Best National Museum of the U.S. Air Force Podcasts (2024)

1
The Battle off Cape Engano-Battle of Leyte Gulf with Jon Parshall-Episode 330 1:33:19

37m ago1:33:19

1:33:19

This week Seth, Bill and good buddy Jon Parshall wrap up the Battle of Leyte Gulf with the final carrier battle of World War II, the Battle off Cape Engano. Halsey takes the cheese and chases Ozawa's decoy carrier force north, away from San Bernadino Strait, to destroy what is left of the Imperial Japanese Navy's once mighty aircraft carrier task f…

1
Captain Toti keyote speaker at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery Memorial Day Observance 0:50

39m ago0:50

0:50

Hey, folks, Captain Bill Toti here—and I wanted to take this opportunity to let you know that I’m going to be keynote speaker at the Cape Canaveral National Cemetery Memorial Day Observance, on May 27th 2024 at 10 am.By William toti

1
The Battle off Samar Part 2 with Jon Parshall-Episode 329 1:38:30

2d ago1:38:30

1:38:30

This week Seth, Bill and buddy Jon Parshall wrap up the epic clash off Samar during the Battle of Leyte Gulf. The guys get deep into the weeds about the legendary destroyer charge of USS Johnston, USS Samuel B. Roberts, USS Hoel and USS Heerman as well as the other destroyer escorts of Taffy 3. The guys dispel a few of the myths about the battle an…

1
The Battle off Samar Part 1 with Jon Parshall-Episode 328 1:24:36

12d ago1:24:36

1:24:36

This week Seth, Bill and good pal Jon Parshall get into the much anticipated Battle off Samar...Part1! The guys get into the background of the epic fight, the commanders on both sides, Ernest Evans, Ziggy Sprague, and others as they start to break down some of the myths surrounding one of the most well-known naval battles in all of history. The guy…

1
Submit your Questions for the end of Season 3! 3:29

18d ago3:29

3:29

We will be accepting questions by April 14, 2024 for recording the final episode of Season 3.By Seth Paridon, William toti

1
The Battle of Surigao Strait Part 2 with Jon Parshall and Tony Tully-Episode 327 1:13:07

22d ago1:13:07

1:13:07

This week Seth and Bill welcome back grat buddy Jon Parshall and Tony Tully to wrap up the conversation about the Battle of Surigao Strait during the Battle for Leyte Gulf. The foursome gets deep in the weeds discussing the destroyer action in the strait and, of course, the gunfire portion of the battle. American battleships West Virginia, Tennesse…

1
The Battle of Surigao Strait Part 1- with Jon Parshall and Tony Tully-Episode 326 1:08:05

26d ago1:08:05

1:08:05

This week Seth and Bill are joined by great buddy Jon Parshall and Jon's co-author and new guest, Tony Tully! The foursome breaks down the early stages of the Battle of Surigao Strait during Leyte Gulf and get into the commanders, the ships and the PT attack before breaking for next week's showdown of the big guns. Tune in and get into the weeds wi…

1
The Battle of Leyte Gulf-Battle of the Sibuyan Sea with Jon Parshall-Episode 325 1:58:10

1M ago1:58:10

1:58:10

This week Seth, Bill and great pal Jon Parshall tackle the first "official" fight in the greater Battle of Leyte Gulf, the Battle of the Sibuyan Sea. The first in our four-episode series on the largest naval battle in human history sees the trio taking a deep dive into the submarine actions of USS Darter and USS Dace, as well as some of Halsey's de…

1
Historical review of Masters of the Air Episode 9 1:11:27

1M ago1:11:27

1:11:27

This week Seth, Bill and Tommy take a look at the final episode of Masters of the Air Part 9. The guys go into the POW march to Moosburg, Gale "Buck" Cleven's escape, Johnny "Bucky" Egan's days as POW, Rosie Rosenthal's final mission, and much more. Join the team as they wrap the final episode and give their thoughts on the series as a whole.Image …

1
Historical review of Masters of the Air Episode 8 57:28

1M ago57:28

57:28

This week Seth, Bill and Tommy take a look at Masters of the Air Part 8. The team discusses the accuracy, tropes and history behind some of the scenes in the penultimate episode of the Apple TV series.Image courtesy Apple TV#wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #usnavy #usa #usarmy #medalofhonor #enterprise #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #cv6 #midway #wwii #wwiihist…

1
The Air Battle of Formosa-with Jon Parshall 1:59:21

1M ago1:59:21

1:59:21

This week Seth, Bill and great buddy Jon Parshall get together to discuss one of the more unknown events of the Pacific war, the Air Battle of Formosa. In early October 1944, Admiral William F, Halsey's Task Force 38 launched a series of devastating air strikes on the Japanese bastion of Formosa in preparation for the liberation of the Philippines …

