That's quite an evocative image. Thanks for sharing Nick.

D Day, Day Two of the Easy Company tour and we are heading for Portsmouth and onto Normandy. We have talked about the weather gods, the tides, the moon state, and the psychological affect of delays on the waiting soldiers, sailors and airmen.

What a gloriously sunny day to be in Aldbourne beginning the National WWII Museum Easy Company story. Thanks to the Aldbourne Heritage Group for their hospitality and boundless knowledge of wartime life.

All set for a chapter of the Easy Company story in England. I am joining the National WWII Museum tour today. Looking forward to providing some historical narrative on the US 101st Airborne Division during their preparations for the Normandy drop.

The final day of our Mighty Eighth tour featured a visit to the Battle of Britain Bunker at Uxbridge. The sun was shining above ground before we headed underground to talk about the Dowding system.

It's been a great tour with a wonderful group of Americans from the National WWII Museum, New Orleans. We spent today in London, taking in the Cabinet War Rooms and the IWM. Another full day of WWII history tomorrow.

A visit to the Red Feather Club at Horham Airfield Museum really does bring WWII to life. The volunteers helped National WWII Museum group to immerse themselves in USAAF history, 1940s music and some dance moves! Capping off a great day on tour.

Sophie Green and the Red Feather team hosted our group at Horham, home to the B17s of the 95th Bomb Group - First in Berlin Skies. The Square B fortresses claim the battle honour of first B17s to hit the Third Reich's heavily defended capital in daylight on 4 March 1944.

We had a fantastic visit to the 100th Bomb Group Museum at Thorpe Abbotts today. We were made to feel very welcome. Thank you so much to the 100th BG Team for their hospitality and for sharing your information with us all.

We had a great day out and about yesterday. Our visit to Duxford was a scene setter for the rest of our week of Mighty Eighth history. Seeing and hearing some of the aircraft involved is a valuable part of understanding the air battles over occupied Europe.

Quite a privilege today to take part in the flag lowering ceremony at ABMC Madingley. Very proud of the serving personnel that carried out the flag folding duty immediately after Taps.

What a great, thought provoking piece...

I spent a some time visiting the new Visitor Centre at ABMC Madingley today. The refurbishment is a great improvement. Great to see the 381st BG on the ceiling. The VC is really well set up, worth the time out of your cemetery visit.

I had a lovely visit to Stow Maries Airfield Museum today. The staff there do an amazing job, keeping the flame of memory to the Royal Flying Corps burning. On behalf of his family I was delivered the final piece to the museum's excellent Capt Lindop Brown RFC exhibit. Privileged to play a tiny part

I am very excited to be reviewing these two new Airborne titles this month. Lots of similarity between the two national approaches to the use of Airborne forces... some equally interesting contrasts. Plenty to discuss I hope.

I am very pleased to hear that Bomb Group will soon be available in paperback. Special pre-order deal below: x.com/i/status/205...

Mission accomplished! I'm heading home to Suffolk after sharing a thoroughly enjoyable nine days of Mighty Eighth history with a super group of American visitors.

Day 8 of the Masters of the Air - Mighty Eighth tour with the National WWII Museum culminated with a visit to the Battle of Britain Bunker Museum. A fascinating visit that allowed us to compare the Dowding system with the later German air defence system.

Today was a big day for us in London. After an exclusive behind the glass tour of the Cabinet War Rooms in Whitehall, we moved on to visit the IWM London. Consolidating on the previous six days of WWII history.

Yesterday, we called in at the Oaksmere Hotel to visit the B17 Pathfinder Memorial. This beautiful plinth commemorates the 13-man crew of an H2S radar equipped Fortress from the 482nd BG and 4 local civilians (and a horse) killed when it crashed nearby.

We capped off another exceptional day of Mighty Eighth history and folklore at Horham with the 95th BG(H). The Red Feather Club was bouncing with 1940s music this afternoon!

Day 4 of the Mighty Eighth Tour began at the gem that is Bottisham Airfield Museum in Cambridgeshire. We were expertly hosted by Jason Webb and the Bottisham team. It is the perfect location to highlight the role of the USAAF Fighter Command... the deadly little friends.

Before we depart Cambridge this morning, we are taking a look at the anatomy of a raid. I am giving a group presentation on the first Schweinfurt raid on 18 August 1943.

When you need to compare the Fortress with the Liberator and match the Thunderbolt with the Mustang, the American Air Museum is the only place to go. We had a great day at Duxford today.

After the excitement of the Duxford dogfight, we spent some time reflecting on the significant cost of the Allied combined bombing offensive in human lives. The Cambridge American Cemetery is the perfect place to pause.

Day 2 of the Masters of the Air, Mighty Eighth Tour, included a visit to the American Air Museum at Duxford and a spectacular Spitfire vs. ME 109 dogfight.

Day 1 of the nine-day Masters of the Air, Mighty Eighth tour, and we are out on the road. Cambridge, here we come!

The mission is on! Tour preparation is the focus today. Getting ready to lead another Masters of the Air - Mighty Eighth tour for the National WWII Museum. It's always a pleasure, and it's definitely a privilege to share this history with these American visitors.

Today marks the anniversary of Operation Granit, the audacious glider assault on Fort Eben Emael by German Fallschirmjaeger in 1940. Join me there for an exclusive visit this autumn. Details below: tripsmiths.com/tours/airbor...

Op Ladbroke gave many lessons to be learned during Op HUSKY - did you know that most of the British gliders were towed by US DC-3s but they were not Dakotas leading to many being shot down? @mikehistorian.bsky.social is the expert on WW2 gliders, this ep leads nicely into ‘Glider Pilots in Sicily’

The latest podcast with Johann and me on the Mighty Eighth Podcast... open.spotify.com/episode/4Rv3...

Last night, I had an enjoyable podcast session with super knowledgeable host Mark Martin on the @HistSyndicate. We talked about the Glider Pilot Regiment's role in the Sicily landings. The podcast should be out next week.

Back in Blighty after a very successful Anzac Day 2026 in Gallipoli. Much of the success was due to the @MatMcLachlan planning team in Australia. Success on the ground was down to an excellent team of historians and tour managers in Gallipoli.

The Turkish Army was highly visible in its supporting role to today's Anzac Commemorative programme. There were quite a few regular soldiers on ceremonial duties while dressed in Ottoman uniform. These were trained soldiers, playing a part, not reenactors.

This year's team of historians for Mat McLachlan's Anzac Day in Gallipoli tour. It was a pleasure to work with such knowledgeable fellow guides. Steve Chambers and 'Roachie' really know their stuff.

Enjoying a short interlude from the battlefields before the Anzac Dawn Service. We had an informative tour of ancient Troy.

Blue skies over the Newfoundland Regiment Memorial on Hill 10, Suvla Bay, Gallipoli.

We spent today exploring the beaches, ridges, and trenches of the Anzac sector. It was a pleasure to share the history with my group of Aussies and New Zealanders.

It's the Dardanelles again for me! It's always good to visit Istanbul on the way back to Gallipoli. It is a real pleasure to host a group of Aussie and Kiwi pilgrims to Anzac Day for Mat McLachlan.

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.