro Lancaster

The Avro Lancaster is a British four-engined Second World War heavy bomber made initially by Avro for the Royal Air Force . It first saw active service in 1942, and together with the Handley Page Halifax it was one of the main heavy bombers of the RAF, the RCAF, and squadrons from other...

 models for the flying scenes.

Technical adviser for the series was Group Captain

Group Captain

Group captain is a senior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks above wing commander and immediately below air commodore...

 Hamish Mahaddie.

The music was by Malcolm Lockyer.

Cast List

• Wing Commander MacPhearson - Robert Urquhart
  Robert Urquhart (actor)
  Robert Urquhart was a Scottish character actor who mainly worked in British television during his career.He was born in Ullapool, Scotland on 16 October 1921, educated at George Heriot's School in Edinburgh and made his stage debut in 1947...
  
   (13 episodes)
• Doc Saxon - Jack Watling
  Jack Watling
  Jack Watling was a British actor.-Early life:Watling trained at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts as a child and made his stage debut in Where the Rainbow Ends at the Holborn Empire in 1936...
  
   (12 episodes)
• The Padre - Julian Orchard
  Julian Orchard
  Julian Dean C. Orchard was an English comedy actor.-Biography:Orchard was educated at Shrewsbury School and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama...
  
   (4 episodes)
• Squadron Leader Shanks - Jack May
  Jack May
  Jack May was an English actor. Born in Henley-on-Thames, he was educated at Forest School, Walthamstow and after war service with the Royal Indian Navy in India was offered a place at RADA, but he instead went to Merton College, Oxford...
  
   (3 episodes)
• Flight Lieutenant Doug Phillips - Christopher Cazenove
  Christopher Cazenove
  Christopher Cazenove was an English cinema, television and stage actor.-Early life and career:He was born Christopher de Lerisson Cazenove, the son of Arnold de Lerisson Cazenove and Elizabeth Laura in Winchester, Hampshire, but was brought up in Bowlish, Somerset...
  
   (2 episodes)

