Bastogne 1944 - The Forgotten Flying Heroes
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.พ. 2025
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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.o...
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My father fought and was wounded at the bulge and My Mother was back in the states building Waco gliders. I am very proud of both of them.
You should be proud. They were part of "The Greatest Generation" - we stand on the shoulders of giants.
Awesome! My Mom worked on those A20s at Douglas Longbeach. 🙂
Thanks guys. I never really said it like that before. Guess this medium makes it easier.
What was his wound? Was he sent back into action after he recovered or was he discharged?
@@MrJoebrooklyn1969 He was out of service due to the injury, schrapnel to leg. It was a slow recovery I am told.
In 1981-82 I served in the Belgian Army in the Ardennes. It was not a joke. The winter was harsh; I have never been so cold in my live for days on end. I can not imagine how much the soldiers must have suffered in the battle of the bulge, when the risk of getting killed or injured must have enforced the stressful winter conditions. Those men should never be forgotten.
Coldest winter on record too. I assume "the year with no sun" was colder but temperature recording equipment was not as accurate.
The glider and C-47 crews are the unsung heroes of the battle of the Bulge and should never be forgotten.
They weren't needed
@@ElCarboon what are you talking about?
@@ElCarboon lol....your name says it all Ese...😅
@@Yaz-pn9py I was there.
Whackos? .....not Wacos?
A friend, who recently passed away, was there as a machine gunner with the 106th Infantry. His regiment was the only one of the three in the 106th that wasn't over-run and captured. They fell back and fought a stubborn holding action. He talked to the day he passed about how cold it was and how his feet still bothered him seventy five years later in the winter. Another part of the Greatest Generation gone, but not forgotten.
Yes! The reinforcements by air carried the battle a much needed week until General Patton broke through to the battle hardened " 101st Airborne! My buddys father who was there with the "101st", told me every winter when it gets cold and foggy he has nightmares still in a foxhole and wakes up drenched in sweat! His wife got angry when he told me the storys due to it bringing up the memory's and night mares!He still kept his uniform! What a patriot!
@@JackGordone The company initially started under the name Weaver Aircraft Company of Ohio (W.A.C.O.) but changed its name to the Waco Aircraft Company in 1928/29. It is indeed pronounced the way Dr. Felton says it.
@@JackGordone I believe Waco aircraft rhymes with taco (seriously)
@@JackGordone I'm from Troy, Ohio - the birthplace of the Weaver Aircraft Company (WACO) and we have a small aircraft museum here in town that tells all about it (and that glider- which was developed here). Mark pronounced it correctly. WACO rhymes with taco.
My Great uncle was in The Battle of The Bulge. The company he was part of was completely wiped out in heavy fighting, and according to him captured prisoners were executed. Except for himself and a handful of others managed to get out alive.
My mom told me that after the war when he lived in Michigan during the winter he be drunk crying in the snow for his friends for years after the war. My Great Great Grandmother saved his life by getting him help, but he was I never knew of any of this until his passing.
My grandfather was in the 82nd airborne and was attached to Patton's forces when they smashed through the german offensive in the battle of the bulge. He died 14 years ago never really got to talk to him much about his experiences in ww2.
Crazy. Been reading about Bastogne for years and never heard about the glider missions. Felton for the win again.
Don't read only comic books!
@@youbidoubidou I have also read many books about the Bulge and Bastogne in particular (my grandfather was there) and don't remember reading anything about glider missions. I thought they held out until the weather cleared enough for supplies to be dropped.
@@youbidoubidou Please..... The use of gliders is a footnote. All focus is on the ground troops and Pattons relief. That's what sells books.
I've read books about the battle and seen all the movies. None have mentioned or shown anything about air drops or gliders. Still a lot more books to read.
