iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Graham Cross @grahamcross.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

A little local history. Ipswich was surrounded by American military stations during the Second World War. Some of the troops were African American who faced segregation both in their camps and when they visited local towns including Ipswich. #Ipswich #8thAirForce #923rdEngineerAviationRegiment

430

Graham Cross @grahamcross.bsky.social · 23/11/2024

A thread 🧵on the wartime film "A Welcome to Britain" produced to mitigate some of the tensions in Anglo-American relations. My interest focuses on the section dealing with race and U.S. forces in Britain at the 25.15-29.15 minute point. Four minutes to cover a big subject #FriendlyInvasion #WW2

163

Graham Cross @grahamcross.bsky.social · 27/10/2024

Sorry to go on, but...Hansard for 29th September 1942 in response to a question from the MP for Maldon stating that discrimination had been introduced in some parts of Britain, Churchill hopes views on African American troops can be respected 'without any action on my part'

010

Graham Cross @grahamcross.bsky.social · 26/10/2024

Re the British War Cabinet position on African American soldiers in the UK. They took two main actions facilitating the roll-out of an American 'Jim Crow' system in the UK. The first was the passing of the United States (Visiting Forces) Act 6 August 1942 placing Americans under US military law.

150

Graham Cross @grahamcross.bsky.social · 24/10/2024

Nope - it's actually still there, so here is the tweet from Andrew Roberts anyway.

220

Graham Cross @grahamcross.bsky.social · 23/10/2024

The British War Cabinet met on 13th October 1942 to discuss African American troops arriving in Britain. Looking at this quote from the minutes on its own, you might conclude that Churchill (Chair) and the Cabinet had taken a firm stand against the imposition of a ‘Jim Crow’ system in the country.

151

Graham Cross @grahamcross.bsky.social · 12/10/2024

This fascinating programme is on Channel 4 next Saturday evening (UK listing for 19th Oct). I did some historical consulting for them and some filming last month. Fun to be involved www.tvguide.co.uk/schedule/195...

tvguide.co.uk

Churchill: Britain's Secret Apartheid

Churchill: Britain's Secret Apartheid: Nadifa Mohamed explores a largely forgotten part of Second World War history. Churchill: Britain's Secret Apartheid airs on Channel 4 at 8:20 PM, Saturday 19 Oct...

042

Graham Cross @grahamcross.bsky.social · 20/09/2024

For a more visual frame of reference - this thread explains why the famous photo of the 'Bottisham Four' taken July 26 1944 shows only lower fuselage Invasion Stripes and those Stirlings still have have the full stripes in September 1944 #8thFighterCommand

092

Graham Cross @grahamcross.bsky.social · 20/09/2024

1. @danellin.bsky.social posted a great photo of some Stirlings with invasion stripes that raised a whole heap of questions. The following thread covers the approach of 8th Fighter Command chopped from my Slybirds book because I didn't have the wordcount. First the supporting documents

182

Reposted by Graham Cross

Dan Ellin @danellin.bsky.social · 20/09/2024

Four Stirlings in Flight #OTD 20 Sept 1944. From the Fred Weston collection in the IBCC Digital Archive. Fred flew operations as an air gunner with 101 and 620 Squadrons. #WW2 #Arnhem80

An air to air photograph of four Stirlings. Handwritten in a corner is 'Approaching Arnhem Sept 20th 1944'.
Information supplied with the collection states that Fred is rear gunner in the lead aircraft.
IBCC Digital Archive item 35609

3125

Graham Cross @grahamcross.bsky.social · 19/09/2024

On May 1 1944, the African American #923rdEngineerAviationRegiment handed over Debach Airfield in Suffolk to the #8thAirForce The Press were on hand to record the event and I provide details for this unidentified film from the Pathe Archive in the comments below youtu.be/H6DJcTHEFBU

youtu.be

Us Troops (1944)

YouTube video by British Pathé

132

Graham Cross @grahamcross.bsky.social · 11/09/2024

I've been historian for the #353rdFighterGroup based at Metfield snd Raydon, Suffolk for the last 35 years or so. In that time, I have been sent a considerable amount of their memorabilia. Today, I worked with Jim Clarey of the 8th Air Force Heritage Gallery to get some of it on public display.

