The Kennedy Killed in England - B-17 Flying Bomb Programme
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- čas přidán 10. 01. 2021
- Operation Aphrodite, the 1944 US operation to use radio-controlled B-17 bombers packed with explosives to destroy huge German bunkers. One of the casualties of this programme was John F. Kennedy's older brother.
Dr. Mark Felton is a well-known British historian, the author of 22 non-fiction books, including bestsellers 'Zero Night' and 'Castle of the Eagles', both currently being developed into movies in Hollywood. In addition to writing, Mark also appears regularly in television documentaries around the world, including on The History Channel, Netflix, National Geographic, Quest, American Heroes Channel and RMC Decouverte. His books have formed the background to several TV and radio documentaries. More information about Mark can be found at: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Fe...
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Disclaimer: All opinions and comments expressed in the 'Comments' section do not reflect the opinions of Mark Felton Productions. All opinions and comments should contribute to the dialogue. Mark Felton Productions does not condone written attacks, insults, racism, sexism, extremism, violence or otherwise questionable comments or material in the 'Comments' section, and reserves the right to delete any comment violating this rule or to block any poster from the channel.
Still amazes me that you offer this quality history content for free to all of us. Your work is greatly appreciated Mr. Felton!
Agreed, top notch. Thank you Dr Felton.
he makes a fortune on ads, he's a millionaire. dont get yourself fooled. yes it's great content, and he deserves what he receives, but every ad you watch goes into his pocket
@@skeetrix5577 i would watch many adds for this content
@@skeetrix5577 ad revenue is not that great on CZcams. I'd say his authorship makes way more than ads
@@torkilfrydal9505 Just watch the ads 3 or 4 times.
When the clickbait title actually isn’t clickbait at all.
@@QuantumMechanic_88 I can see your comment.
NEVVVVEEERRRR. DR MARK DOES NO SUCH THING😄. Greatest you tube channel in the webosphere
@@QuantumMechanic_88 I see you. And if your were blocked, then you have obviously said something bad in the comments.
Marky Felts is a straight up gangster no time for fuckin' around
Welcome.
There was at least one attempt to shoot down a V2. Raymond Baxter, who later found fame as a presenter on the BBC, was a fighter pilot in WW2. On one sweep over Holland, he was amazed to see a V2 rise from woodland ahead of him. He was even more amazed when one member of his squadron opened fire on it.
Baxter always said that he was very grateful that the man missed.
That was 602 squadron (City of Glasgow). And that wasn't even the craziest thing that they got up to!
@Glen Towler Have you read the book about 602 squadron? On an overcast day so the German bombers were not coming, some of the Spitfires flew over to France and shot up a hotel that had thrown them out before the war. To be fair, there were probably German officers billeted there.
@@PassportToPimlico thats actually something petty i feel like i would do lmao
Raymond Baxter will always be remembered for his superb coverage of the Concord's first flight in France.
The good doctor has already covered this in a previous episode.
When Mark Felton uploads, I know I'm gonna learn something. I must say your knowledge of history is unparalleled. Like, you know so much about these obscure (but fascinating) things and teach it to us for free. Out of all the history channels, I've learned the most from this one.
Wow, thanks
Not just teaching us about history. Actually showing us the reality of history, instead of spewing out propaganda, yeah I am all for that.
Dr Felton, I think I speak for everyone when I say you personally have made this whole covid and quarantine think much more bearable! Thank you for your videos!
Totally right on the mark.
Totally agree !!
@@welshpete12 agreed from the Caribbean
Yup
The history guy also,
Dr Felton keeps feeding my WW2 history addiction. And Im loving it!
History books say 'This is what happened'.... Doc says 'This is the reality of what happened' Yeah works for me too
How did I not know about these WW2 drones?
WW2 Generals: So if we don’t tell anybody about this disastrous experiment it’ll get forgotten about, ok?
Mark Felton: Hold my tea..
Did you not know that one of the Kennedy’s was killed in one?
If you didn't know about this, you're a young stupid kid who wasn't taught anything in the school you flunked. If it isn't 144 characters or less, you won't read it.
@@petercavellini3232 Jesus, plurals don't have apostrophes.
@@larrysmith6797 shhh relax man, everything is gonna be ok.
