Fighting High Publishing

19/08/2026

📚 BOOK SIGNING – LITTLE GRANSDEN AIR SHOW

We’re delighted to be heading to the Little Gransden Air Show on Sunday 30th August, where Fighting High authors Steve Darlow and Sean Feast will be signing copies of their new book, The Fifty – The Fallen Heroes of the Great Escape.

If you’re coming to the air show, make sure you visit the Fighting High stand and meet the authors, have your copy signed, and discover the story behind the 50 men who lost their lives, murdered, following the Great Escape.

📅 Sunday 30th August 2026
📍 Little Gransden Air Show
📖 The Fifty – The Fallen Heroes of the Great Escape
✍️ Signed by Steve Darlow & Sean Feast

Come along, say hello and take home a signed copy of this important story of courage, sacrifice and remembrance.

17/08/2026

17/18 August 1943 – The Peenemünde Raid

On this night 83 years ago, almost 600 Bomber Command aircraft attacked the secret German rocket research establishment at Peenemünde on the Baltic coast.

Operation Hydra was a remarkable and highly significant raid, but it came at a terrible cost. 245 RAF aircrew were killed, with many more becoming prisoners of war.

For some of those who died, however, the story did not end with the war. Their graves were never found.

The Lost Graves of Peenemünde, by Sean Feast and Mike McLeod, investigates the search for these missing airmen and the evidence that some may still lie where they fell.

Tonight, we remember them.

Lest we forget.

📖 The Lost Graves of Peenemünde
Read more / order from Fighting High

by Mike McLeod and Sean Feast Foreword by George Dunn DFC L d'H Signed by author Sean Feast Hardback - 160pp (including approx 60 black and white photographs) - 234 x 156mm. World Rights - Fighting High Ltd. ISBN - 978-1-9998128-9-8 Book description The raid on the secret rocket research establishme...

04/08/2026

🎙️ NEW FIGHTING HIGH PODCAST

COMMANDING 617 'THE DAMBUSTERS' SQUADRON

What does it take to command an elite wartime squadron?

In our latest episode, Steve Darlow is joined by Dr Robert Owen, official historian 617 Squadron Association, to explore the men who commanded the squadron during the Second World War.

From Guy Gibson and the Dams Raid through to Leonard Cheshire, Willie Tait and their fellow commanding officers, they discuss very different personalities and approaches to leadership – and how each man responded to the challenges facing 617 Squadron at the time.

How did they inspire their crews, maintain exacting standards and adapt as the squadron’s role evolved?

And, after decades researching 617 Squadron, which commanding officer would Rob himself most have wanted to serve under?

🎧 Listen to the latest episode via https://fightinghigh.com/pages/fighting-high-podcast

29/07/2026

A little milestone worth celebrating – the Fighting High Podcast has now passed 10,000 listens!

10,000 times their stories have been heard.

A huge thank you to everyone who has listened, subscribed, shared an episode, or helped spread the word. And, of course, thank you to all our wonderful guests who have helped us continue 'Making Their Story Our History'.

🎧 Listen to the Fighting High Podcast on your preferred platform: https://fightinghigh.com/pages/fighting-high-podcast

28/07/2026

84 YEARS AGO TONIGHT – PATRICK WILSON LANGFORD

On the night of 28/29 July 1942, Flight Lieutenant Patrick Wilson Langford RCAF took off from RAF Upper Heyford aboard Wellington R1450, bound for Hamburg. It was only his second operational sortie over enemy territory.

Flying through driving rain and strong winds, the Wellington was attacked by a German night fighter over Schleswig. Cannon fire tore into the aircraft and it caught fire. With the Wellington burning fiercely, the order was given to bale out, but three members of the crew lost their lives

Patrick survived, but suffered severe burns to his face, hands and legs. Taken prisoner, he eventually recovered sufficiently to be transferred to Stalag Luft 3.

There he became deeply involved in escape activities and played an important role in preparations for what became known as The Great Escape. A skilled tunnel man, Patrick was one of those entrusted with guarding and concealing the trap door to the tunnel Harry.