1
Formosa or the Philippines-King versus MacArthur-Episode 323 1:24:37

2M ago1:24:37

1:24:37

This week Seth and Bill take a very deep dive into the decision to either invade Formosa or liberate the Philippines in the fall of 1944. The two options were both on the table for the JCS in 1944, and the favored option isn't the one you are thinking of. The team takes a look at the roots of the Philippine obsession by MacArthur and the desire to …

1
Historical review of Masters of the Air Episode 7 1:10:31

2M ago1:10:31

1:10:31

This week Seth, Bill, and Tommy take a look at Masters of the Air Part 7. The team dives into actual POW life in Europe during WWII, discuss the P-51 Mustang and its importance in the Allied aerial effort over Europe in 44 and 45 as well and dig into some of the personalities of the real men portrayed in the episode and even get into a few unknown …

1
The Invasion of Peleliu Part 3 of 3-Operation STALEMATE II-with Dave Holland 1:50:14

2M ago1:50:14

1:50:14

This week Seth and Bill are rejoined by good friend Dave Holland to wrap up the bloody Operation STALEMATE II, the fight for Peleliu. This week the team gets into the stories of Eugene Sledge's K-3-5, the story of Medal of Honor recipient Arthur Jackson, more of the bloody fighting for Bloody Nose Ridge, and the tragic death of Sledge's company com…

1
Historical review of Masters of the Air Episode 6 1:08:18

2M ago1:08:18

1:08:18

This week Seth, Bill and Tommy discuss Masters of the Air Part 6. The guys get into the nuts and bolts of escape and evasion, the POW interrogations of John "Bucky" Egan and Allied prisoners, Flak Houses, and the emotional toll taken on the airmen of the 8th Air Force and others in the skies over Europe.Image courtesy Apple TV#wwii #wwiihistory #ww…

1
Review of Masters of the Air Episode 5 1:04:06

2M ago1:04:06

1:04:06

This week Seth, Bill and Tommy take a look at Masters of the Air Episode 5. The trio breaks down the episode and get into the historical detail regarding the October 10, 1943 8th Air Force mission to Munster, Germany. The third in a row for the Mighty Eighth, Munster was the worst of them all for the 100th Bomb Group and a new emerging hero, Robert…

1
The Invasion of Peleliu Part 2 of 3-Operation STALEMATE II with guest Dave Holland 2:04:05

2M ago2:04:05

2:04:05

This week Seth and Bill welcome back an old friend from Season 1, Dave Holland to talk about the 1st Marine Division's tragic fight for Peleliu. The trio gets into the fight starting at D Plus 1 and goes through the bloodletting and destruction of the 1st Marines on Peleliu. Tune in and see what the boys have to say about the end of the fight for T…

1
Review of Masters of the Air Episode 4 1:15:37

2M ago1:15:37

1:15:37

This week Seth, Bill and Tommy take a look at Masters of the Air Episode 4. The team gets into the nuts and bolts of the episode diving into topics such as the ground crews, leave in London, the American Red Cross, morale within the 8th Air Force and the beginning of the infamous Black Week in October 1943.Image courtesy of Apple TV#wwii #wwiihisto…

1
Operation STALEMATE II-The Invasion of Peleliu Part 1 of 3 1:32:16

2M ago1:32:16

1:32:16

In this first of three episodes on Peleliu, Seth and Bill tackle the opening stages of the infamous invasion of Peleliu on September 15, 1944. The veteran 1st Marine Division is assigned to invade the coral bastion of Peleliu in what was promised by their commanding General to be a "tough quickie" of an operation. The fighting on the beaches and at…

1
Review of Masters of the Air Episode 3 1:10:31

2M ago1:10:31

1:10:31

This week Seth, Bill, and Tommy take a look at Masters of the Air Episode 3. The guys dive into the 100th Bomb Group's role in 8th Air Force Mission 84, the infamous Regensburg/Schweinfurt Double Strike of August 17, 1943. We look into the actual history of the mission, and the roles of Gale "Buck" Cleven, Curtis Biddick, Harry Crosby, and more.Ima…

1
Unauthorized Looks at Pacific War Books 1:08:14

2M ago1:08:14

1:08:14

This week Seth and Bill fulfill another viewership request as they sit down and give a list of some of their top WWII Pacific theater-related books. This list is not in any order, nor is it comprehensive, but off the top of our heads. Hopefully, this will help some of you guys fill up your libraries. Next week we get back to the war.Here is our lis…

1
Review of Masters of the Air Episode 2 54:28

3M ago54:28

54:28

Seth, Bill and Tommy are back to give their take on Masters of the AIr Episode 2. The guys discuss the Trondheim Mission and give their takes on the personalities depicted in this specific episode, including Curtis Biddick and Harry Crosby. The team also gives their breakdown of the combat scenes shown so far, specifically the flak and fighters in …

