My Drop Zones tour this October is filling up with volunteers. Consequently, it is now confirmed that the tour is on. Details of the itinerary are at the link below. If you are interested in Airborne warfare in WWII, take a look.
tripsmiths.com/tours/airbor...
I heartily recommend this debut podcast from historian Cami Kenworthy. Focusing on the 381st BG USAAF and their time at Ridgewell during WWII. This is a great opening episode with a very special guest from the 381st...@RAF_Ridgewell
open.spotify.com/show/061kE8c...
Green Light On! If you are interested in the history of Airborne forces and their part in WW2, join me this October for my DZ 1 tour. The first in a series of bespoke battlefield tours visiting the Landing Zones of Europe. Details below:
tripsmiths.com/tours/airborne
It's that time of the year again. I'm thinking about my upcoming Anzac Day in Gallipoli tour with @MatMcLachlan. This weekend's read and review tackles one of the many myths of the Dardanelles. The legend of 'The Sandringham Company'. Review to follow... Truth and Myth.
We are sorry we dont have the facilities to take you all on the DZ 1 Tour with Mike Peters... the seats are selling quickly. It's best to get on the first lift! Join me for Eben emael, Op Market Garden, and bouncing the Rhine on Op Varsity. Link here:
tripsmiths.com/tours/airborne…
I spent Sunday reflecting on six truly memorable days touring the cockpit of Europe with an exceptional group of battlefield travellers. It was an amazing week of sharing history and common interest with the 'Convivial Pals' Battalion. Thanks to @bhltours @WeAreTripsmiths
I have just finished reading Fierce Valor. It's an insightful account of the life of a unique soldier and his controversial career in the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment during the Airborne operations of WWII and beyond...my review is here:
linkedin.com/posts/mike-pet…
The first of a series of Drop Zone Tours is now live on the @WeAreTripsmiths website. Focused on the history of Airborne forces in WW2 the first tour begins at Eben Emael before tracking Operation Market Garden and then on to the Rhine & Operation Varsity.
tripsmiths.com/tours/airborne…
What a fascinating second day on our Warfare Through the Ages Tour. It is a genuine pleasure to lead this @WeAreTripsmiths group the fields of Waterloo comparing the events of 1815 with our day at Agincourt yesterday.
Day 1 of my Warfare Through the Ages Tour. We followed the route of Henry V and his English Army. We walked the field of Agincourt and discussed Henry's expedition to France and the reality of medieval warfare. A great start to our six days @WeAreTripsmiths @bhltours tour.
What an amazing game of football at Anfield last night. The stadium was a cauldron. 61,000 Reds roaring the team on to fantastic 4-0 victory over the Turkish champions. It could have easily been twice that margin. Truly memorable. It was great fun to share it with fellow Red, Andy Greene.
Historians Mike Peters and Lucy Betteridge-Dyson during filming for Channel 4 at Dunkirk.
Thank you for your kind words Lucy, it was my pleasure to help out. I am sure that you would do the same for me. There are so many generous souls in our small world of military-history and battlefield guiding. Every day is a school day! Good luck with your project.
Here is my latest book review of an intriguing WWII title. Take a look when you have five minutes. It's fascinating subject.
www.linkedin.com/posts/mike-p...
Researching the 654 Sqn shoot on Objective Platinum, I stumbled on this footage of CO 4 Regiment, Lt Col Mike Wawn, being interviewed about AAC Anti Tank Ops in the Gulf. It's interesting to see Fort Flasheart in the background.
://youtu.be/sTPE4nUBzkg?si=anEXNlm487HreZ1v
Enjoying my weekend read. It is always good to take a deep dive into one of those episodes in history that are too often just glossed over. The use of aerial ramming tactics by the Luftwaffe in the twilight weeks of WWII is worthy of further investigation. This is a good source.
During our research into Project Aphrodite and Op Anvil, we visited Blythburgh Fen, the crash site of Joseph Kennedy and Wilford Willy's B24 PB4Y drone. Touched to find this tribute in Blythburgh Church. Kennedy and Wilford are listed on the memorial to the missing at ABMC Madingley.
Here's my latest book review of Defenders of the Reich by Robert Forsyth @OspreyBooks
linkedin.com/posts/mike-pet…
I took a few moments out of my day today to visit the Mission Mistress Memorial at Moreton Hall Community Centre, Bury St Edmunds. Close to the B17s crash site at Home Covert, the memorial commemorates tragic loss of the Mistress and her crew in January 1945.
There are just a few tickets left on eventbrite for my talk at Essex Records Office in Chelmsford on Tuesday, 3 February. I will be talking about the 381st BG USAAF and their time at RAF Ridgewell during WWII. Hope to see you there...
Thank you to the Events team at the Army Flying Museum, Middle Wallop, for hosting my talk tonight. It is always a pleasure to return to the home of Army Aviation to talk history.
If you are in Essex and would like to hear more about RAF Ridgewell and the 381st BG USAAF, come along to my talk at the ERO in Chelmsford. Details below:
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ero-presen...
Credit: Black Thursday by Gareth Hector.
This week, in the spirit of around the clock bombing, I will be joining fellow historians Jane Gulliford Lowes & James Jefferies to record a pod for their excellent @RAFBomber_Pod podcast. I am looking forward to talking about the USAAF's two major daylight raids on Schweinfurt.
📢 Red Light - Green Light – Red Devil – Green Devil: Op FUSTIAN
📅 Monday 19 January
🕙 19:00 - also available online
🍽 Pre-Lecture Dinner option. Pre-order by 16.01.26
Hear @MikeHistorian describe the 3-day battle to seize the vital Primosole Bridge:
bit.ly/44R5bK1
armyflying.com/what-s-on/ev...
Merry Christmas to all of our contributors and listeners, we have had another great year of Mighty Eighth history in 2025. We both wish you all peaceful and enjoyable Christmas. See you all for a new series of podcasts in the New Year! Mike & Johann
What a festive bargain! Bomb Group is still receiving positive reviews, & sales are still live...
Bomb Group: The Eighth Air Force's 381st and the Allied Air Offensive over Europe:
amzn.eu/d/7OyEkNW
It has been evocative researching, interviewing, and writing about Op Granby 35 years on from my own deployment with 4 Regt AAC. December 1990, I was lucky enough to get Christmas at home in Germany. Thousands of troops were already deployed in Saudi Arabia waiting for the war to start...
As promised, my review of this excellent Vietnam history - Assault From the Sky. USMC Aviation Operations in the Vietnam War.
@casematepub
linkedin.com/posts/mike-pet…
It's been an emotional few weeks interviewing AAC veterans of Gulf War 1 (Op Granby). It has brought back a lot of memories... the contrasts with Op Telic 2003 are stark. Two very different wars for me and the AAC...
It is a huge irony that the B17C Fortress flew into its first battle unarmed. The aircraft that arrived over Pearl Harbour during the IJN attack were in transit to the Phillipines. Their guns were stowed in order to save weight on the flight from California.
I have just finished some Band of Brothers research. This is an absorbing read, made even more interesting by the fact that its scope reaches beyond the Easy Company bubble. What a fascinating character Ron Speirs was...recommended read.