Mighty Eighth Podcast

During our research into Project Aphrodite and Op Anvil, we visited Blythburgh Fen, the crash site of Joseph Kennedy and Wilford Willy's B24 PB4Y drone. Touched to find this tribute in Blythburgh Church. Kennedy and Wilford are listed on the memorial to the missing at ABMC Madingley.

The good news is that Mike & Johann have been back out in the wilds of East Anglia recording a new Mighty Eighth podcast. It's a special episode about a special series of missions... tune in soon.

Here's my latest book review of Defenders of the Reich by Robert Forsyth @OspreyBooks
linkedin.com/posts/mike-pet…

I took a few moments out of my day today to visit the Mission Mistress Memorial at Moreton Hall Community Centre, Bury St Edmunds. Close to the B17s crash site at Home Covert, the memorial commemorates tragic loss of the Mistress and her crew in January 1945.

There are just a few tickets left on eventbrite for my talk at Essex Records Office in Chelmsford on Tuesday, 3 February. I will be talking about the 381st BG USAAF and their time at RAF Ridgewell during WWII. Hope to see you there...

Merry Christmas to all of our contributors and listeners, we have had another great year of Mighty Eighth history in 2025. We both wish you all peaceful and enjoyable Christmas. See you all for a new series of podcasts in the New Year! Mike & Johann

The American Memorial Chapel in St Paul's Cathedral, London. The Roll of Honour contains the name, rank, and service details of the 28,000 American soldiers stationed in Great Britain who gave their lives during WW2

A special Thanksgiving Day Service for the American Community in London - today at @StPaulsLondon

My weekend read and review covers one of the most daring raids of WWII. Although it is not a comprehensive history of Doolittle's strike on Japan, it is a really useful complimentary source that gives biographical insight into the 16 Pilots that flew the mission and their fates.

I had the pleasure of doing some filming yesterday for a @URIWWII project linked to the 379th BG at Kimbolton. There are so many stories to tell about the men of the triangle 'K'. The remarkable 'Swamp Fire' the B17G that flew 100 missions without an abort! More to come...

Well, no more tours for me this side of Christmas. It's time to press on with writing deadlines, @Mighty8thPod podcasts, and some more research. I am looking forward to a productive winter.

We are on 800+ downloads! Thanks, everyone. Hopefully, we'll make over a thousand this week...

Six minutes of slaughter: The Kassel Mission

New Podcast Episode:

Six minutes of Slaughter: the story of the Kassel mission - the biggest single-day loss to a single bomb group in aviation warfare history

open.spotify.com/episode/1BpE...

YouTube video by TJ3 History Jimmy Stewart - America's Most Famous Bomber Pilot?

Take a look at this short film recounting the story of actor and accomplished bomber pilot, James Stewart. He really was a capable pilot and an exemplary combat leader.
youtu.be/a3Wj6ppSIjE?...

Thanks to everyone who attended my Bomb Group talk in Ashen's delightful church last night. It was a full house. What a privilege to talk about the 381st BG on their home ground. It is so good to see the level of interest in the Airfield and its history.

As the autumnal evening closed in day 2 of our Masters of the Air Tour, drew to a close at @usabmc Madingley. The veterans among our group assisted with lowering the flag after 'taps'. The ceremony was a fitting pause for reflection.

If you like our Mighty Eighth podcast series, perhaps you might enjoy listening to some live narrative? Mike is talking about the exploits of the 381st BG this month. Join him on 21st October - details below:

I am very happy to have contributed to a film for this very special history event in France. I was talking about the USAAF 3rd Air Division's role in Operation Cadillac, the large-scale parachute drop supplying the Maquis with much needed arms and equipment on 14 July 1944.

All set for ten days of touring with the National WWII Museum. The Masters of the Air Tour is a real pleasure to lead. This time around, with the added bonus of sharing the microphone once again with Donald L. Miller.

2026 ToursMasters of the Air: The Mighty Eighth over the Skies of Europe Masters of the Air is a story of life in wartime England, in bombed-out London, and in the tiny hamlets these brash young Americans completely transformed. In East Anglia, many airmen fell in love wit...

I am very lucky to be the historian on these tours next year. I am very much looking forward to a busy year talking about the Mighty Eighth for the National WWII Museum. Tour dates and information below.
www.nationalww2museum.org/events/educa...

Our next podcast is focused on the fateful raid on Kassel on 27 September 1944. The 445th BG suffered heavy casualties that day - the most by a single BG in a single mission. Watch out for our next release in advance of the anniversary.

Silver Wings: 80th anniversary of the end of WWII

Our latest podcast is focused on an exciting new programme being launched by the American Library in Norwich, England. Find out more about the project that will bring the Mighty Eighth's story to a wider audience.
open.spotify.com/episode/4Py3...

Glider Pilots in Sicily This well-researched book by an expert of his subject lifts the veil on the first large scale British use of gliders in action. This occurred…

Very excited about Glider Pilots in Sicily in Paperback! Out soon, details below from Pen & Sword Books:
www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Glider-Pilot...

I was back up in Liberator County yesterday. Visited the immaculately maintained memorial at Attlebridge (Air Station 120). Home to the 466th BG (H) 'The Flying Deck' who operated the B24 from this Airfield in Norfolk. Standby for more B24 lore when we talk Kassel raid on the Mighty Eighth Podcast.

As part of our recording yesterday, we visited the wartime headquarters of the 2nd Air Bombardment Division, 8th USAAF, at Ketteringham Hall in Norfolk. It's so good to see the memorial plaque still in place.

We are recording a new podcast today. We will be in Norfolk telling the dramatic story of the 445th BG and the Kassel raid on 27 September 1944. The 445th flew into a ferocious air battle that cost all, but four of the thirty-five Liberators that began the mission. The greatest one day loss to a BG.

Thanks!

YouTube video by Time Team Official NEW! | Bringing Home Little Boy Blue | TIME TEAM SPECIAL

We covered the story of Little Boy Blue in a podcast. UK Time Team has made a special programme about the lost B17 and its crew. Available here on YouTube:
youtu.be/w7o3fVYTafs?...

1st August 1943 - The USAAF launches a huge force of B24 Liberator bombers from Benghazi in Libya. Their mission to carry out an audacious low-level strike against the heavily defended Ploesti oilfields in Romania. Hear the dramatic story here:
open.spotify.com/episode/4niqBg…

More interesting information posted here by Dr Graham Cross.