He escaped through Harry on the night of 24/25 March 1944 but was recaptured. On 31 March, Patrick was taken from Görlitz gaol with nine fellow prisoners and murdered by the Gestapo.

He was 24 years old.

Patrick Langford was one of The Fifty – the 50 Allied airmen murdered following the Great Escape.

His story is told in our book The Fifty: The Fallen Heroes of the Great Escape, by Steve Darlow and Sean Feast. https://fightinghigh.com/products/the-fifty

Tonight, 84 years after the flight that ultimately led Patrick into captivity, we remember him.

Patrick Wilson Langford RCAF
1919–1944

27/07/2026

27/07/2026

WIN A GOLD TITLE EDITION OF EPITAPHS OF BOMBER COMMAND

To celebrate the forthcoming launch of our new monthly Fighting High newsletter, we're giving away TWO copies of the special Gold Title edition of Epitaphs of Bomber Command, signed by authors Steve Darlow and Dave Gilbert.

Entering couldn't be easier.

Visit the Fighting High website www.fightinghigh.com, scroll to the bottom of the homepage, enter your email address in the Newsletter box and click Subscribe.

Already subscribed to the Fighting High mailing list? You're already in the draw — there's nothing else you need to do.

We'll randomly select two winners, with each receiving a copy of the special Gold Title edition of Epitaphs of Bomber Command, signed by the authors.

The draw is open worldwide and closes at 11.59pm UK time on Sunday 16 August 2026.

No purchase necessary. 18+. Free alternative method of entry available. Full Prize Draw Terms & Conditions apply:
https://fightinghigh.com/pages/prize-draw-terms-conditions

Two books. Two winners. Good luck!

Making Their Story Our History

23/07/2026

Another excellent 5 Star review of Mosquito Down! https://www.arrse.co.uk/community/threads/mosquito-down.322656/

21/07/2026

NEW PODCAST EPISODE – A PRECIOUS LIFE, HIS DUTY DONE

Today we release the opening episode of Series 3 of the Fighting High – Making Their Story Our History podcast, and its release marks the 85th anniversary of a tragic incident near RAF Steeple Morden.

On the night of 21/22 July 1941, a Wellington from No. 11 Operational Training Unit was returning from a cross-country flight when, in darkness near the Hertfordshire/Cambridgeshire border, it collided with a German Junkers 88. No one survived.

Among those killed were Canadian airman Fred Houston and Australian pilot Bruce Thompson—young men who had travelled far from home to serve, but who never reached a front-line squadron.

Their story features in A Precious Life, His Duty Done, the Remembrance episode that opens Series 3 of the Fighting High – Making Their Story Our History podcast, released today.

Recorded by Steve Darlow on location at the former RAF Steeple Morden and at Bassingbourn cm Kneesworth Cemetery, the episode explores the often-overlooked sacrifice of the thousands of Bomber Command airmen who lost their lives during training.

85 years on, we remember them.

🎙️ A Precious Life, His Duty Done – available now. Links to podcast platforms here https://fightinghigh.com/pages/fighting-high-podcast

20/07/2026

New on the Fighting High blog

Innovation in wartime often came at a tremendous human cost. One such example was the RAF's experimental 'Heavy Oboe' target marking technique.

On the anniversary of one particular Heavy Oboe raid, Sean Feast recounts the tragic events of 20 July 1944, when an aircraft leading a precision bombing attack was fatally hit while maintaining its course to ensure the operation could be completed.

It is a powerful reminder of the professionalism, courage and sacrifice displayed by Bomber Command crews in some of the most demanding operations of the Second World War.

Read the full story:
https://fightinghigh.com/blogs/news/the-heavy-oboe-tragedy

On 20 July 1944, an innovative 'Heavy Oboe' bombing operation against V-weapon sites ended in tragedy when the lead Lancaster was destroyed by flak while holding course to complete its bombing run. Sean Feast recounts this remarkable story of courage, sacrifice, and one of Bomber Command's lesser-kn...