Read NUTS! By Vincent Speranza who was there with the 2/502
Mark my Grandfather was attached to Patttons 3rd, he was in the 323rd Field Artillery. Like many many Americans he landed on DDay on Omaha Beach, fought in the “Battle of the Hedgerows” as he called it and fought in the Ardennes Forest, in his words culminating in crossing the Rhine. He spoke of direct firing his howitzer into advancing German waves and spoke of how difficult it was to get a round to penetrate the Panthers. He had fascinating stories of recon with Indian motorcycles, spooling out wire to radio back telemetry to the FA, German snipers in church steeples, and recon planes being outfitted with rockets (handmade fixing)! He also had fascinating stories of Panzer Faust encounters, capturing one of the giant German artillery pieces that shelled for tens of miles with rounds as big as a car by weight. His father in law served in WW1 and WW2. He even worked dismantling V2 rockets in England. He was quite an amazing man, from the farm to the front, a farmers son proved to be indispensable to the US army as he could seemingly work, fix or make anything operate. I am very proud of them all and enjoy your work immensely. I miss them all so much, they endured more than they would ever let us know. Merry Christmas.
Yeah.. My grandfather was chased around the Irish sea in a schooner by uboats in 1918; only to have his family harassed, while he was arrested and detained by the same british 2 years later.
Holy crap! What was your grandfather's name, McGuyver? Those are amazing stories from an amazing man.
@@fridolfmane1063 Nothing for you to see hear! Jog-on Muppet! 😉
Farm boys have a wide range of useful skills starting at an early age, especially back then. The farming region I grew up had lots of WW2 vets. For them it was THE adventure of their lives, going from small farms to "international travel" and back.
My grandfather, Ferdinand Denbeaux, was attached to Patton's Third, with the Fourth Armored Division. He was a Chaplain, and a Captain, and the family (amateur and possibly inaccurate) history is that he was part of the Fourth Armored break of the Siege of Bastogne. Wish he were around to ask, now that I am old enough and know enough to chase these details down. I wish I knew as much of his time during the War as you do of yours, Michael. I miss him very much, as you do yours, and we now know he suffered post-war in ways that pre-PTSD as a condition/diagnosis, we never could have put a name to. Thinking of Grandpa Fred brings a smile to my face and tears to my eyes, even now. Thinking of him again is a wonderful Christmas gift, Mark. You are amazing. Please keep on keeping on. You mean so much to so many.
This has to be the most detailed story of bastogne ive ever heard
Merry Christmas to you Dr Felton and keep the stories coming love watching them.
How do you manage to comment 5hours ago if the video just posted 6minutes ago?🙂
@@taktuscat4250 patrons get content early potentially?
@@UGotSimmonSized Oh okay🙂 happy holidays!
Just tapping 👍🏼 doesn't seem enough. Merry Christmas to Dr Mark and his legion followers!
What the others tried toncover
My father in law was nearby , with the british airborne , possibly 13th parachute battalion . He said the snow and cold were the worst enemy .
I've been to Bastogne where they held a Christmas dinner in 1944. I've heard of an truce made by a few American and German soldiers that celebrated Christmas and feasted in a small house hosted by a local villager.
The spirit of Christmas 1914 twenty years later.
@@bigblue6917 thirty?
Excellent. We're all human beings, German, Jew, American, Dutch or whatever and all at once, we're all in this together. Happy holidays, everyone.
As a current Commander within the 101st Airborne Division, Merry Christmas Mr. Felton!
Thank you and your troops for your service, and Merry Christmas!
As a retired Navy Chief Petty Officer of the Seabees, a very Merry Christmas to you and all of your troops. Stay save, stay focused and carry on. God bless you and your personnel, Sir.
Thank you for you’re service sir fr
🇺🇸 Thank you for your service! 🇺🇸
101st !
Merry Christmas to TH-cam’s best channel!
@@barrykevin7658 what?
@@Black-Sun__x . Sorry mistake comment for my brother very late last night ,no idea what I meant. Happy Christmas.
@@barrykevin7658 happy Christmas to you too
My father in law received the bronze star for actions at the field hospital. He was one of the glider medics with the glider troops.
🇺🇸🙏🇺🇸
and he thought he only signed up for service in Medic tents behind the battle front..
"this way please to the Waco.." "the what ?"
IMHO, They should have awarded all those medical personnel and Waco pilots Silver Stars for volunteering to go in.
