Fighting High - Making Their Story Our History

Hangar Talk The Hampden: Restoring History, Preserving Memory with Darren Priday The Handley Page Hampden was one of the RAF's most important aircraft during the early years of the Second World War, yet today it remains one of its least remembered. In this episode, Steve Darlow speaks with Darren Priday, Manager of the Michael Beetham Conservation Centre at the RAF Museum Midlands, about the r...

Our History Once Upon a Time in War with Melody Foreman In this episode of the Fighting High Podcast, Steve speaks with author Melody Foreman about her lifelong fascination with wartime stories and the human experiences behind them. Drawing on her background in journalism, biography, and storytelling, Melody explores how memory, artefacts, and personal histories shape her work. She reflects on wri...

Remembrance Spitfire Ace Leonard Haines DFC In this special remembrance episode, Fighting High tells the story of Flying Officer Leonard Archibald Haines DFC—Battle of Britain ace, leader, and one of Fighter Command’s young heroes. Drawing on his vivid combat reports and deeply personal letters, we follow Leonard from the chaos of Dunkirk through the height of the Battle of Britain, where he claim...

Insights Light Night Striking Force: The Mosquito Menace In this episode of the Fighting High Podcast, we explore the story of the Light Night Striking Force—Bomber Command’s fast and highly effective Mosquito force. Joined by author Sean Feast, we trace its evolution from a small diversionary force into a precision striking arm. Flying the versatile Mosquito, these crews combined speed, skill, an...

In this opening episode of Series 2 of The Fighting High Podcast, we hear the remarkable story of Lancaster Pathfinder pilot Andrew Desmond Pelly DFC, in his own words. Recorded in 2010, this interview traces his journey from eager young recruit to captain of a four-engine bomber at just twenty-one. Desmond recalls his training under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, the forging of a tig...

Our History Making Spitfire, Lancaster, Mosquito: Planes, People, Passion In this episode of the Fighting High podcast, author Sean Feast sits down with award-winning film editor and director David Fairhead to explore the journey behind some of the most celebrated aviation documentaries of recent years. David reflects on his early fascination with filmmaking and why editing is at the heart of stor...

Remembrance When the Letters Came In this first Fighting High Podcast Remembrance episode, When the Letters Came , Steve Darlow shares deeply personal wartime correspondence revealing the human stories behind the air war. Through moving letters between families, friends, and survivors, listeners hear of sacrifice, grief, courage, and enduring remembrance. Featuring the stories of a heroic Canadian...

Hangar Talk The Mosquito Fighter-Bomber: Inside the Restoration The de Havilland Mosquito fighter-bomber was one of the most remarkable aircraft of the Second World War — fast, versatile, and feared. What did it take to bring a wartime wooden aircraft back from decades of quiet storage — and why does its story still matter today? In the first of our Hangar Talk episodes of the Fighting High podcas...

Insights The Heroes of Bomber Command - Gazing Into The Abyss In this episode of the Fighting High podcast, hosted by Steve Darlow , we examine the men of RAF Bomber Command and the powerful stories that have grown around them. Drawing on firsthand accounts, soundbytes from veteran interviews, and years of research, the episode looks beyond myth and legend to reveal what these young airmen actuall...

Welcome to episode one of the Fighting High Podcast . We begin with a remarkable interview recorded nearly twenty years ago with one of the last of “The Few” , Battle of Britain Hurricane pilot Tony Pickering. Humble, sincere and engaging, Tony recalls his journey from trainee to fighter pilot and his experiences flying with 501 Squadron during the desperate air battles of 1940. Just nineteen year...

In this opening introduction, host Steve Darlow invites listeners into the story behind Fighting High – Making Their Story Our History . He shares how a personal journey to understand his grandfather’s wartime service grew into a deep commitment to preserving the voices of those who lived through the air war of the Second World War. Steve outlines what listeners can expect from the series, includi...