1
Unauthorized Picks for Pacific War Flicks 1:53:43

3M ago1:53:43

1:53:43

This week Seth and Bill take a step back from the battlefields to discuss an oft-requested topic, our picks for WWII Pacific-themed movies. Many of you have asked what our favorite, or in some cases not so favorite, films are that relate to the Pacific theater of WWII, well here you go. The team gives their go-to's, some known and some relatively u…

1
Review of Masters of the Air Episode 1 55:12

3M ago55:12

55:12

Seth, Bill, and new crewman Tommy Lofton take a look at Masters of the Air Episode 1. The team breaks down the show, what was right, what was wrong, and how they liked it. As always, the crew throws in historical accuracy where needed and tells the real story of what happened to the real people at the right times. Tune in into this limited run seri…

1
The Invasion of Tinian with Jon Parshall 1:35:10

3M ago1:35:10

1:35:10

#wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #usnavy #usa #usarmy #medalofhonor #enterprise #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #cv6 #midway #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #worldwar2 #usnavy #usnavyseals #usmc #usmarines #saipan #usa #usarmy #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #battleship #battleships #ussenterprise #aircraftcarriers #museumBy William Toti, Jon Parshall, Seth Paridon

1
Unauthorized History of the Pacific War Podcast Special Announcement 8:06

3M ago8:06

8:06

Seth and Bill have a quick special announcement to make regarding an upcoming WWII miniseries. Masters of the Air, premiering January 26 on Apple TV+ will be a cinematic adventure that needs to be seen by all WWII aficionados. Seth, Bill and new guest historian Tommy Lofton will dissect each new episode of Masters of the AIr the Monday after it air…

1
The Liberation of Guam with Jon Parshall 2:00:05

3M ago2:00:05

2:00:05

This week Seth, Bill, and Jon tackle the liberation of Guam as part of our continuing coverage of the pivotal Operation FORAGER. Following the Saipan operation, the Marines of the 3rd Marine Division, 1st Provisional Marine Brigade, and the Army's exceptional 77th Infantry Division cast their eyes on the former American territory of Guam. Invaded a…

1
The Invasion of Biak 1:25:44

4M ago1:25:44

1:25:44

This week Seth and Bill take a step back from Operation FORAGER to look at the invasion of Biak which occurred in May 1944. In this little-known operation, the 41st Infantry Division was tasked with invading the island off the coast of New Guinea in an effort to capture airfields for further support of the upcoming FORAGER and the push toward the P…

1
Special Episode: Touring the National WWII Museum's Pacific Galleries 54:08

4M ago54:08

54:08

In this special episode, Seth takes you through the National WWII Museum's Road to Tokyo Pacific galleries. Seth was a chief historian at the WWII Museum for 15 years and was one of the key contributors to the construction of the WWII Museum's campus. In this special episode, he takes you on a quick 40,000 foot view of the Pacific side of the museu…

1
The Mission Beyond Darkness-Battle of the Philippine Sea with Jon Parshall 1:48:55

4M ago1:48:55

1:48:55

This week Seth, Bill and Jon Parshall tackle the second day of the Battle of the Philippine Sea, also known as the Mission Beyond Darkness. On Jun e20, 1944 Admiral Marc Mitscher made the bold decision to launch his aviators in a risky, long-distanced duck strike. In an attempt to get the killing blows on Ozawa's carrier force Mitscher sent an enor…

1
Battle of the Philippine Sea-The Great Marianas Turkey Shoot with Jon Parshall 2:10:40

4M ago2:10:40

2:10:40

This week Seth, Bill and wingman Jon Parshall take a very deep dive into the first day of the Battle of the Philippine Sea, June 19, 1944, better known as The Great Marianas Turkey Shoot. The trio looks at the Japanese plans, how they fell into American hands, and all the drama and intrigue between US Admirals as the largest Japanese fleet yet put …

1
The Invasion of Saipan Part 3 of 3 with Jon Parshall 1:31:25

4M ago1:31:25

1:31:25

This week Seth and Bill welcome back good buddy Jon Parshall to complete the three-part discussion on the pivotal invasion of Saipan. The team goes into deep detail on the final Japanese martial act on Saipan, the infamous Gyokusai of July 7, 1944. During the Gyokusai, two regiments of the 27th Infantry Division's 105th Infantry Regiment are overru…

1
The Invasion of Saipan Part 2 of 3 with Jon Parshall 1:46:32

5M ago1:46:32

1:46:32

This week Seth and Bill are again joined by good pal Jon Parshall to discuss the evolving invasion of Saipan. After the Marines pushed off of the beachhead, the advance inland progressed nicely until the 27th Infantry Division ran into incredibly difficult terrain and vicious Japanese defense at Naftan Point and Death Valley. In the resulting mess …