@@larrysmith6797 In my book just so long as he avoids "themself" he can distribute superfluous apostrophes to his heart's content.
Upon seeing the title of this video, I immediately thought of Joseph Kennedy, Jr.
That's where my mind went also, I had heard of the incident via an episode of dogfights
I remember reading the book "The Lost Prince" a few years ago. Except he was in a B-24 but same thing...Edit: Just finished the video, Mark covered it!
2nd
Totally - good call man 👍
I read that Joseph Kennedy Sr. despised FDR and blamed him personally for the death of his brave son. Whatever you think of the politics, you have to admit Joe Kennedy Jr., JFK and George H. W. Bush were brave individuals. I'm no hero myself, but I think candidates for Presidential office should have clear demonstration of such courage under fire before consideration for C-in-C.
If today's ones are called predators, won't those be called , pre-daters. Smashing job as always Dr Felton.
That V3 program you mentioned would be an interesting topic to cover.
Will be in the future.
Try watch "Secrets of War: Super Guns". They illustrate how the V3 guns work and how that and the Paris Gun influenced Gerald Bull's own pursuit for super guns...
@@MarkFeltonProductions Have you never covered the VT Fuze - it proved to be a far safer method for dealing with the V1 threat.
@@mikewing3157 the proximity fuse?
Like all mistakes, "it seemed like a good idea at the time."
It's only through repeated failures that success can be achieved.
That's how i was made
@@frantacz2508 😂
Project Orion was a study of a starship intended to be directly propelled by a series of explosions of atomic bombs behind the craft (nuclear pulse propulsion). Early versions of this vehicle were proposed to take off from the ground (with significant associated nuclear fallout); later versions were presented for use only in space. Six non-nuclear tests were conducted using models. The project was eventually abandoned for multiple reasons such as the Partial Test Ban Treaty which banned nuclear explosions in space as well as concerns over nuclear fallout.
@@frantacz2508 Is that a concept we need to explore further? I think not lol
"I'm going to put Norwich on the map!"
_Why?_
Fk, I already have Harwich. They treat me as an illegal immigrant in 98 and sent me back to Hoek van Holland... no nice...
@@anderstopansson
Were you an illegal immigrant?
I love the way you limeys talk..."Norrich" we say Norwidge (I know that's not how it's spelled)
@@caseyholland7860 limey is such a stupid name. Nobody likes the way americans talk
Norwich is not the end of the world ! But you can see it from there ..
Heard a lot about German developments in this field, but never knew the US built some flying bombs - and who else but Dr Mark to enlighten us!
I knew this was going to mention Joseph Kennedy Jr and was not disappointed. A little additional info: JK Jr had finished his tour with the US Navy honourably and was about to return the US to start his political career as his father intended, when he heard about John’s incident with PT-109. Competition between the brothers was natural among them and the simple fact was, JK Jr knew he would have a tough time with reporters comparing his war record with his brother, therefore he decided to volunteer for the dangerous mission Dr Felton just discussed.
I recently saw a video on CZcams which explained why some of the B17's and B24's exploded prematurely. It had something to do with electrical fault in the wiring and swithc over from amnual to automatic control. Sorry I cannot remember the name of the video.
If I remember correctly a cover story of Joe Kennedy being lost flying a P38 on a reconnaissance mission was given as the implementation of "flying bombs" was a well guarded secret to well after the war...I may be mistaken on this as I am relying on a less than dependable memory...
WWII events are a finite source of stories because they generally cover 6 years, but you never seem to run out of interesting and fascinating tales. Awesome.
You know what I appreciate Mr. Felton? The fact that you use original film clips wherever possible. Am always impressed with your ability to find this stuff.....
Dr Felton probably has access to some archives not available to the public
8:56 - I can see that area (Håkøya, Tromsø) from my living room, around 5,5km away. You can still see the crater today were the bomb exploded on the left side in the video.
The B-17 is a very handsome aeroplane, especially the F model that was used for the highly fanciful but still good 1989 Memphis Belle movie. I'm 5'10" female 120 lbs but I could not get into a replica ball turret at a Chino California museum my dad took me to when we visited the west coast. For a grown man in a big jacket getting in ghe turret is probably very uncomfortable.