Episodes

№	Original air date (UK)	Episode title	Guest cast
1-01	27 September 1972	Into the Fire	Jeremy Bulloch Jeremy Bulloch Jeremy Bulloch is an English actor. He is best known for the role inside the costume of the bounty hunter Boba Fett in the original Star Wars trilogy, though he did not voice the character... , Jack May Jack May Jack May was an English actor. Born in Henley-on-Thames, he was educated at Forest School, Walthamstow and after war service with the Royal Indian Navy in India was offered a place at RADA, but he instead went to Merton College, Oxford... , Luan Peters Luan Peters Luan Peters , also known as Karol Keyes, is an English actress.Born as Carol Hirsch, she made her stage debut in a pantomime aged four, then went on to win a drama scholarship at aged 16 after a performance of Twelfth Night...
1-02	4 October 1972	For Better, For Worse	Peter Armitage Peter Armitage (actor) Peter Armitage is an English television actor who trained at the East 15 Acting School. He has been a regular on British screens since the 1970s. He has enjoyed three spells as the character Bill Webster on long-running soap opera Coronation Street, appearing in the role in 1984 , then from 1995... , Peter Blythe Peter Blythe Peter Blythe was a British character actor, best known as Samuel "Soapy Sam" Ballard on Rumpole of the Bailey.-Early life:... , Jennifer Clulow Jennifer Clulow Jennifer Clulow is an actress and television presenter, best known for her appearances in a series of television advertisements for Cointreau.... , Tony Selby Tony Selby Tony Selby is an English actor.He has appeared in many television programmes including a starring role in RAF National Service comedy Get Some In!, and a recurring role in the BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who as the intergalactic conman Sabalom Glitz... , David Warwick David Warwick David Warwick is a British stage and television actor known for his recurring role in the BBC television sitcom, The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin, and for his theatre work, most notably with the writer and director Ray Cooney....
1-03	11 October 1972	Fog	Christopher Cazenove Christopher Cazenove Christopher Cazenove was an English cinema, television and stage actor.-Early life and career:He was born Christopher de Lerisson Cazenove, the son of Arnold de Lerisson Cazenove and Elizabeth Laura in Winchester, Hampshire, but was brought up in Bowlish, Somerset... , Michael Craze Michael Craze Michael Craze was a British actor noted for his role of Ben Jackson, a companion of the Doctor, in the long-running BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who. He played the part from 1966 to 1967 alongside both William Hartnell and Patrick Troughton.Craze was born in Cornwall... , Richard Heffer Richard Heffer Richard Heffer is a British actor, best known for his roles on television in the 1970s and 1980s, when he became a very familiar face.... , William Marlowe William Marlowe William Marlowe was a British theatre, television and film actor.He served in the Fleet Air Arm and hoped for a career as a writer before training as an actor at RADA. His most famous role was probably that of Chief Supt. Thomas in The Chief... , Jack May Jack May Jack May was an English actor. Born in Henley-on-Thames, he was educated at Forest School, Walthamstow and after war service with the Royal Indian Navy in India was offered a place at RADA, but he instead went to Merton College, Oxford... , Kate O'Mara Kate O'Mara Kate O'Mara is an English film, stage and television actress. She is perhaps most widely known for her role as Caress Morell, the scheming sister of Alexis Colby in the 1980s American primetime soap opera Dynasty, though is also known for playing other villains such as The Rani in Doctor Who and...
1-04	18 October 1972	Fly There, Walk Back	Wolfe Morris Wolfe Morris Wolfe Morris was a British film and television actor.He played character roles on stage, television and in feature films from the 1950s until the 1990s. He made his film debut in Ill Met by Moonlight. His grandparents were from Kiev and escaped the Russian pogroms, arriving in London in about 1890.... , Jane Seymour Jane Seymour (actress) Jane Seymour, OBE is an English actress best known for her performances in the James Bond film Live and Let Die , East of Eden , Onassis: The Richest Man in the World , and the American television series Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman... , David Weston David Weston (actor) David Weston is an English actor, director and author. Since graduating from RADA in 1961 he has acted in numerous film, television and stage productions, including twenty-seven plays in Shakespeare's canon. With Michael Croft he was a founder member of the National Youth Theatre...
