Eagle Squadrons: American Pilots in Britain’s War

About this episode

This episode explores the story of American pilots who volunteered for the RAF during WW2, defying U.S. neutrality.

Meet the American pilots who defied their country's neutrality to fly for the RAF in WW2. In this Wings of Defiance episode, we tell the story of the Eagle Squadrons – American volunteer pilots who joined the Royal Air Force before the USA joined the war. We explain how pilots were recruited and how what they did was technically illegal because the USA was neural in the conflict. We take a trip to Little America and the site of the former US embassy in London's Mayfair. And we follow in the footsteps of the Eagle Squadron pilots at an airfield in England – still working today after 80 years. With thanks to Peter Gardner and Jack Holloway of North Weald Airfield Museum – well worth a visit. Do please like and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Visit the Mighty Eighth Podcast website: mighty8thpodcast.com To contact Johann and Mike, email johann@ruralcity.co.uk Follow the Mighty Eighth Podcast on X - @mighty8thpod Follow the Mighty Eighth Podcast on Facebook - @mighty8thpod Follow the Mighty Eighth Podcast on Instagram - @mighty8thpod Follow Johann on X - @johanntasker Follow Mike on X - @mikehistorian Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

People in this episode

Hosts: Johann Tasker, Mike Peters

Topics covered

• American pilots
• Eagle Squadrons
• WW2 history
• Royal Air Force
• neutrality
• aviation

Keywords

• Eagle Squadrons
• American pilots
• RAF
• WW2
• Little America
• North Weald Airfield

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Royal Air Force

Places: Little America, London, North Weald Airfield Museum, England

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