@@Whatisthisstupidfinghandle My father was in the Soviet (Ukraine) army before I was born but he is 6'5" and they made him just stand in front of government buildings and also get photographed for army publications. He's tall but not absurdly so. The very tallest weren't taken in the army but sent to basketball or volleyball training.
@Teflon (
@@katarinazelenova4748 "He's tall but not absurdly so." I wonder what does qualify as tall in Ukraine. 😮
@@katarinazelenova4748 I have a book with a photo of large, fit, young Russian soldiers carrying mortar backpacks. It makes a nonsense of Aryan superiority. They look professional and capable. If you Google, Mortars in the red army, you will see the photo. Side, rear camera shot.
I reckon they were designed for people about my size, 125lbs soaking wet, 5ft 3in tall, and skinny.
Again, I have to say that I cannot get enough of your videos and audio productions.
Gramps was a b17 waist gunner/engineer 42-44, this is yet another great vid!
Would be willing to bet he didn't speak much about his experiences.
My uncle was a B17 tail gunner. His pilot got decapitated by a flak burst over Hamburg. No ..not easy to talk about experiences like that.
@@vitis65 which bomber group was he in, there are lots of great websites out there with records. My gramps was 301st and I had pics posted to their site.
@ViperGTS he was in 384BG and yes I've found a great site for that unit. On that Hamburg mission the copilot was also badly wounded along with several other crewman. He earned himself a Distinguished Service Cross by holding formation until they dropped ( they were the lead plane). Somehow he and the top turret gunner managed to safely land the plane back in England despite most of the throttle having been sheared off by the piece of flak that killed the pilot.
This is the only channel where the title of the video sounds like BS and then you watch the video and you find out it’s actually not lol.
Agreed. It sours the other "history" channels.
It's 2021. Leave the "lol" crap to 'tweenage girls texting their besties about boybands.
@@gavinvalentino6002 omfg lol
@@gavinvalentino6002 "Lighten up, Valentino." LOL
Best thing to wake up to on a Monday morning!
Mark is the content King of CZcams, his videos NEVER let me down, what an awesome channel!
Last time I was this Early, the Imperial Japanese Navy still had Aircraft Carriers!
Elaborate
@@aaronhutt274 Sank them by using American Aircraft Launched from American Carriers 100s of miles away?
The ijn always had aircraft carriers, they just ran out of trained pilots!
Wow you must be so funny irl
But did they have any planes?
Yeses! Thanks so much Dr.F
for what exactly ?
@@oddballsok every day is a school day and dr.felton educates. I love it. I love history.
The program will always be remembered as costing Joe Juniors life. Thanks again Mark.
Professor Felton’s videos are CZcams’s educational Crown Jewels
Mark, great video. The Joe Kennedy Jr. connection answers a lot of questions for those of us who always wondered how he died. Could you do a story on Ernest Hemingway in the Hurtgen Forest? It was a life-changing experience for him that many believe changed him into the depressed, suicidal man he became after WWII. Hemingway based his character in "Across the River and Into the Trees" on Colonel Lanham, the commander of the 22nd Infantry Regiment whom he accompanied into the battle. Just a thought...
Hemingway was depressed long before this. A Farewell to Arms, The Sun also Rises and The Old Man and the Sea.
Learn something new every video. Thanks Dr. Felton!
The US: *Suffers loss of ships to kamikaze attacks*
Also the US when they find out you could just remote control the plane: Write that down, write that down!
Your content is just amazing, the production , the research, the explanation... It's all of the highest quality!!! Thanks from Brazil 🇧🇷🇬🇧 would it be nice hear you talking about the Brasilian Expedicionary Force and our pilots who fought in Italy
Love you bro
I actually love him more but ok
Bromance
@@bosshb he’s mine
Haven't watched yet, isn't this how JFKs brother died?
Not watched either, but I remember it being B24's?
Right operation, but Joe Kennedy Jf was killed in an explosion on the BQ-8 he was flying.
Why comment on something you haven't watched?
Yes. Mentioned at about 8:00
Well, then watch it.
Very interesting for me that "drone tech " existed already in 1940s
drone tech actually existed around WW1. Someone came up with a full sized radio controlled biplane, I forgot who did it and what it was called
the ending: having served aboard naval combatants, it's always painful to think of sailors aboard a vessel getting torn to pieces. good vid, as always.
