I am very lucky to be the historian on these tours next year. I am very much looking forward to a busy year talking about the Mighty Eighth for the National WWII Museum. Tour dates and information below. www.nationalww2museum.org/events/educa...

We spent a great day charting the roots of the Easy Company story in Aldbourne today. It is always fascinating to consider the relationship between US service personnel like the US 101st Airborne Division and the British communities on which they were billeted. #WW2TRAVEL

This is a remarkable podcast about a remarkable series of events in Afghanistan. The battle of Jugroom Fort. Royal Marines and Army Air Corps soldiers risk it all for a fallen comrade. Give it a listen... www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Love this. Humour with a historical sentiment.

One of the best things about the WHWF gathering is the opportunity to catch up with battlefield buddies. It was a pleasure to catch up with this gentleman today - the lovely Peter Caddick-Adams.

Nothing is impossible! A great weekend of GPRS teamwork at the We Have Ways Festival. Thanks to all who visited our stand and to our supporters who called in and said hi. We have had a successful weekend of fundraising and sharing GPR history.

Our latest podcast is focused on an exciting new programme being launched by the American Library in Norwich, England. Find out more about the project that will bring the Mighty Eighth's story to a wider audience. open.spotify.com/episode/4Py3...

All set for a weekend of WWII History at WHWF 2025. If you are interested in airborne forces, I will be speaking about Op Varsity 1945 in the Arsenal at 1900 hours.

Just back from a lovely day at Oxford, I spoke at a Road Scholar event. Subject, the Shweinfurt & Regensburg Raid on 17 August 1943. I enjoyed sharing some remarkable stories about the men who flew that day. Not least, Leonard Spivey, lead Navigator, 381st BG.

Very excited about Glider Pilots in Sicily in Paperback! Out soon, details below from Pen & Sword Books: www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/Glider-Pilot...

I was back up in Liberator County yesterday. Visited the immaculately maintained memorial at Attlebridge (Air Station 120). Home to the 466th BG (H) 'The Flying Deck' who operated the B24 from this Airfield in Norfolk. Standby for more B24 lore when we talk Kassel raid on the Mighty Eighth Podcast.

Thank you, Martin, much appreciated. It was a labour of love and great fun to research and write. I also have many memories of working with Luuk Buist and so many GPR veterans. Still available in paperback at @WeHaveWaysPod

Big skies on the Somme today. I'm heading home after a lovely week of touring. Great to see @FlandersBTour out and about in the Salient. Happy customers, fantastic weather, and some fascinating family history to trace.

Back in the Salient for some traditional battlefield touring and Anglo-Australian family pilgrimages. I'm looking forward to a lovely week in Ypres and on the Somme.

It's been an interesting week or so spent interviewing veterans of Op Telic 1. Being immersed in their memories and stories has really refreshed my own memory banks. All helping toward the completion of Ops Normal Volume 2 - the Authorised Operational History of the AAC.

I had a fantastic day out yesterday visiting Lard Island to gain an introduction to the Chain of Command 2 rules and the nuances of 'Big CoC'. I was very impressed with the level of enhancement that the amendments have brought to what was already the most authentic rule set.

As part of our recording yesterday, we visited the wartime headquarters of the 2nd Air Bombardment Division, 8th USAAF, at Ketteringham Hall in Norfolk. It's so good to see the memorial plaque still in place.

Doing a little bit of research, obviously involving gliders and the Fiesler Storch. I have to say that this is a really informative and well presented summary of the Gran Sasso operation. Review to follow.

It was a genuine pleasure to be involved in this ceremony. A well deserved accolade given with warmth by the villagers of Fromelles. neoskosmos.com/en/2025/08/0...

I really enjoyed the Fromelles & Pozieres anniversary tour with Lambis Englezos earlier this month. One of the highlights of the 11-day Mat McLachlan tour has featured in Channel 7 News back in Oz. It was a really special day. youtu.be/EjXZ4yw7GC8?...

We covered the story of Little Boy Blue in a podcast. UK Time Team has made a special programme about the lost B17 and its crew. Available here on YouTube: youtu.be/w7o3fVYTafs?...

1st August 1943 - The USAAF launches a huge force of B24 Liberator bombers from Benghazi in Libya. Their mission to carry out an audacious low-level strike against the heavily defended Ploesti oilfields in Romania. Hear the dramatic story here: open.spotify.com/episode/4niqBg…

Looking ahead into your autumn diary? Why not come along to a talk about the 381st BG (H) USAAF? If you are in Essex on 21st October. Feel free to attend...

Heading back to Blighty after spending 10 days in the company of the wonderful Lambis Englezos. What an insight into the story of the missing of Fromelles and Bullecourt. I am looking forward to working with Lambis and Mat McLachlan Tours again next year.

Mont Saint Quentin - the 2nd Australian Division Memorial was the most appropriate place to finish our ninth and penultimate day of what has been a fantastic Anzac tour.

Another great day on the Anzac trail with the @MatMcLachlan Fromelles & Pozieres anniversary group. Today's Somme itinerary culminated at the Australian Corps Memorial Park, Le Hamel.