If they were army medical personnel yes, if they were civilian volunteer personnel I dont believe they can.
On this night in 1944, my father was a young motor pool sergeant, and as such, was asked by some Catholic guys in his outfit to help them get to midnight mass being held by some priests in a large cave some ways away. He said that although he was raised a Baptist, he didn’t want his friends to miss worship and so voluntarily drove them to the cave while the Germans were shelling them. I’ve seen pictures of the underground mass that were taken at the time. My father and the other soldiers were permitted to sign their names to a wall commemorating the event. When he went back 40 years later, he got to go back to the cave as part of a tour arranged by his old army unit. He said that some kids had damaged his and some of his friend’s signatures, and the Belgian authorities gave them permission to resign the wall, which they did. He said that the Belgian people were very gracious to he and the fellow members of his old unit, and he enjoyed the follow up visit much more than the initial experience, lol. Thanks, Mark.
Great story
As a Catholic I thank him for his generosity and as a army brat for his service. Marry Christmas!
Me too as a Catholic I am thankful for your dad to help my brothers get to worship, God bless.
Outstanding
Beautiful.
In memory of my uncle Phil Barbera from Brooklyn, N.Y. He lived just one mile north of Coney Island on West 13th Street. He was there at Bastogne during the battle and was the 1/4 ton driver for his company Commander. The name on his vehicle was "Coney Island Baby". When I returned home from Nam in "69" he had told me some of his experiences during the battle. I just want his name to be remembered.
Was his middle name "hanna"? Because that'd make him very easy to remember, lol.
Glad to hear his story though.
I would have never known about this heroic effort to supply Bastone if Dr. Felton hadn't told me.
Merry Christmas to you all.
Once again, I learn something new from Dr. Felton. I was unaware of US medical personnel becoming glider-riders during The Bulge. As for the guys flying those gliders, the "G'" on their wings stood for "Guts".
Not forgetting that once the gliders landed they become combat troops.
and Glory
Thanks so much. My father was a First Sergeant in the 81st Anti-aircraft battalion of the 101st. Christmas Eve 1944 was a bad night for both my father and my mother at home. Christmas means deliverance to my family.
In the movie Patton- he ordered that all anti-aircraft personnel be turned into infantry right away. Probably because of the weather at the time. However, the weather prayer changed all that. I hoped your father survived WW2.
@@rossjones5741 He survived and thrived. One of the most motivated people I have ever known and I have worked with some very successful people. I know a lot of what drove him was living a life he was gifted as a survivor of everything from Normandy to Bertchesgaden. He was a really good person, a wonderful father and a good friend.
@@BrianNavalinsky Apparently, your father was a keeper and a brave man. Take care sir.
My grandfather was in the 502nd PIR during this battle. Thank you for producing this episode, it means more to me than I can adequately express.
The medical personnel that flew in must be the bravest of the brave. Thank you Mark this was a very good report. Merry Christmas to all🎄
Thanks for another great episode. My 19 year old grandpa was in the American 84th infantry division during this battle. Aka The Railsplitters. He said that was the coldest winter he ever experienced in his life. He got a bronze star and a purple heart. RIP
It was the coldest winter on record in Europe, which is pretty high up in latitude. I know they get a warm trade wind but that can only carry you so far when the axis of the earth is working against you.
This is what a "ruined Christmas" really looks like.
Nice one.
Seriously. We need to appreciate our circumstances.
We are living through our “greatest generation” ...
No, because that was necessary to defeat evil. This ruined Christmas is necessary to politicians, but not good people.
@@EdMcF1 It was a ruined Christmas for the men who fought and died or were seriously wounded there. I'm pretty sure of that.
My father fought in this battle and was wounded on Christmas Day. His feet froze. He was taken off the line. Thanks for sharing this video. It meant a lot to me.
Lest we Forget these heroes.
TY Dr Felton for keeping their stories alive!
Had no idea that glider ops were so extensive.
My late Father in law a tank driver was in the relief of Bastogne.