1-05	1 November 1972	Jonah Man	Eric Flynn Eric Flynn Eric William Flynn was a Chinese born British actor and singer, who was the father of actors Jerome Flynn and Daniel Flynn whom he had with his first wife Fern; the former best known for appearing in Soldier Soldier and the latter known for his character in The Bill... , Ray Lonnen Ray Lonnen Ray Lonnen is an English stage and television actor. His most prominent roles include Willie Caine in the cold-war spy drama series The Sandbaggers , and also as Harry Brown in the television mini-series Harry's Game .-Television career:Lonnen's early television appearances include The Power Game ,... , Mark McManus Mark McManus Mark McManus was a Scottish actor best known for his portrayal of Detective Chief Inspector Jim Taggart in the long-running ITV television series Taggart for eleven years until his death.-Career:... , Julian Orchard Julian Orchard Julian Dean C. Orchard was an English comedy actor.-Biography:Orchard was educated at Shrewsbury School and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama... , Sheila Ruskin Sheila Ruskin Sheila Ruskin is an English actress.She is possibly best known for playing Vipsania in the 1976 BBC adaptation of I, Claudius but is also remembered by fans of Doctor Who for her performance as Kassia in the 1981 serial The Keeper of Traken, and by Blake's 7 fans as Alta 1 in the 1979 episode...
1-06	8 November 1972	One Man’s Lancaster	Jeremy Bulloch Jeremy Bulloch Jeremy Bulloch is an English actor. He is best known for the role inside the costume of the bounty hunter Boba Fett in the original Star Wars trilogy, though he did not voice the character... , John D. Collins John D. Collins John D. Collins is an English actor, perhaps best known for appearing in the BBC sitcom Allo 'Allo! in which he played Flt. Lt. Fairfax, a stranded British airman in occupied France during World War II... , Anthony Valentine
1-07	15 November 1972	Sitting Ducks	John Arnatt John Arnatt - Biography :John Arnatt was born in Petrograd on 9 May 1917. His parents were Francis Arnatt and Ethel Marion Arnatt . He attended Epworth College. Arnatt trained for the stage at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art... , John Barron John Barron (actor) John Barron was an English actor.-Biography:Born in Marylebone, London, Barron was interested in acting from an early age. For his 18th birthday his godfather paid his entry fee to RADA. After serving as a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy during the Second World War, he returned to stage acting... , Edd Byrnes, Brian Grellis Brian Grellis Brian Grellis is a British actor, best known for his role in the television series Z-Cars as Det. Sgt. Bowker.Other TV credits include: Softly, Softly, Pathfinders, The Regiment, Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?, The Onedin Line, The Good Life, Last of the Summer Wine, Survivors, Enemy at the... , Rutger Hauer, Roy Holder Roy Holder Roy Holder is an English television actor who has appeared in various programmes including Ace of Wands, Z-Cars, Spearhead, the Doctor Who serial The Caves of Androzani and Sorry! His first notable appearance on the screen was in the 1961 film Whistle Down the Wind... , John Horsley John Horsley (actor) John L. Horsley is an English actor. He was born in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, England.He made his acting debut at the Theatre Royal in Bournemouth. His early career saw him playing a succession of doctors and policemen, the former on film in Hell Drivers , the latter on television in Big... , David Lodge David Lodge (actor) David William Frederick Lodge was a British character actor.Before turning to acting he worked as a circus clown... , Basil Moss Basil Moss Basil Moss is a British character actor, who featured regularly on television in the 1960s and on radio in the 1970s.-Early life:He was educated at St Paul's School, which he followed with actor's training.-Acting career:... , Julian Orchard Julian Orchard Julian Dean C. Orchard was an English comedy actor.-Biography:Orchard was educated at Shrewsbury School and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama... , Johnnie Wade Johnnie Wade Johnnie Wade is a British film and television actor. His most memorable role was playing put upon handyman 'Roger' in comedy series 'You're only young twice' between 1977-81, he is one of only two members of the main cast still living, the other being Georgina Moon.-Selected filmography:* The Body... , Kenneth Watson Kenneth Watson Kenneth Watson was a British television actor. He is best known for playing Brian Blair in Take the High Road in the 1980s but he also played Ralph Lancaster in Coronation Street from 14 May 1975-13 February 1980. He was booked to play a farmer in Doctor Who: The Time Monster but was replaced by...
1-08	6 December 1972	Our Daffodils Are Better Than Your Daffodils	Peter Egan Peter Egan Peter Egan is a British actor known for playing smooth neighbour Paul Ryman in 1980s sitcom Ever Decreasing Circles. He is married to retired actress Myra Frances.-Early life:... , John Levene John Levene John Levene is an English actor. His most famous role was that of Sergeant Benton of UNIT on the television series Doctor Who.He was born John Anthony Woods in Salisbury, Wiltshire, England.... , David Lodge David Lodge (actor) David William Frederick Lodge was a British character actor.Before turning to acting he worked as a circus clown... , Christopher Timothy Christopher Timothy Christopher Timothy is a Welsh actor, television director and writer. Timothy is possibly best known today for his role as James Herriot in All Creatures Great and Small; more recently he has starred as Dr. Brendan 'Mac' McGuire in the British television drama Doctors...
