The Mighty Eighth Podcast

• Operation Tidal Wave: Bombing Hitler's oil supply

  It was one of the most audacious air attacks of World War II – a low-level raid designed to cut off Hitler's fuel supply by bombing the Ploesti oil refineries in Romania.Taking place on Sunday, August 1, 1943, Operation Tidal Wave saw five B-24 Liberator bomb groups take off from Libya and fly in complete radio silence across the Mediterranean towards their target.In this episode, we tell the story of the mission – from conception to completion.We delve into the tactics, get to grips with the personalities involved and look at the effectiveness of one of the most daring and ambitious raraids carried out by the United States Army Air Force (USAAF).For photos and more information about Operation Tidal Wave, visit the episode page on the Mighty Eighth Podcast website.With special thanks to David Pratt, Kerry Wilmot, Paul Thrower, the Woodrow family and Hardwick Airfield Museum.Please like and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.Visit the Mighty Eighth Podcast website: mighty8thpodcast.comTo contact Johann and Mike, email [email protected] the Mighty Eighth Podcast on X - @mighty8thpodFollow the Mighty Eighth Podcast on Facebook - @mighty8thpodFollow the Mighty Eighth Podcast on Instagram - @mighty8thpodFollow Johann on X - @johanntaskerFollow Mike on X - @mikehistorian Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Bonus Episode: Ops Normal - Britain's Army Air Corps

  A special bonus episode about Ops Normal – the authorised operational history of Britain's Army Air Corps by John Greenacre and Mike Peters, co-host of the Mighty Eighth Podcast.Since its formation in 1957, the Army Air Corps has played a prominent role in almost every British Army operation in modern times.A comprehensive operational history of the Army Air Corps experience, the book provides a unique insight into the aircraft deployed and the experiences of the men and women involved.Covering the years 1957 to 2017, it captures the pace of change and turbulence as a small embryonic corps of aviators evolved into the fully fledged combat arm of today.The book Ops Normal can be purchased from:Helion & Company (UK Publishers)Army Flying Museum (UK)AmazonFor regular listeners, further episodes of the Mighty Eighth Podcast are in the pipeline and due to be released in early 2025. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• No man left behind: the story of Little Boy Blue

  It was a mission which started just like any other: but it ended when the B-17 Flying Fortress "Little Boy Blue" crashed into a farmer's field in Suffolk, England.Eight of the ten air crew were killed that day – and 80 years on, we join their families in that very same field to honour their memory.We speak to Brian Cracknell – one of the last remaining eye-witnesses of the Little Boy Blue air crash just outside the village of Thurston, near Bury St Edmunds.We’re also joined by archaeologists who have been excavating the crash site and local farmer Stephen Honeywood to unveil a memorial to those who served.Please like and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.Visit the Mighty Eighth Podcast website: mighty8thpodcast.comTo contact Johann and Mike, email [email protected] the Mighty Eighth Podcast on X - @mighty8thpodFollow the Mighty Eighth Podcast on Facebook - @mighty8thpodFollow the Mighty Eighth Podcast on Instagram - @mighty8thpodFollow Mike on X - @mikehistorianFollow Johann on X - @johanntasker Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Fighter Escort: The P-51 Mustang

  Just how much of a game changer was the North American P-51 Mustang fighter plane in the battle for air supremacy in the skies over Europe?We find out in this episode, with a visit to Bottisham Airfield Museum – home to the 361st Fighter Group in Cambridgeshire.We look at the development of the Mustang – and how an American airframe matched with a Rolls Royce Merlin engine helped change the face of the air war.We tell the story of 361st FG commanding officer Colonel Jack Christian, great-grandson of American Civil War General Stonewall Jackson.And we discover what life was like for fighter pilot Edward Marevka, who was shot down, captured and taken prisoner of war – with his family back home wondering about his fate.With very special thanks to podcast guest Jason Webb, chairman and trustee of Bottisham Airfield Museum, which is well worth a visit.Please like and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.Visit the Mighty Eighth Podcast website: mighty8thpodcast.comTo contact Johann and Mike, email [email protected] the Mighty Eighth Podcast on X - @mighty8thpodFollow the Mighty Eighth Podcast on Facebook - @mighty8thpodFollow the Mighty Eighth Podcast on Instagram - @mighty8thpodFollow Johann on X - @johanntaskerFollow Mike on X - @mikehistorian Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Night of the Intruders

  In this episode, we tell the story of the Night of the Intruders, when Luftwaffe fighters followed a stream of American B-24 Liberator bombers back to England and shot them out of the sky as they tried to land.It was a disastrous end to Mission 311, which took place on 22 April, 1944, less than two months before D-Day.The raid saw 824 Mighty Eighth bombers target the nerve centre of the Third Reich's railway system at Hamm, in Germany's north-east Ruhr.We experience the mission through the eyes of George Glevanik, of the 448th Bomb Group, stationed at Seething, south-east of Norwich.We visit Seething Church of St Margaret & St Remigius, which includes a memorial to the 448th BG; and Seething Control Tower Museum, which includes artefacts from the Night of the Intruders.We examine what went right – and what went wrong – and why the Mighty Eighth attacked Hamm in the evening, rather than sticking to its tried-and-tested strategy of bombing in broad daylight.Our special podcast guest is author, historian and aviation archaeologist Ian McLachlan, whose book 'Night of the Intruders' is published by Pen & Sword.Please like and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.Visit the Mighty Eighth Podcast website: mighty8thpodcast.comTo contact Johann and Mike, email [email protected] the Mighty Eighth Podcast on X - @mighty8thpodFollow the Mighty Eighth Podcast on Facebook - @mighty8thpodFollow the Mighty Eighth Podcast on Instagram - @mighty8thpodFollow Johann on X - @johanntaskerFollow Mike on X - @mikehistorian Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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