Merry Christmas Mr Felton hope you and your family enjoy quality time
You too
"...for both its brevity and the translation difficulties it caused at German Headquaters."
German general: "Nuts? Was ist nuts? Nein?...ya?"
The resupplies have always been a part of the relief of Bastogne but I actually never heard of the use of gliders in that effort. And that first glider with all the doctor, nurses, and medical supplies, if that wasn't an Angel Flight, then I don't know what else it could have been! As for Patton, in the histories he rescued the 101 but you ask any trooper then or now and they will tell you that after throwing back every attack the Germans threw at them, they didn't need rescuing, only ammunition! Thanks for another great episode.
I"ll bet the guys on the ground were really thankful for those air drops. A Christmas miracle to them.
My Father was part of the 439th and made a successful landing at Bastogne. He flew alone as Flight Officer that day, Chalk 17 92nd Airborne
My Uncle was there with the 75th US Army Division, he said it was very cold. He said a very tough operation. Thanks to all Allied Forces.
Thank you for his service! Those men were ill equipped to say the least!!
@@celladoor9696 yes they were.
The winter of 1945 was one of the coldest ever recorded in Belgium.
@@thomasvan3786 yes I remember my uncle talking about how cold it was.
My father-in-law just turned 95. He was there also. The greatest generation!🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
As Always, The Best War Documentaries Around. My Father Was There & On This Day 12/24/44 Spent Christmas Eve In A Foxhole. I Keep Hoping To See Him In A Video Clip, Thanks.
Can you make a vid on the german invasion of The Netherlands? Merry Christmas.
Waar Bastogne een koekje bij de koffie is.
@Guy Incognito if I remember correctly, the danish hardly lasted a day, with the use of Fallschirmjäger. Correct me if I’m wrong
@Guy Incognito Those countries tried to stay out of it, and their armies were so weak they knew fighting would be futile.
The next one or the last one?
@Guy Incognito there were traitors in every occupied country, but I agree that Poland fought bravely with what they had. And many of them that escaped to England continued to fight. Just look at the Polish RAF squadrons and the unit that attacked Monte Cassino.
My father-n-law who passed away many years ago, piloted C-47's during WW2 as part of the 4th Pathfinder squadron (9th TC Group). He flew drops on D Day, Market garden and over Bastogne, during the "Bulge". On one sortie his aircraft was hit and he lost an engine. We have a declassified copy of an AfterAction Report (AAR) which mentions plane and crew lost and also those that made it back. According to the AAR; "Lt. Marley's plane effected a perfect drop despite intense enemy ground file...headed for home even though he knew he (the aircraft) had been hit. His left engine oil pressure dropped to zero and therefore the prop would not feather. He flew on a single engine for about twenty minutes, but could not maintain altitude. With unparalleled skill Lt. Marley brought his plane down and belly landed in a ploughed field 16 miles north of Reims, without injury to him or any of his crew". None of his wartime experiences were known to us until going though his papers after his death. He has a few decorations including the Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, several WW2 medals and the Legion of Merit, which was presented to him later on during his career. He retired a Lt. Colonel and is buried in Arlington Cemetery. It was a privilege to have known him.
It's a privilege to have read about him. Thank you for sharing.
My father was there it was so cold he said God bless those soldiers that gave it all
S/O to the young nurses taking that glider across enemy lines and landing in the snow. You can’t win a war without brave women like them!
Too bad we lost those kind of women and men to the soy. Now all we have is fucked up bottom surgeries telling the enemy that they need a break to go to the cry closet.
BRAVO !!
oh God here it starts...
Yes. Women won the war! /s
@@AwestruckAudioHertz ?
Shocking the amount of deaths to how Brave and stubborn they were to push ahead against all odds to deliver aid . The injured must have died in huge numbers while waiting for medical personnel
@Internet Troll lol troll
I never really knew my great-grandpa well, but he always had a model of a C-47 he flew during the war that I was lucky enough to have handed down to me. My grandma always told me stories when I was young about him "flying supplies to Patton's Army." I had known he flew both gliders and regular planes. She always said that whenever he did talk about it, he already said that the most terrifying experience he faced during the war was when he flew fuel to the army and said that "Guys were blowing up left and right when they got hit by flak." I never knew what exact event he would've been referencing with the story, but I did know he participated as a glider pilot during Operation Varsity, but now I know this is one of the other operations he participated in.
