Originally Posted by
stevef
Somewhere amongst my book collection there's a reference to double navigators (Pathfinder Force?) sometimes being carried on Lancaster trips, maybe to operate the electronic apparatus. Also recall something about an eighth German-speaking crew member, presumably on board to confuse the German night fighter pilots and plotters.
Yes Steve
Some Pathfinder and main force heavies had 2 'Navs' by 1944 - as you say - they operated the H2S 'set' and other electronic gizmos.
Originally I think the 2nd 'Nav' was called the 'Set Operator' but later became 'Nav 2'.
During WW2 the 'Nav 2' was not necessarily badged as a Navigator - Bomb Aimers and possibly some WOp's with the necessary experience/training also served as 'Set Operators/Nav 2'.
It gets a little confusing with the Pathfinders as they could have the Navigator as 'Nav 1' and (say) the Bomb Aimer as either 'Nav 2' or 'Bomb Aimer' (but operating the set regardless) and using the Flight Engineer as visual Bomb Aimer (many PFF Flight Engineers were trained as Bomb Aimers).
The Nav 1 and Nav 2 later (late war/post war ?) became Nav Plotter and Nav Radar respectively.