Welcome to the Mighty 8th Podcast – the podcast about the people, planes and places of the United States Eighth Army Air Force.

In this very first episode, we visit Grafton Underwood – where B-17 bombers took to the skies for the very first America-led mission over occupied Europe in World War Two.

The first American-led mission using USAAF Flying Fortresses targeted the railway marshalling yards at Sotteville-lès-Rouen, France, on August 17, 1942.

We stand in the middle of what was runway Number One at Grafton Underwood airfield – where a granite memorial remembers those who flew on the raids that followed.

We visit Grafton Underwood church – where a stained glass window depicts a Flying Fortress bomber in memory of everyone who served.

And we take a walk to the airfield operations room to discuss the different bombing strategies employed by RAF Bomber Command and the United States Army Air Force.

For a selection of photos taken while we recorded this episode, please click here.

Co-hosted by Johann Tasker and military historian Mike Peters. With thanks to Neill Howarth.

The introduction to this episode includes audio from United States Army Eighth Air Force, Wyler, W., Paramount Pictures, I. & Kern, E. (1944) The Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress. Courtesy of the Library of Congress, Motion Picture, Broadcasting, and Recorded Sound Division.

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