Heroic Endeavour: The Remarkable Story of One Pathfinder Force Attack, a Victoria Cross and 206 Brave Men

It is 23rd December 1944 and a heroic yet dreadful action is about to take place over Cologne, involving the bravest of the brave – The Pathfinder Force. In the log book of one of that force, Flight Sergeant George Owen, are the details of his 29 operations. The final entry for this date, above a heavily inked stamp proclaiming ‘Death Presumed’ is the simple word ‘missing’. The raid, one of the most important of that time, is scarcely mentioned in history books, and yet it was an operation in which its leader won the Victoria Cross, and a future VC fought a similarly heroic battle. But it was also an ordeal in which ordinary men fought and died – ordinary men doing extraordinary things. This story is for them. Journalist Sean Feast has written this, his third book, in two parts, the first the gripping narrative, the second the retrospective reactions of the survivors, in equal parts moving and informative. This last element is unique and gives the all-important ‘Forgotten Voice’ aspect to the work.

Sean Feast is a Director and co-owner of Gravity London and the author of several books on World War II pilots.