I believe that I have caught up with all the Production videos. Now on to the War Stories! Thank you Mark Felton!!!!
Holy cow I clicked on 49 seconds after posting and I was LATE.
Col. Mark has been keeping all the war history channels on their toes. When _The Mark_ releases a video about a certain topic, you'd better hurry up and finish YOUR video which you were making about the same topic, otherwise he'ld have enlightened the _Notification Corps_ and gotten all the views before your video on the same topic is even ready.
hello toptenz, biographics, and thehistoryguy(who ain't too shabby his own self).
Yep!
Easily the best intro music of any channel on youtube
Mark -my Dad's friend was RAF pilot who had pals on this programme.Kennedy was warned that extraneous radio signals were being being picked up by the drones and that he should not go on this flight.
Even after the war there were some B-17 drones used to collect samples in the Crossroads test at Bikini.
You’re my hero, thanks for the quality content
Never ceases to amaze me that you can teach me things about the war that I didn't know and I have spent most of my hours working (installing auto glass) listening to history programs, and you Dr.Felton in my opinion are the very best ever to write/narrate a good story! thank you for your work. Please keep it up my good sir. 👍🔥
Another well made video, keep it up!
Last time I was this early Czechoslovakia was promised not to be invaded
This shows that the WW2 technology was much more advanced than what people may think, awesome video
I would have thought the two atom bombs dropped in ww2 would give people a clue........
You have no idea...it goes way beyond this.
Yeah. But there was also some pretty barbaric and strange "technology". Like the Russian tank destroying suicide dogs.
@@brendenmcnemar684 how is a suicide dog ‘technology’ ?..
They tried something like this in WW1, but it was more like the V-1 than the Project Aphrodite aircraft. The WW1 version was very hit or miss (more miss than hit).
Dad got to see the carnage caused by the V 1 first hand. Really bad when it hit a school full of kids.
It succeeded in it's mission, the v-1 & v-2 had no direct military value, they were terror weapons, but I guess they did somewhat because they caused the Allies to divert precious military resources to deal with them!
Mr Felton, I don't know how you manage to keep producing such brilliant work but I am incredibly graetful that you do. Thank you so much.
Poor B-17’s, they are my favorite bomber of WW2. Oh well, that’s awesome though, I wouldn’t want to be in that bunker
Going by what a failure the entire programme was that bunker was probably the safest place to be!
An update on the Naval concept of fireships to block harbors. Kind of like the idea of battle worn bombers, being packed with explosives and hurled at an enemy target, seems like a great way to retire the B-17. To bad it did not work better, seems Operation Aphrodite killed more Americans then Nazis.
I like the typical American...ness of the B-17, but a great bomber it was not. Rugged? Yes but efficient? No. The bog standard Mosquito could carry as much as far at twice the speed and much higher. If one was lost, two men lost their lives, not 10. The Lancaster could carry way more to the point that it almost dropped the first atom bomb until modified super fortress s were used. The liberator was a better US bomber surely.
I was lucky enough to visit it in the late 90’s, fascinating!
@@andrewbarton8525 I’m sorry I can agree with you on that one, but in my opinion they are both fantastic ww2 U.S. bombers that served their role well. I just favor the B17 because of the looks and the important roles they played
First to like! Thanks again for sharing this new content Mark!
Perfect for an evening on the couch, thanks again!
Thanks Mark yet another little gem. La cupola is a real treat to visit now. It has now been made into an excellent museum with the V2 sectioned
plus masses of other exhibits . The restaurant has a V1 with a cockpit hung from the ceiling. Apparently more like this were destined as manned suicide bombs piloted
to be flown onto their targets. I believe the REME officer who was asked to destroy the intact carcass of the ingenious building said he could
not do it without taking out the town of St Omer 10km away, hence its survival. The RAF heavy bombs actually tilted it slightly but it survived,
Understandably the surrounding landscape was considerably influenced by the attacks.
My uncle was a pilot (Donald Salles) for Operation Aphrodite and is mentioned in the book by the same name. I will give a tidbit of info he gave me regarding Joe Kennedy. The mission he died on was actually supposed to be my Uncles. Joe wanted to visit his girlfriend in London, so he and my uncle swapped by making up a story for the reason to their superiors. Well, my uncle was always regarded as a lucky pilot, he never lost a single member of his crew during the war.