Lovely Christmas Special Doc! And Merry Christmas to everyone!
The courage of these men and women simply astounds me and I feel that we have no idea of what bravery and courage actually mean these days.
Now we are afraid of the flu and wear masks waiting to be allowed out of our homes by an ill advised govt.
@leroy jefferson Do you watch, listen to, or maybe even read, the news?
Do you know what is happening worldwide re your "flu"? Guessing by your "could only be American" name, you are in the states.
Do you know what is happening in your own country re your so called "flu".
Getting infected with potentially lethal Covid 19 has nothing to do with being "scared" of a "flu", or being "brave".
Covid 19 doesn't care if you are "scared" or "brave", it just goes about it's business as a virus, which is to find a host, which is us humans, and then spread to other hosts.
It doesn't have the awareness to care if the host lives or dies.
It doesn't have the awareness to care about us.
If you are going to downplay Covid to a mere "flu", in a discussion about modern history from only 85 years ago, then you should google "Spanish Flu 1914-18", as you will learn something, and you will be better informed about what is happening worldwide now. Good luck👍 from "down under".
@@gregs1748 not all of us Americans are that ignorant, please don't judge all of us based on that guy's lack of understanding.
When the s**t hits the fan, everyone is capable of incredible feats. When it's do or die, you either do or....you die.
@@gregs1748 When it's your time to die you will die, if it's not you won't, nothing you can do can add even one minute to your life. Just live your life the best you can and be ready at every moment for the end.
The battling Bastards of Bastogne...!! Thanks & Merry Christmas...An may God Bless you and yours my friend..!
Another very interesting video. I know of the ground forces the 101th. and Patton's 3rd. Army at Bastogne, but not of the bravery of the C-47 and glider crews and medical personal who flew in gliders to save the the brave soldiers fighting in the area of the battle. Thank You to all the Brave men and women of the forces at served in WW2. Thank You Dr. Felton for your great videos. Very Merry Christmas to all and may 2021 be a better year, Stay safe.
Merry Christmas to Dr. Felton and all the the people that watches your channel. Keeping History alive maybe, just maybe help us to be better persons...
My uncle was KIA near Luxembourg near the Siegfried Line fighting for the US. He was only 19 years old. It deeply affected his family.
May he RIP 🙏🇺🇸
My cousin’s husband lost his father at Malmady. I have shared this program with him, as I had have many other of your fine works, to give him some context. Years ago, I told him of the work of the French resistance and supposedly, some super antiquated OSS tapes, in putting an end to Mr Pieper
Joseph Picogna: It always seemed like a foolish decision to me, for Pieper to go and live in France after the war.
G'day Mark, Thank you for highlighting the role of brave aviators who kept the US forces supplied and gave them the chance to batter the Germans and hold out till Patton's 3rd Army arrived. To this day the 101st and other units say Patton didn't 'save' Bastogne but the men on the ground did, with the help of pilots and gliders. Another fantastic video, Mark. All the best to you and thank you for your excellent work! Merry Christmas! Cheers, Bill
Patton was half the general he said he was but twice the showman of every other general other than MacArthur, who was just the pacific version of him.
@@booradley6832 G'day Boo, I totally agree with your assessments of Patton and MacArthur, save to say MacArthur, because of his larger, overall command positions, had many greater opportunities for actually and potentially disastrous strategic and tactical, even logistical, outcomes.
On the whole, Patton was a successful, smaller or restricted battlefield commander who, despite his larger than life opinion of his abilities, did not sport the 'blind hubris' MacArthur display where 'someone else' was always responsible for the huge mistakes and miscalculations that plagued his behaviour and career. Cheer, Bill H.
My favorite quote of the war came out of this battle. Overheard by an AP reporter from an anonymous 101st soldier...
"So, they've got us surrounded... The poor bastards."
