Just how do you put hundreds of B17 Flying Fortresses into the sky, send them on a bombing mission over occupied Europe – and then bring them home again?

In this episode, we find out during a visit to USAAF Station 153 (Framlingham) – home to the 390th Bomb Group during World War Two.

We visit the Control Tower – home to Parham Airfield Museum, which commemorates the 390th and other Allied airmen based throughout East Anglia.

We discuss the mission procedure – from the initial Field Order to the formation of a protective bomb group – or combat box – of aircraft in the sky.

We do so with the help of the museum’s rare collection of recovered aircraft engines, artefacts and memorabilia.

We visit the museum Nissen Hut, which houses a recreated barrack room, showing how the airmen lived.

Archivist Jennie Smith explains the museum’s Faces of the Fallen project.

And we pay our respects in the Chapel Room which houses a Veterans Wall, where returning airmen from the 390th have signed their names.

This episode of the Mighty Eighth Podcast is co-hosted by Johann Tasker and military historian Mike Peters.

With very special thanks to Parham Airfield Museum and archivist Jennie Smith.

The introduction for this episode includes an excerpt from President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Fireside Chat Following the Declaration of War on Japan (December 9, 1941).