Were the pilots in Aphrodite volunteers? It seems that as Kennedy was boarding his last flight, it was already known to be an extremely dangerous endeavour with very high casualty rates among crews...
@@kajet666 Yes, all of them were volunteers. Kennedy was a Naval Aviator, my uncle was Army Air Force. It was dangerous. I recall my uncle had forged French papers just in case. The object was to get the planes off the ground and then jump. I believe the book I mentioned called them Jump Pilots.
Hmmm this is something I’ve never heard about
@Alarum What not just Americans
Loving how much material youve been putting out lately!
Every day's a school day! Thank you, Mark!!
@Mark Felton Productions - Mark, thanks for yet another fascinating video. But as an American; thank you for filling in a piece of the puzzle, on the death of Joseph Kennedy Jr. Although the type of the mission was known. But, Only you have fleshed out, the Why and the complete context of it's necessity. Thanks again.
There's a little memorial for Joe Kennedy in the beautiful Blythburgh church, Suffolk, which must have been almost underneath where his plane exploded. I drive past it regularly.
My Dad volunteered for the Aphrodite Project and was the last pilot to fly a training mission and successfully return with Joe Kennedy. Kennedy's next mission was his last.
Fantastic informative productions. Please keep them coming.
It's intresting to see how many weapons we today precive as cutting edge tech have their roots in ww2.
There were drone aircraft in WW1. Google the Kettering and Sperry ‘Bugs’.
New to Mark Felton?
Mark please consider a video on Major Peter Ortiz and his handful of Marines helping the French Resistance.
This is the first Mark Felton story I already knew!
But still well worth watching.
Extreme Kudos to you Mark Felton. Your videos are entertaining, informative and unlike SO much content on the internet, you get exactly what is says on the tin (or in this case thumbnail). You never get click-bait with a Mark Felton production because the stuff researched and presented is often stranger than fiction. Thank you.
I see mark post and it gets a automatic like (simple)
Haha, I hit like while the intro music is playing. I have never regretted it and I doubt I ever will.
the Japanese decided to make a drone bomb, the remote controller was in the vehicle.
Not at all remote then!
Ive been here since roughly 100k and to watch all of your content/growth has been outstanding
I don’t know how you do it, Mark!! Every video of yours I learn something new. As an old guy who has studied WW2 history, your breadth and depth of knowledge is just astounding. Thanks! Keep up the good work!
Watching during my workout
La Coupole isn't really a place name, it's the name of the bunker itself. It's located in Wizernes of course. Been there myself and it's an amazing thing to see. In the same region you can still find dozens of sites linked to V1 and V2 operations. I visited almost all of those still in existence. Anyway, great work and many of your productions are off the beaten track, so to say.
Did you also visit the nearby ‘Blockhaus’ V2 site?
@@AtheistOrphan yes, all pretty impressive structures but luckily too big to hide.
This is one of my favorite past times learning about history and your videos are amazing thank you mark
Again, well done, sir! I check notifications first thing when going online, hoping you have posted. I always learn something.
Tall boys and the grand slam, they were meming well ahead of their time...
Der Mark findet immer wieder etwas interessantes was im Geschichtsunterricht nicht mal erwähnt wurde...Grüße aus Deutschland
Hallo
Corona Hoax
Grüße zurück aus England.
@@marialaden4259 oh really? Well how about you go look at normal death statistics and then look at 2020’s death statistics. There is a HUGE difference.
@@lonniebailey4989 Not in germany tho 🤷🏻♂️
MFP is the best military history channel on youtube.. And I've seen all of them.
How do you produce so many excellent videos so quickly? On top of your fantastic war stories and books. Its remarkable, thank you
Awesome documentary! Hats off to Grand Slams and war weary fortresses being stuffed with high explosives and ‘aimed’ at enemy bunkers and strongholds !!Every day is a school day 😀
Very interesting, never realised Fersfield was used for this, or about Kennedy and the Blythe estuary, incidentally I’m writing this from about half way point between the two. There is much USAF history in east anglia.
Well, that did not work as planned. Another obscure feat of WW2. Keep digging them up Dr Mark!