Silent,that statement reminds me of the first time the words waste-em was heard.During the Rhine offensive,Nazi youth would hold up in a house and fire every bullet they had,then surrender.The commanding officer if and American unit told his troops the next time the Nazi youth did that,2 waste-em.Kill- em all.
And that statement nuts
@@markpaul8178 o
"So they want to surrender?"
"No sir they want us to surrender."
"NUTS!"
That’s why i love Vincent Speranza, his book titled NUTs is amazing
Yet another reason to love this channel. A wonderful video to air this Christmas season and a reminder to be thankful for the sacrifice who served and made it possible for us to have the lives we do today. Having to fly level, low and slow in the face of murderous anti aircraft fire is surely the epitome of bravery.
Merry Christmas Mark, I’m 42 years old and have always been obsessed with the History of World War ll and your videos are better than any documentary I’ve ever seen and I’ve seen thousands so that’s saying something
Terrific video, Mark, as usual. My father was a member of the 95th infantry division which took Metz 1944. Awful casualties. Freezing cold weather. And snow. Circled back to the Bastogne. Didn’t talk much about these bloody battles until the last few years of his life
Mark, thank you for highlighting all of the services that contribute to victory. While the combat arms take the brunt of the fighting, they could not do their job without the support of supply, ground and air transport, medical, and all the other services. The bravery, dedication and hard work of the support personnel deserves to be highlighted. Your videos do an excellent job of showing the full scope of the war and how everyone did their part. Thank you and Merry Christmas.
Curahee! "Three miles up, three miles down."
Merry Christmas Mark & to all who are watching, I can speak for most that you’ve made this year more acceptable with your continued history stories throughout the year
I have read countless histories of this battle but was mostly unaware of the scale and heroic bravery of the pilots in the resupply effort. Thank you so much!
I never knew about the gliders. Once again, Dr. Felton has educated me on a WW2 fact that I knew nothing about. Your audio should be required school work!
WOW!! The Band Of Brothers mini series never mentioned the gliders. Seem the only place I can learn about untold stories like this is with Dr. Felton. Thank you for finding and publishing there stores. And Merry Christmas to you, your family, and production team.
Wow! Those C47s and Gliders really acted like Santa's Sleigh during those times! Especially to those men being resupplied! Merry Christmas!
Even though it’s not my best work, seeing one of my colorizations on a thumbnail has been a truly wonderful Christmas gift. Every time I think about it, it brings a smile to my face. It’s like being an extra who plays a minor role in a blockbuster. Even though people might not know your name or even remember what you did, you know that for that one fleeting moment, that one minuscule, tiny moment, that you have touched their lives. I will cherish that moment. Thank you Mark, purposely or not, for giving me that opportunity.
Wonderful work - many thanks.
Amazing documentary Mark. Have a great Christman. FWIW, that Jeep nearly needed resupplying at 11:42!
I watched your video again. Thank you, again.
My great grandparents were from Belgium and the Netherlands. I am thankful for those who fought to free my relatives from the Nazis, especially during the Christmas season, when I remember the attacks on and the battle for Bastogne.
Merry Christmas, Dr. Felton!
Somehow, I read that in a Bond villain voice.
@@EdMcF1 It makes the sentiment suitably more chilling.. good man. You shall be my Number 1.
I remember the band of brothers episode Bastogne, can’t imagine fighting the elements as well as the onslaughts thrown their way.
Cheers for another great year of content mate, love the war stories channel videos also, great addition, listened to bridge busters 3 or 4 times through
" BAND OF BROTHERS" on History Channel, now, and it's great. Wish they'd have a marathon of Mark Felton videos, too, though.
Mark, I have always considered myself a good student of WW2 and while I know of most of the topics you cover, I freely admit there are many, many details of them I did not know of. Your channel is the best I have come across for WW2 and other military topics. I thank you and appreciate your diligence, sir.
Within the character of some, is the value of duty, integrity and the worth of others is held in such high regard that it supersedes their own life. My respect to you, of any generation. 🙏
Very well said
I've always thought Patton's role in Bastogne has always been downplayed, he was in the doghouse at the time and the higher ups asked for his help in desperation, when he told them how quickly he could achieve his goals and what he could do they didn't believe him, they thought he was mad, but he did it.