At dusk on 19 July, almost to the minute of the ill-fated Anglo-Australian attack 109 years ago, we walked out into No Man's Land towards the Sugar Loaf. It was an emotive moment for many of our group who are descendants of 5th Australian Division soldiers.

Our second day at Fromelles included much of the ceremonial programme. We also had time for a battlefield walk with Lambis Englezos. We visited the site of the German burial pits close in to Pheasant Wood. It was a truly memorable moment for all of us.

If Carling did battlefield tours of Fromelles. Glorious sunshine, an empty battlefield, and Lambis Englezos to explain the events of 1916. The Mat McLachlan group begins the day at the Cobbers with Lambis telling the story of the recovery of the missing. Fascinating...

New Episode - out now! Wings of Defiance: The Eagle Squadrons - the story of the American volunteer pilots who flew with the RAF in WWII. open.spotify.com/episode/4B1f...

Our recent Ops Normal Author talk at the National Army Museum is now available on YouTube. You can access it at the link below: youtu.be/d_YHqH-DHjk?...

Back in Suffolk after a very busy day in London. Thanks to the events team at the National Army Museum for hosting our Ops Normal presentation today. Thank you to everyone who attended and to those who bought copies of volume 1.

"The Great Glider Gamble?" On the 82nd anniversary of Op HUSKY, we chat with Mike Peters about Operation Ladbroke - 1st Airlanding Brigade's assault to capture the Ponte Grande Bridge. Out now on buymeacoffee/hamandjam, Spotify,Podbean,YouTube, Amazon Music & Audible. @mikehistorian.bsky.social

This week marks the poignant anniversary of Operation Ladbroke, the first major Airborne operation mounted by the Allies. It remains a controversial episode in WWII. It was a genuine pleasure to talk to Andy & Kev about some of the fatal flaws in the Sicily op. open.spotify.com/episode/07YV...

If you are in London this Friday, why not come along to the NAM and catch up with Mike Peters & John Greenacre talking about the formative years of the Army Air Corps as described in Ops Normal - The Authorised Operational History of the AAC Volume 1. www.nam.ac.uk/whats-on/ops...

THE BATTLE FOR PONTE GRANDE - 9 July 1943 Read my substack on the first ever Glider Coup de Main mounted by Allied Airborne Forces. open.substack.com/pub/chalkype...

In from @pen@sword for review...

We were out and about recording a new podcast today. It was a lovely day, and we had time to call in and pay our respects at the 34th BG Memorial in Mendlesham. It's a beautifully maintained memorial relocated from the roadside to the village churchyard.

We are back online recording new podcasts! Our next episode pre-dates the arrival of Ira Eaker and his advance party in England. We are looking at the American airmen that joined the RAF Eagle Squadrons. It's absolutely fascinating stuff...

If you are in London on 11 July 25, why not come along to the NAM and catch up with Mike Peters & John Greenacre talking about the formative years of the Army Air Corps as described in Ops Normal - The Authorised Operational History of the AAC. nam.ac.uk/whats-on/ops-n…

Probably the least well-known and yet ambitious GPR operations of WWII. It was great fun to talk to Kev and Andy about Turkey Buzzards over the Atlantic...

My latest piece on substack is focused on one of the most underexposed, yet hazardous operations of WWII. Take a look at the joint RAF/GPR mission to ferry Horsa Assault Gliders to N Africa in advance of the invasion of Sicily. open.substack.com/pub/chalkypete…open.substack.com/pub/chalkype...sq

Here it is - talking about the momentous Glider Assault on Eben Emael on 10 May 1940. It was great fun to record. Please give it a listen.

Eben Emael Ground Zero for the use of Assault Gliders...Great to chat to Mark on History Syndicate. Tune in tomorrow!

Royal Artillery Air Observation Pilots flew unarmed Auster Light Aircraft over the WWII battlefields bringing down withering Artillery Fire on enemy positions. I have written a series of pieces about them on Substack, Firing now - Shot Over! open.substack.com/pub/chalkype...

What a story. I would love to see this aircraft up close. www.stripes.com/branches/air...

PROJECT 299 - A FLYING FORTRESS The B17 Flying Fortress remains one of the truly iconic aircraft of WWII, forever associated with the hard-fought air battles over Hitler's Reich from 1942-45. Yet, the lineage of the Fortress goes back almost a decade before... open.substack.com/pub/chalkype...

If you are in London on 11 July 25, why not come along to the NAM and catch up with me and John Greenacre's talk about the Army Air Corps. We will be talking about Ops Normal Vol 1. Details below: www.nam.ac.uk/whats-on/ops...

What an imaginative design unveiled at Harwell. Instantly recognisable as a Horsa fuselage. A great tribute to those who flew from the Airfield during WWII. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Military humour never changes. This Willie & Joe cartoon made me smile last week in Italy. Wartime cartoonist Bill Maudlin really captures the mood of the GI serving in the US citizen Army.