1-09	13 December 1972	Codename Gomorrah	Donald Douglas Donald Douglas (actor) Donald Douglas is a Scottish actor who has appeared in films and many well known television shows including Doctor Who, Blake's 7, and The Avengers.... , Bernard Lee Bernard Lee John Bernard Lee was an English actor, best known for his role as M in the first eleven James Bond films.-Life and career:... , Paul Massie Paul Massie Paul Massie was a Canadian actor and academic. He later became a theater professor at the University of South Florida in the 1970s... , Mike Pratt
1-10	3 January 1973	Sweets From a Stranger	Geoffrey Bayldon Geoffrey Bayldon Geoffrey Bayldon is a British actor. After playing roles in many dramas including Shakespeare, he became known for portraying the title role of the children's series Catweazle , after turning down the opportunity to play both the First and Second Doctors in the long-running BBC science fiction... , Johnny Briggs Johnny Briggs (actor) Johnny Briggs, MBE is an English actor. He is best known for his role as Mike Baldwin in the soap opera Coronation Street, in which he appeared from 1976 to 2006... , Christopher Cazenove Christopher Cazenove Christopher Cazenove was an English cinema, television and stage actor.-Early life and career:He was born Christopher de Lerisson Cazenove, the son of Arnold de Lerisson Cazenove and Elizabeth Laura in Winchester, Hampshire, but was brought up in Bowlish, Somerset... , Linda Marlowe Linda Marlowe -Selected filmography:* That Kind of Girl * The World Ten Times Over * The Americanization of Emily * The Man Outside * The Ballad of Tam Lin * Night After Night After Night * Big Zapper... , Jack May Jack May Jack May was an English actor. Born in Henley-on-Thames, he was educated at Forest School, Walthamstow and after war service with the Royal Indian Navy in India was offered a place at RADA, but he instead went to Merton College, Oxford... , Morris Perry Morris Perry Morris Perry is an English actor, best known for his roles on television.Perry was born in Bromley, Kent, England. Credits include: The Avengers, Z-Cars, Champion House, The Champions, The Persuaders!, Doctor Who , Special Branch, The Sweeney, Survivors, The Professionals, Secret Army,... , Shirley Stelfox Shirley Stelfox Shirley Stelfox is an English actress, who trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. She is best known as Edna Birch in British Soap Opera Emmerdale....
1-11	10 January 1973	Operation Pickpocket	Ian Collier Ian Collier Ian Collier was a British actor.Collier appeared on stage in "Hamlet" in 1969 at the Lunt-Fontanne in New York City.He appeared in various television programmes including Rentaghost, Hi-de-Hi! and Howards' Way. He appeared in the Doctor Who story The Time Monster... , Mark Eden Mark Eden Mark Eden is a British actor.-Career:Born in London, Eden has appeared in repertory theatre in England and Wales and at the Royal Court Theatre. His many television and film roles include the Doctor Who serial Marco Polo in which he played Marco Polo... , Richard Franklin Richard Franklin Richard Franklin is a British actor.He has had various roles in different television programmes including Crossroads and Emmerdale Farm... , Olaf Pooley Olaf Pooley Olaf Pooley is a British actor and writer born February 2, 1916, in Parkstone, Poole, Dorset, England, of an English father and Danish mother.Pooley married the actress Irlin Hall in 1946 and together they had a daughter, the actress Kirstie Pooley and son comedian Seyton Pooley...
1-12	17 January 1973	Nightmare	John Bluthal John Bluthal John Bluthal is a Polish-born British film and television actor, mostly in comedy. He is best known for his work with Spike Milligan and for his roles in the television series Never Mind the Quality Feel the Width and The Vicar of Dibley.-Early life:Bluthal was born in Galicia, Poland, of Jewish... , Julian Orchard Julian Orchard Julian Dean C. Orchard was an English comedy actor.-Biography:Orchard was educated at Shrewsbury School and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama... , Paul Shelley Paul Shelley Paul Shelley is an English actor.Shelley trained at RADA and has mainly worked in the theatre as a classical actor... , Ian Stirling Ian Stirling (broadcaster) Ian Andrew Stirling was a British actor and television presenter, best known for his work with Westward Television and Television South West....
1-13	25 January 1973	In the Face Of the Enemy	Ray Brooks, Susan Jameson Susan Jameson Susan Jameson is an English actress who is best known for her television work.Jameson was born in Barnt Green, Worcestershire, England, UK. She is married to actor James Bolam with whom she has a daughter, Lucy... , Diane Keen Diane Keen Diane Keen is an English actress.Keen is possibly best known for her starring roles in the British TV drama Doctors which she has been in since 2003 , and in the 1970s comedy series The Cuckoo Waltz and Rings on Their Fingers.-Personal life:Keen has one daughter, actress Melissa Greenwood, from... , Julian Orchard Julian Orchard Julian Dean C. Orchard was an English comedy actor.-Biography:Orchard was educated at Shrewsbury School and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama... , Dennis Waterman Dennis Waterman Dennis Waterman is a British actor and singer, best known for his tough-guy roles in television series including The Sweeney, Minder and New Tricks.-Early life:...

External links

• CTVA archive 'Pathfinders'