As the Wehrmacht stopped to regain its breath at the end of June 1940, the world was in shock, especially the Germans. The unbelievable success of Case Yellow (Fall Gelb) had taken everyone by surprise. It had achieved in weeks what many of their fathers, or younger selves, had failed Read more
This country is at war with Germany As these tragic words rang out across Great Britain, a timer began to countdown for 25 men. In just over 30 hours all of them would be dead. The first of an eventual 57,750 airmen sacrificed on the altar of freedom while serving Read more
The Victoria Cross. Britain’s highest award for conspicuous bravery,. These things are rare and are rarely given out, especially when it comes to aviators. Since its inception, just 1,358 VC have been awarded. That’s in 167 years. Of the hundreds of thousands of aircrew that fought with the Royal air Read more
As many as 85 Million people died during the Second World War. as Felix Schlamberg climbed into his P-51 Mustang on the 14th August 1945, he knew he would be one of them. What neither he nor his fellow squadron mates knew was that the war would be over before Read more
The 1930s was the golden age of the pioneer aviator. Among the most famous of these intrepid men and women must be Charles A Lindberg. In 1927 when he made the first solo non-stop flight from Paris to New York. The 33 +1⁄2-hour, 3,600-statute-mile flight put him and his aircraft, Read more
I have to say that reading about all of the strange and inspiring things that happened in the Second World War Growing up, Alan Magee’s story is one of the most miraculous tales of survival. Surviving in the exposed and enclosed ball turret of an American B 17 Flying fortress, Read more
It’s September 9th, 1942, and forest workers have just discovered what appears to be a bomb crater in the heavily forested area around Brookings, Oregon. Townsfolk had also reported hearing a small aircraft flying around the town earlier in the day. And so the bomb debris spread over the sodden Read more
You’re thousands of feet over Germany, and the B-17 you are flying in has just been hit. She’s going down fast! As you scramble towards one of the tight emergency exits you pray that whoever packed your parachute knew their business. You jump from your doomed aircraft and as you Read more
It’s summer, 1940, the height of the Battle of Britain. After being jumped by a German fighter you’ve somehow managed to outturn him and get on his six. Your thumb moves to the firing button and you press it down hard. Seeing your bullets land on the enemy fuselage, you Read more
It’s the 22nd of April 1943, flying low over the Mediterranean sea, 14 Giants are on a vital mission, heading for Africa. Their assignment is to deliver much-needed fuel and supplies to the beleaguered Africa Korp around Tunis. The Messerschmitt Me 323s are expected, and not just by their German Read more