My uncle was wounded during this battle. Unfortunately, he died of cancer in the early 80s and I didn’t have the knowledge I have now of history to ask him about his experience. He did show me his Purple Heart. God bless those men and God bless America 🇺🇸 thank you Mark. Merry Christmas
My uncle served there and survived, but contracted a case of scarlet fever that severly weakened his heart and shortened his life. He wouldn't talk about it much, but said it was the coldest he'd ever been in his life!
@@richardklug822 Band of Brothers. The guys mention that time after time. I’ve been hiking in subzero weather for weeks. Cold to the bone. That was nothing compared to what they went through.
Best gift ever thanks Mr. Felton
They're not forgotten by those of us who love history. Cool video.
Thanks Dr. Felton! Those of us who have served in the USAF are proud to say "I am faithful to a proud heritage, a tradition of honor, and a legacy of valor"
Thank you for making this early Christmas gift. Stay safe and happy holidays everyone
This is first doc in 50 years of watching historical shows concerning Bastogn that covers anything about the massive air support efforts. Everyone else goes from "Nuts" right to Patton's Godlike rescue.
Thank you Dr. Felton.
Thanks for all the videos, Mark. Merry Christmas, and looking forward to more wonderful content from you in 2021. Stay well!
Dr Felton. This one of the best history lessons you have done. I really enjoyed it. I felt like I was in Bastogne. Had me sitting on the edge of my seat. Keep up the good history lessons
Thanks Mark for this nice Christmas video. As a retired Army veteran I appreciate your remembrance of our brave soldiers in Bastogne during this holiday period and honor their bravery and sacrifice.
Great content and detail as always Dr. Felton! I would only add that most times in a telling of the Battle of the Bulge it is hardly ever mentioned what a tough and heroic role the US 291’s Engineers played. They very successfully stayed just barely ahead of Pieper’s armor and skillfully blew almost every bridge across the many waterways so the Nazi SS columns could not sucessfully get to Antwerp. Seldom are these engineers even mentioned, but they deserve every bit as much glory as the troops in Bastogne, as Hitler could have possible taken Antwerp without their efforts. There were less than 150 of them! And, they did sometimes suffer casualties too, as they operated so close to the Germans advance. I learned of this on a Military History Channel Special recently.
In the Time Life books series of WW2. they said Piepers column had a bridge blow up right in front of them. He started pounding his knee screaming The damned enginerrs. The damned enginerrs.
@@timrankin8737 Yes, that was in the documentary also. He knew but for the Engineer’s efforts he could very possibly still get to Antwerp. It probably wouldnt have won Germany the war, but by taking the Allied principal port, it would have most certainly set the allies back and the war would have lasted much longer.
Merry Christmas to you all!
Thank you for remembering all this. Those past lives risked it all for us.
Merry Christmas Mark. Thanks for your work.
Thanks and Merry Christmas to you Mr. Mark Felton and fellow viewers.
I knew a man here in Mississippi that as an eighteen year was there - for us. He's gone unto the Father above now. This brings to mind Christmas at Bastogne in Band of Brothers.
Merry Christmas. I'm glad I saw this. I never knew about the use of gliders to supply the 101st. My great uncle was in the 99th Infantry during The Battle Of The Bulge. I watch everything I can on this battle.
