He was promoted from flight lieutenant to squadron leader on 1 July 1943. He took command of a photo reconnaissance training unit, and subsequently of No. 541 (Photo Reconnaissance) Squadron, flying specially adapted Spitfires. Most sorties were flown at altitudes of around , beyond the reach of the Luftwaffe, but the cockpits were unpressurized, resulting in considerable discomfort to the pilots, who were in the air for several hours. Saffery flew 37 sorties over Germany and France, photographing potential targets for RAF Bomber Command including V-1 flying bomb and V-2 rocket launching sites.
