deliver its bombs in a concentration upon the target. Following the German air raid against Rotterdam the center of the city was set afire, which could be seen at night from a very great distance. Marks believed this created an opportunity for the base's bombers from 102 Squadron and 77 Squadron to strike at German troop concentrations under the cover of night. He wanted the navigators to use the center of the fire as a start point of a timed run against German forces to the northeast of the city. Leading a group of 12 Whitleys, Marks instructed the aircrews to fire off Very lights over the target area so the bombers could find each other and group back together. They were also to drop marker flares over the target itself. The planes would then bomb the troop concentration. This was the first time the RAF attempted to locate a target at night by making a timed run from a known point. The attack was carried out as planned, but when the Very flares were fired off not one of the aircraft saw any of the others, and their bombs were scattered ineffectively. Undeterred, Marks asked his squadron commander to allow him to repeat the attack the following night. Permission was granted, but for the retry Marks chose to use only the 4 best crews with the 4 best navigators. The airspeed indicators on the Whitleys were re-calibrated, and the aircraft compasses were re-swung. This time when they reached the target area and fired their Very flares all four bombers were within 3 miles of each other. One of the target markers was dropped over the target, and a first successful night bombing attack was made. The episode made a strong impression on 77 Squadron bomber pilot Hamish Mahaddie, one of the three other pilots who was in on both attempts. Mahaddie would go on to fly with the Pathfinder Force, and stated he always thought if Harris ever formed a target marking force, Marks would be a part of it. On 10 June Italy declared war on England and France. That night 20 Whitleys based at Driffield from 102 and 77 Squadrons set out to bomb the Fiat Works in Turin. Only 4 of the 20 managed to get over the Alps and reach the target. Marks was flying one of them. On his return flight over the Alps