The Mighty Eighth Podcast

The 100th Bomb Group is probably the most famous bomb group of them all – and the focus of the Stephen Spielberg / Tom Hanks TV mini-series Masters of the Air.Nicknamed the Bloody Hundredth, it had a 'bad luck' reputation, sustaining heavy losses of men and planes on numerous disastrous missions.But just how unlucky was the 100th Bomb Group? What is myth? And what is the truth?In this episode, we visit Thorpe Abbotts – the airfield in eastern England which was home to the 100th during World War Two.We climb to the top of the control tower and look out across what was a huge military airbase.We talk about the missions of 1943 which gave birth to the legend of the Bloody Hundredth – and look at the evidence to support the claims.We learn about the real-life characters Robert 'Rosie' Rosenthal, John 'Bucky' Egan and Gale 'Buck' Cleven – all of whom feature in Masters of the Air.Do subscribe to the Mighty Eighth Podcast on whichever podcast platform you listen to – and if you like what you hear, please do leave us a review.To contact Johann and Mike, email johann@ruralcity.co.uk.With special thanks to the 100th Bomb Group Memorial Museum for welcoming us and allowing us to record this episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we visit the crash site of a top-secret B-17 Flying Fortress which went down soon after take-off in November 1943.The B-17F Flying Fortress 42-5793 was among the most secret aircraft of its kind – one of the first American bombers fitted with a new type of radar.The plane crashed only minutes into what should have been a flight from Thorpe Abbots, in Norfolk; to Alconbury, near Huntingdon, in the East of England.All 13 crew were killed.So too were four people on the ground and their horse.Relatives spent decades trying to find out why the plane crashed – a mystery which remained unsolved for years.We speak to family of the crew – and visit a newly unveiled memorial to the plane and those killed.This episode is co-hosted by Johann Tasker with military historian Mike Peters and podcast guest Steve Andrews.To contact Johann and Mike, email johann@ruralcity.co.uk.Featuring interviews with John Price Jr. (grandnephew of of pilot Arthur Reynolds); and Vickie Tregner (niece of radar mechanic Herman Kolousek).With very special thanks to Clive D. Stevens.Thanks also to Tarkey Barker; Maggie Aggiss; Ian McLachlan; 100th Bomb Group Museum, Thorpe Abbotts, Norfolk; the Oaksmere Hotel, Rectory Road, Eye, Suffolk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we pay tribute to the thousands of Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice during World War Two while fighting for freedom.We do so by visiting Cambridge American Cemetery in eastern England, which commemorates almost 9,000 American personnel.We tell the stories of some of those men and women who are buried here – and those listed on the Wall of the Missing.We also tell the story of the cemetery itself.Are the headstones really laid out in the shape of a baseball field, with the 72ft flagpole flying the Stars & Stripes representing the home plate?People featured in this episode include Thomas “Tommy” Hitchcock Jr, Peter G Lehman, Emily Harper Rea, Leon R Vance Jr, Catharine Price, and Porter M. Pile.Planes featured in this episode include the B-17 Flying Fortress; B-24 Liberator; P-47 Thunderbolt; P-51 Mustang and Douglas C-54 Skymaster.Places featured include Omaha Beach, Brookwood American Cemetery, Duxford airfield, Boscombe Down and Madingley Hall.Bomb Groups and Fighter Groups include the 398th BG (Nuthampstead); the 4th FG (Debden); the 489th BG (Halesworth); and the 445th BG (Tibenham).With our thanks and gratitude to our very special guests: 'Mighty Eighth” historian Malcolm Osborn and ABMC cemetery associate Tracey Haylock.Co-hosted, researched and written by Johann Tasker and military historian Mike Peters. Recorded and produced by Johann Tasker.To contact Johann and Mike, please email johann@ruralcity.co.uk.Instagram: instagram.com/mighty8thpodTwitter: @Mighty8thPodWebsite: mighty8thpodcast.comRecorded with the kind permission of the American Battle Monuments Commission on location at Cambridge American Cemetery, Madingley Road, Cambridge, UK.The introduction to this episode includes audio from:United States Army Eighth Air Force, Wyler, W., Paramount Pictures, I. & Kern, E. (1944) The Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress. Courtesy of the Library of Congress, Motion Picture, Broadcasting, and Recorded Sound Division.Excerpt from President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Fireside Chat Following the Declaration of War on Japan (December 9, 1941). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the Mighty 8th Podcast – the podcast about the people, planes and places of the United States Eighth Army Air Force.In this very first episode, we visit Grafton Underwood – where B-17 bombers took to the skies for the very first America-led mission over occupied Europe in World War Two.The first American-led mission using USAAF Flying Fortresses targeted the railway marshalling yards at Sotteville-lès-Rouen, France, on August 17, 1942.We stand in the middle of what was runway Number One at Grafton Underwood airfield – where a granite memorial remembers those who flew on the raids that followed.We visit Grafton Underwood church – where a stained glass window depicts a Flying Fortress bomber in memory of everyone who served.And we take a walk to the airfield operations room to discuss the different bombing strategies employed by RAF Bomber Command and the United States Army Air Force.For a selection of photos taken while we recorded this episode, please click here.Co-hosted by Johann Tasker and military historian Mike Peters. With thanks to Neill Howarth.The introduction to this episode includes audio from United States Army Eighth Air Force, Wyler, W., Paramount Pictures, I. & Kern, E. (1944) The Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress. Courtesy of the Library of Congress, Motion Picture, Broadcasting, and Recorded Sound Division. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.