261

Graham Cross @grahamcross.bsky.social · 06/06/2024

I knew Lt. Col. Wayne K. Blickenstaff, a double ace with the 353rd Fighter Group, and edited his wartime memoir a couple of years ago. I included his wartime diary that is pretty honest in places. Posting his entries for D-Day below with his memoir available here: www.amazon.com/Ace-Day-Memo...

amazon.com

Amazon.com: Ace in a Day: The Memoir of an Eighth Air Force Fighter Pilot in World War II: 9781636242095: Blickenstaff, Lt Col Wayne K, Cross, Graham: Books

171

Graham Cross @grahamcross.bsky.social · 27/05/2024

Popped over to Madingley today to lay a wreath on behalf of the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum in Savannah, Georgia. With a nod to Norman Wells, who has faithfully carried out this duty for many years. #8thAirForce

050

Graham Cross @grahamcross.bsky.social · 27/04/2024

You are going to hear a lot about the #6888th Central Postal Battalion, often said to be the first African American service women in the ETO in February 1945, when the Netflix film drops this year. The 63 nurses of the 168th Station Hospital near Warrington beat them to it in August 1944.

450

Graham Cross @grahamcross.bsky.social · 16/04/2024

How to capture the experiences of an African American unit in the UK during WWII when there are few archival resources or oral histories? Spend years hunting down collections of contemporary letters. These are 150 from a man in the #923rdEngineerAviationRegiment covering his whole wartime service.

46012

Graham Cross @grahamcross.bsky.social · 15/04/2024

In 1945, the African American #923rdEngineerAviationRegiment produced 8,000 of these unit histories for its members. They are pretty scarce these days. Read more about the unit here: 8thaf.co.uk/exhibition/2...

120

Graham Cross @grahamcross.bsky.social · 16/03/2024

Rosie's Rivet Count - Masters of the Air Episode 9 Join me, with tongue in cheek, for a final ninth mission so we can complete our tour of duty, leave Hollywood behind and go home to the rest of our lives. Got a genuine rivet that needs counting? I am your man and happy to add it to the list.

3464

Graham Cross @grahamcross.bsky.social · 12/03/2024

Book shop find. I have never read it, but I can't help thinking we have lost something in book cover design since the 1970s. To artist 'give us a B-17 with guns blazing' to go with the exclamation mark...' #MastersOfTheAir #8thAirForce

251

Graham Cross @grahamcross.bsky.social · 10/03/2024

Here's the start of my rivets for MOTA episode 8.

130

Graham Cross @grahamcross.bsky.social · 10/03/2024

Rosie's Rivet Count - Masters of the Air Episode 8 Place tongue firmly in cheek and jump in the right hand seat as we fly another mission to interdict untruths in occupied Hollywood. Got a genuine rivet that needs counting? I am your man and happy to add it to the list.

2984

Graham Cross @grahamcross.bsky.social · 09/03/2024

Am tied up with something today so cannot do the 'rivet count' for #MastersOfTheAir Episode 8 until tomorrow. Struggling to think happy thoughts about this one to be honest...

130

Graham Cross @grahamcross.bsky.social · 02/03/2024

Here is the start of the 'Rivet Count' for Episode 7 of Masters of the Air.

211

Graham Cross @grahamcross.bsky.social · 02/03/2024

Rosie's Rivet Count - Masters of the Air Episode 7 The Heavenly trumpets from the intro call us once more to battle with Hollywood's claim of 'wie es eigentlich gewesen.' Got a genuine rivet that needs counting? I am your man and happy to add it to the list.

2333

Graham Cross @grahamcross.bsky.social · 24/02/2024

Here is the start of the rivet count for this week.

131

Graham Cross @grahamcross.bsky.social · 24/02/2024

08.53-09.42 Crosby heading to Balliol, Oxford is a real thing from his book as is the confusion over the pronunciation of Subaltern.

000

Graham Cross @grahamcross.bsky.social · 24/02/2024

Rosie's Rivet Count - Masters of the Air Episode 6 Join me, once more, with tongue firmly in cheek, as I board the bandwagon in search of critical engagement in a desert of social media cheerleading. Got a genuine rivet that needs counting? I am your man and happy to add it to the list.

