Mike Bechthold 🇨🇦🇺🇦
@mike-bechthold.bsky.social
PhD Historian | Royal Historical Society Fellow RCAF | RAF | RNAS | RFC | Canadian Army First World War | Second World War Cartographer | Graphic Designer https://mikebechthold.com/
Thanks to Larry Ostola and the Champlain Society's Witness to Yesterday podcast for taking the time to talk to us about our new book, The Air Marshals (UBC Press). Larry and I had a great chat; we hope you agree. Please have a listen! champlainsociety.utppublishing.com/digital-cont...
The Air Marshals: Canadian Air Force Commanders, 1920–1964 - Champlain Society
Larry Ostola speaks with Richard Mayne and Mike Bechthold about their book The Air Marshals.
champlainsociety.utppublishing.com
Nick Lloyd published a very moving tribute to Tim Cook on the one year anniversary of his passing 💔💔💔 nlloyd.substack.com/p/reflection...
Reflections on Great Historians: Tim Cook
The death of the historian, Tim Cook, on 25 October 2025 was a terrible and shocking loss.
nlloyd.substack.com
Poster published during the Second World War by the US Office of War Infomation. catalog.archives.gov/id/515798?ob...
We've come a long way since the Turbot War of 1995!
Vimy and history remain relevant today! The Vimy colony to nation idea is a myth but works with the PM’s statement. He draws on our history to make his point (! !) but his use of the myth is couched in equivocal language that makes it clear he understands the problems of that view. Well done, sir!
The Bank of Canada unveiled our new $20 bill today. The CBC is highlighting that it's the first bill to feature King Charles, but for me the really great part is that Vimy Monument is on the back!
Cue the batshit crazy response in 3 ... 2 ... 1 ....
This looks very promising! Brendan Fraser as Ike and Damien Lewis as Monty to tell the story of James Stagg, the RAF meteorologist who had to provide the weather report for Ike's D-Day go/no go decision. youtu.be/zdM4tdLQBg0?...
PRESSURE - Official Trailer [HD] - Only In Theaters May 29
YouTube video by Focus Features
youtu.be
So it seems that the owners of the Ambassador Bridge have just made a sizeable “political” contribution.
Symbolism matters. After his epic speech at Davos that earned a standing ovation, PM Carney is hosting a Cabinet planning retreat at the Québec Citadelle, a fortification built to defend against an American attack that never came. He's playing 3D chess when others can't figure out checkers.
The Avro Arrow is a topic that continues to delight and inflame enthusiasts and scholars of Canada's Cold War Air Force. There is much scholarship on this topic out there, much bad, but one of the best historians on the topic is Russell Isinger. Highly recommended. www.crowdcast.io/c/vl-2026-is...
Virtual Lecture: “I shot an Arrow in the air:” Canada’s Cold War Fighter Procurement Experiment
Register now for Virtual Lecture: “I shot an Arrow in the air:” Canada’s Cold War Fighter Procurement Experiment on crowdcast, scheduled to go live on January 8, 2026, 06:00 PM GMT.
crowdcast.io
Congratulations to Paul Johnston on the publication of The RCAF in History and Memory: A Survey of the Historiography, 1909-2025! This is a really useful overview of all the important works that have been published on the various iterations of the RCAF. publications.gc.ca/site/eng/9.9...
The @usni.org Press is running a sale right now, and if you use the code HOLIDAY at checkout, you will get 50% off! What better time than now to get your mitts on Airpower and the Normandy Campaign, edited by @mike-bechthold.bsky.social. The other contributors are ace. www.usni.org/press/books/...
Airpower and the Normandy Campaign
The U.S. Naval Institute provides an independent forum for those who seek to advance and strengthen the naval profession.
usni.org
This Saturday, the Guelph Museums is hosting a Liberation and Remembrance Symposium to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the War and the liberation of Europe. I'm speaking on the RCAF and other speakers include Roger Sarty, Geoff Hayes, and Alex Souchen. guelphmuseums.ca/event/libera...
Liberation and Remembrance Symposium - Guelph Museums
This year marks 80 years since the end of the Second World War and the liberation of Europe. Eight decades later we reflect on Canada’s contributions to the war effort,…
guelphmuseums.ca
Very touching tribute to Tim Cook by Pamela Wallin in the Senate of Canada. youtu.be/17wNnUfCdx0?...
Senator Pamela Wallin's Tribute to Canadian War Museum Historian Dr. Tim Cook in the Senate
YouTube video by No Nonsense with Pamela Wallin
youtu.be
Excellent article on the current air war in Ukraine, Russia, and Western Europe by Peter Caddick-Adams. Provides essential context linking the Ukranainian drones strikes on Russia to the Transportation and Oil Plans of the Second World War. thecritic.co.uk/nato-must-st...
NATO must stand firm against Russian provocation | Peter Caddick-Adams | The Critic Magazine
Today an aerial war is being fought across Europe. It is reliant on cutting edge technology, the full potential of which has yet to be realised. This undeclared war is most obviously witnessed in…
thecritic.co.uk
Great to see the book arriving in the UK!
The Aviation Show@theaviation.show · last yr.Join me for a terribly filmed video of me unboxing the first proper book I've written for, Airpower and the Normandy Campaign! Many thanks to @mike-bechthold.bsky.social for including me in the team! The book is out now in the US and on the 30th in the UK. @usni.org 📖 www.usni.org/press/books/...
RIP Ken Dryden 💔 One of my favourite players of all time.