Thank you Mr. Felton. I faithfully watch your videos, but just have missed this one during the holidays. My uncle, Captain Roy H. Moore, MD was the OIC of the medical team that landed in the glider on the morning action that was not fired upon. He was a trained parachutist and hated gliders, but the other medical personnel were not trained jumpers as you state. The Action report mistakes his last name, though his first name and middle initial were correct. He had avoided capture when the 326th Field Hospital was overrun by the Germans early in the Battle and with the aid of Belgian farmers made his way back to British lines. He had been with the 101st throughout its WWII action, including Normandy and the Arnheim operation. The medical team was sorely needed as you state, and he operated almost non stop until Bastogne was relieved. After the Battle he was promoted to Major and assumed command of and the task of rebuilding the 326th Army Field Hospital unit as most personnel remained POW's until the end of the war. Thank you for reminding all of these brave Army Air Force logistics personnel in their efforts during this battle and the rest of WWII.
my great uncle was in the 28th, he survived, but seen his closer buddies all get killed
my Dad was there (RIP 2018) in the 80th division of Patton's 3rd army...pushing had to relieve Bastogne
Another year of great content 🙏 wishing everyone a merry Christmas
Dr. Felton, Thank You for another good and informative deeper dive into this famous battle. As an aside, I attended college with and was in a college student organization with one of Brig. Gen. McAuliffe's granddaughters. She was a very nice person.
A German regular trooper told me ( in 1970 ) that his unit ( platoon, company??) surrendered in the battle of the bulge. That they deliberately sought out a way to surrender without getting shot. Of course I was too young and dumb to get and record the story properly.
Man ... sent chills down my spine watching this & noting that this is what my father was doing those 76 years ago tonight. 17th Airborne. Thank you for the work that went in to producing this footage.
The sheer resources needed to supply 101st for a single day.......really gives you an idea of what was needed daily at Stalingrad.
Thanks for your continued history education! My recently departed friend George V Jackson Jr was hit by shrapnel from a lone Tiger tank the early morning of Dec 25. He was in the 326 AEB. I was unaware that the Germans were sending small probing units into Bastogne. This may be what he encountered. He recounts this story on TH-cam. If interested, search his name. I was lucky to interview him before he passed on.
@John Cornell Thanks for the additional information! Likely mistaken identity. He honestly couldn't recall where he was located when I interviewed him in 2011. Based on conversations I had with him about the location of the 326th, he assumed he was in the south, but was not 100% sure.
@John Cornell Thank you so much!
@John Cornell Thanks for the additional information. Since it was night, I'm assuming he couldn't know for sure what he was firing at. His squad manned 3 machine guns and fired on it, which resulted in it firing back, and the subsequent shrapnel. He said it was dumb that they were told to fire on it with machine guns and tracers. He did say that the tank firing on him did have twin machine guns that fired prior to the main armament firing on them. But, I'm not sure what he saw, for sure.
@John Cornell Thank you! Sure do appreciate this extra information. Even though my friend George has passed on, I'm still a WWII History Buff and appreciate learning more every day.
Thank you for the reminder of how this important battle was sustained. Merry Christmas and a great New Year in 2021.
Mark, your stories bring out family history of the war from so many who never spoke before. I’m so thankful for what you do and to hear the sparks that allow us to hear all these little known stories from so many thousands of hero’s who were there and as we know never shared their thousands of individual stories. Two of my uncles shared some of their stories years ago but hearing a new generation sharing family history is awesome.
Watching this standing in my kitchen preparing my Christmas roast. How perfect! Cant ever miss a new video from Mark!
Many stories where told about the Bulge ! But they F.. Hold there ground ! Thanks for the vid ! I wasn't aware of this incredible effort with the gliders !
11:43 - Parachute failure - talk about being bombed by your own supplies!
Came very close hitting the jeep
😂 I just posted a comment about that... should I delete it or leave it there?
It would suck to die because you were hit by a falling canister of beans
@@Brave_Sir_Robin of all the things to kill ya there - high speed bread and beans 😂
@@zackpenhaligon9904 lmao
Great job mark! You include a lot of details I haven't seen in other vids. Nice compressed format. Really enjoy your docs.
Almost 5k views in 30 minutes on a history video. Well done, you're making my lockdown easy!
Merry Christmas Mark Felton.
Watching this at 11pm on Christmas Eve, with my 9 year old son. You are a big part of his interest in WW2!
Mark, you are an absolute legend. Thanks for another absorbing production.
Happy Christmas
Merry Christmas Mark, I think I speak for all of us when I say that your channel has been one of the few things that has never let us down and helped keep us 'mostly' sane this year.
Wow, thank you