2252

Graham Cross @grahamcross.bsky.social · 21/02/2024

My slow brain has been thinking a bit about MOTA. I think I've been hard on them. The scene where they shoot the bombsight after salvoing the armed bombs. Literally, they are putting the Norden and precision bombing out of its misery. Subtle, if intentional, but something at least.

331

Graham Cross @grahamcross.bsky.social · 18/02/2024

A short thread on the Munster Raid of 10 October 1943 and the portrayal of it by MOTA. The show clearly states (at 11.30) the aiming point and MPI is the marshalling yard in the town. You can see it bottom centre in this clear weather picture from the day of the raid.

795

Graham Cross @grahamcross.bsky.social · 17/02/2024

Posting the start of this week's rivet count here...

031

Graham Cross @grahamcross.bsky.social · 17/02/2024

Rosie's Rivet Count - Masters of the Air Episode 5 Placing my tongue firmly in cheek while I apply the laser cutter of truth to Hollywood hubris. Got a genuine rivet that needs counting? I am your man and happy to add it to the list

2054

Graham Cross @grahamcross.bsky.social · 10/02/2024

Here's the start of this week's rivet count.

010

Graham Cross @grahamcross.bsky.social · 10/02/2024

Rosie's Rivet Count - Masters of the Air Episode 4 Once more I put on the anorak of fact (with tongue firmly in cheek) to sock Hollywood nonsense square on the jaw. Got a genuine rivet that needs counting? I am your man and happy to add it to the list

2522

Graham Cross @grahamcross.bsky.social · 09/02/2024

A current British Academy funded project I'm working on is about these guys. They built and maintained airfields for the 8th AF - even Thorpe Abbotts but you won't see them in MOTA. 8thaf.co.uk/exhibition/2...

8thaf.co.uk

The 923rd Engineer (Aviation) Regiment

Building 'Airdromes,' 1942-1945

142

Graham Cross @grahamcross.bsky.social · 03/02/2024

Going to post this here so you can see the start of the thread...

000

Graham Cross @grahamcross.bsky.social · 03/02/2024

Rosie's Rivet Count - Masters of the Air Episode 3 Continuing to fight the good fight on your behalf (with tongue firmly in cheek). Hollywood thinks they've got this - we know better. Got a genuine rivet that needs counting? I am your man and happy to add it to the list

2412

Graham Cross @grahamcross.bsky.social · 28/01/2024

Here is episode two for my fellow rivet counters...

100

Graham Cross @grahamcross.bsky.social · 28/01/2024

Rosie's Rivet Count - Masters of the Air Episode Two Here is the second instalment of my tongue in cheek 'rivet count' aiming to confront the clear insanity that is the historical research on Apple's new show. Got a genuine rivet that needs counting? I am your man and happy to add it to the list

1675

Graham Cross @grahamcross.bsky.social · 27/01/2024

Rosie's Rivet Count - Masters of the Air Episode One. Going to do this 'rivet count' (the 100th nerds will get the joke) as a tongue in cheek commentary for each episode. Got a genuine rivet that needs counting? I am your man and happy to add it to the list.

1441

Graham Cross @grahamcross.bsky.social · 27/01/2024

Loving the Ridley Scott like 'were you there?' comments dumped on anyone daring to criticise Masters of the Air online. 'Greatest Generation' man!

011

Graham Cross @grahamcross.bsky.social · 26/01/2024

Watched the first two episodes of Masters of the Air. An underwhelming disappointment. It has a military re-enactors obsession with appearance rather than the depth and nuance needed for such a topic. A missed opportunity that even gets the looks wrong at times despite a huge budget.

000

Graham Cross @grahamcross.bsky.social · 26/01/2024

Struggling to keep track of all the characters in Apple's Masters of the Air? Feeling left behind by the bandwagon? Then you need a copy of the 100th Bomb Group's yearbook published in 1947. Scarce as hen's teeth, but fear not.You can read it online here digicom.bpl.lib.me.us/ww_reg_his/1...

001

Graham Cross @grahamcross.bsky.social · 25/01/2024

Want a better single volume treatment of the American effort? Go to Richard Davis on Tooey Spaatz. It has its problems as an 'official' history, but magisterial is a word I'd use. You can also read it for free online. It even has a 100th BG B-17 on the cover!

120