In this episode, we tell the story of Operation Aphrodite – the top secret missions against Hitler’s vengeance weapons – the terrifying V1 flying bombs and V2 rockets which devastated London in 1944 and 1945.

Join us as we take you on the journey – from beginning to end – right up to the present day. And discover the somewhat surprising legacy of the weapons themselves – and the fight against them.

Visit the site of a V1 flying bomb attack in central London, a top secret WW2 airfield in eastern England and an English church with a memorial to the brother of an American president.

An eye-witness account of the Aldwych V1 blast can be read on the BBC People's War website; more information about RAF Fersfield can be found on Wikipedia; there is also a website for Blythborough Church – the Cathedral of the Marshes.

With very grateful thanks to London historian and award-winning author Jerry White, Emeritus Professor of Modern London History at Birkbeck, University of London. Jerry's book The Battle of London 1939-45, which we talk about in this episode, can be purchased via Amazon in both the USA and the United Kingdom.

Thanks also to actor and professional voiceover artist Tim Wells, for being our voice of Winston Churchill and reading out the parliamentary statements included in this episode. Tim also narrates the audio visuals at the Blenheim Palace Churchill exhibition.

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To contact Johann and Mike, email johann@ruralcity.co.uk

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The Kassel mission of 27 September 1944 was one of the most devastating raids of the war – not because of the bombs dropped but because of the aircrew and planes lost.

Some 35 B-24 Liberators from the 445th Bomb Group took from Tibenham airfield in Norfolk to bomb the Henschel tank works in the German city of Kassel. But only four of those planes returned home safely.

It was the greatest single-day loss to a single bomb group from a single airfield in aviation warfare history – all within six minutes.

In this episode, we follow the mission from Norfolk over the skies of occupied Europe to discover what went wrong – and what happened to the aircrew involved.

We visit Ketteringham Hall, the headquarters of the Second Air Division in eastern England; and Tibenham airfield – which is still an active airfield today.

This episode includes edited excerpts of archive interviews with 445th Bomb Group pilot Web Uebelhoer and bombardier George M Collar, courtesy of the Dzenowagis family YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/@2nd.Air.Division.8thUSAAF.

The FULL interview with Web Uebelhoer is here: https://youtu.be/SE_Y9AoLhJ0?si=_Lx5UtP4VIrLUii1&t=498

The FULL interview with George M Collar is here: https://youtu.be/Jc8RPBAHlFA?si=PGLr4O9glaPbE4PO&t=559

For copies of Eric Ratcliffe's book The Kassel Raid, please visit Amazon USA or Amazon UK, depending on your location.

For more information about the Kassel Mission, please do visit the Kassel Mission Historical Society website.

Do please like and subscribe to the Mighty Eighth Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

Visit the Mighty Eighth Podcast website: mighty8thpodcast.com

To contact Johann and Mike, email johann@ruralcity.co.uk

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A special episode previewing Silver Wings – a new project honouring the influence of the United States Eighth Army Air Force during World War Two – and its impact on communities in the East of England.

Presented by The Forum in partnership with the American Memorial Library in Norwich (UK), Silver Wings shines a spotlight on the stories of American servicemen and women stationed in Norfolk.

This 10-day exhibition and event series runs from 12-21 September 2025 as part of Heritage Open Days – England's largest community-led festival of history and culture.

For full details and the programme of events, please visit theforumnorwich.co.uk/silver-wings.

The Joe Dzenowagis YouTube channel is at www.youtube.com/@2nd.Air.Division.8thUSAAF.

With grateful thanks to Orla Kennelly, Joe Dzenowagis and Julie Mathien.

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

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