Well done - again. I never tire of this. Thanks mate. 👍😊
I can't imagine there was a surplus of tour expired B-17's given their losses!!
By 1944 there losses were low or sustainable. The Luftwaffe was exhausted of pilots and fuel by then.
Appears the USAF has improved its drones.
Afghan goat farmers at their weddings would disagree with you.
@@PORRRIDGE_GUN Shouldn't have married his goat. Baaaa
Mark just chillin with clone troopers is always the best sight
This is one of the most interesting channels on youtube
In the Joseph Kennedy tragedy, the evening before the flight an engineering office had mentioned that the arming circuit was designed or wired incorrectly and should not be used but the "higher ups" ignored him probably because they knew best. A future President of the US died as a result.
don't ask the pilot as the crew chief
Mark read for the first time today about the Germans using “U-boat tanks” with pipes for breathing and the engine to cross the River Bug underwater at 3.15am on the first day of Barbarossa. Perhaps you could do a video on this.
The germans fell in love with fording tanks,they even put a snorkel on the tiger so it could drive under rivers.The mause was desirable with the idea that it could operate under 7 or so metres of water.
As always fascinating Dr Felton.Thanks for sharing!
im polish living in Norwich you are always welcome!!
Last time I was this early the Germans still respected Belgian neutrality.
Yes Belgium that heartland of the British Empire!
US airforce dude: "Let's create giant exploding drones to destroy important ground targets!"
The project: *FAILS 14 FUCKING TIMES*
another US airforce dude: "wai', don't we already have big bombs specifically designed for this very task?"
the first US airforce dude: "Lol, oh ye!"
Operation Aphrodite was an interesting WWII experiment. I covered it on a book about the Fifteenth Air Force flying out of Italy.
Nice piece.
Awesome footage. Thanks for sharing Mark Felton.
Joe jr took on more risky missions trying to win medals to help his campaign for president after the war as his younger brother john f Kennedy had already won a medal making joe jealous
Correct! ......... AND he was warned by an electronic tech about the failure in the timing delay system ....Oh well think of the headlines....... Ops! ...Wrong headline.
I think that he may also have been trying to compensate for his father's role as ambassador to England (and perhaps even Nazi sympathiser) in the early years of WWII.
@@tommcallister7647 After he got canned by FDR.
There was more to it. His father was a Nazi sympathizer. Both Joseph Kennedy Jr and the future president wrote statements that were at the very least soft on the Nazis.
@@ronmaximilian6953 Perhaps you can link to the written statements where Joe jr and John F were soft on Nazis. I'd like to read the words.
Ah, yes. The Kennedy Curse strikes again.
It's been up for like 4-hours and 44K views, 10K per hour Mark, amazing, well done!
Another impeccably crafted video Mr Felton ! Your ability to take 70+ year old documents and action reports from militaries on both sides of history and spin them into a video that manages to both educate AND entertain never fails to impress me !
The fact that you can do the same thing mere days later , over and over again ?? That's some Black-Belt Jedi Master X-Men sh..shtuff !
Someone said he has a staff of like......16 people, wait, I mean he works as hard as 16 people
It would have taken a Hell of a lot more than just a 3-day pass in London, another stripe and some extra rations to get me to volunteer for something like that!
At this point I’m just going to believe every modern weapon was already made
I saw an old film about the BB Arkansas fitted with RC controls between the WW's. It was on Periscope Films. It's hard to be original.
@@raygiordano1045 Yeah, like these EMPS are just like Roman technology. Why do we have R&D teams
@@CivilWarWeekByWeek it's not meant to be a serious comment, don't get your panties in a bunch over it.
Unless the barbarians had computers, an EMP device would have been useless to the legions.
@@raygiordano1045 I know I was just being sarcastic
@@CivilWarWeekByWeek looks like what we have here is a failure to communicate. (Note: Cool Hand Luke reference) I will consider your panties to be in a perpetual state of unbunchedness.
We need a sarcastic font.
Learned something new today, this channel never disappoints. You could have said this was a cut chapter from Catch-22 and I would have believed it.
You are just the best Mark! I was like " wasn't that the same thing that had to do with the Kennedy's?" Sure enough you mentioned it. You really are the best