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.

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.

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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.

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Visit the Mighty Eighth Podcast website: mighty8thpodcast.com

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

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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

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