1
The Invasion of Saipan Part 1 of 3 with Jon Parshall 1:37:49

5M ago1:37:49

1:37:49

This week Seth and Bill welcome great pal Jon Parshall back to the show for a 3 episode run on the invasion of Saipan as part of Operation FORAGER. In this episode, the team discusses the pre-invasion bombardment, the first large deployment of the UDTs (forerunners of today's Navy SEALS), Draper Kaufmann, the landings by the 2nd and 4th Marine Divi…

1
Preparation for Operation FORAGER 1:37:28

5M ago1:37:28

1:37:28

This week Seth and Bill dive into the preparation for Operation FORAGER, the American invasion of the Mariana Islands in June 1944. The team discusses the absolutely massive amount of materiel, men, ships and logistics involved as the largest amphibious operation mounted thus far in the Pacific, kicks off.…

1
The Big E-Battle History of USS Enterprise Part 2 1:39:52

5M ago1:39:52

1:39:52

This week Seth and Bill dig into the battle history of The Big E, USS Enterprise (CV-6) starting in 1943 until the end of the war. Tune in and see what the team has to say about the second half of the Galloping Ghost of the Oahu Coast's war record.By William Toti, Seth Paridon

1
Exploring the Battle of Midway Shipwrecks with Jon Parshall 1:56:06

6M ago1:56:06

1:56:06

This week Seth, Bill, and frequent and always welcome Wingman Jon Parshall take a look at the recently released underwater archaeological video footage of the wreck sites of AKAGI, YORKTOWN (CV-5), and KAGA. The trio breaks down what we see in the footage, how the damage shown relates to the battle, what happened in these historic locations, and mu…

1
Leapfrog-The Invasions of Hollandia and Aitape with special guest John McManus 1:22:54

6M ago1:22:54

1:22:54

This week Seth and Bill welcome back guest John McManus to talk about the dual invasions of Hollandia and Aitape. The trio discusses the logistical issues that plagued the Americans once the initial successful assaults came off and the bitter fighting that occurred at and around Aitape after the operations were both "secure."…

1
The Big E-Battle History of the USS Enterprise Part 1 2:01:36

6M ago2:01:36

2:01:36

This week Seth and Bill take a look at the 1941-43 battle history of the Navy's most celebrated ship, the famous USS Enterprise (CV-6). The team breaks down some of The Big E's WWII battle history by diving into her actions from commissioning until 1943. Bill and Seth dive into her actions at Pearl Harbor, Midway, the Canal and others. Tune in and …

1
Operation HAILSTONE-The Carrier Raids on Truk with special guest Jon Parshall 1:39:07

6M ago1:39:07

1:39:07

This week Seth and Bill welcome back guest and good friend Jon Parshall as the trio discusses Operation HAILSTONE, better known as the Carrier Raids on Truk. Following the opening portion of the Marshall Islands campaign, Admiral Spruance brings Marc Mitscher's fast carriers to Truk to absolutely wreak havoc on the supposed "Japanese Pearl Harbor".…

1
Operation FLINTLOCK-The Marshall Islands Campaign with special guest John McManus 1:53:36

7M ago1:53:36

1:53:36

This week Seth and Bill welcome a new guest, fantastic historian, John McManus to the show to discuss Operation FLINTLOCK-The Marshall Islands Campaign. The next step in the road to Tokyo follows the Central Pacific Drive as it leaves the Gilberts and acquires positions in the Marshall Islands. Utilizing the lessons learned from Tarawa, the V Amphi…

1
Green Inferno-The Campaign for Cape Gloucester 1:17:07

7M ago1:17:07

1:17:07

This week Seth and Bill take a look at Operation BACKHANDER, better known as the battle for Cape Gloucester that was fought from December 1943 through early 1944. The team examines the short but sharp fight executed by the jungle veterans of the 1st Marine Division as they endured yet another miserable, rain-soaked, hell hole of an island. Tune in …

1
Command Review of 1943 in the Pacific 1:40:14

7M ago1:40:14

1:40:14

In this first episode of Season 3, Seth and Bill dive into the topic of leaders and leadership during 1943 in the Pacific. The team breaks down the decisions, performances, and personalities of several of the leading figures that factored into the success of 1943 before we get into the climactic year of 1944.…

1
Special Episode: Bill shows you where Nimitz died, graves, and Spruance grandchildren 15:52

7M ago15:52

15:52

In this special (short) episode, Bill brings you to the house at Treasure Island where Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz died. He visits with Ellen Spruance Holscher and David Bogart, Admiral Spruance's grandchildren, to hear personal recollections of Spruance the man. And he visits the Richmond Kelly Turner, Charles Lockwood, Raymond Spruance, and Ches…

1
Special Episode: Captain Toti's Pearl Harbor (Part 2) 2:14:47

7M ago2:14:47

2:14:47

This week Bill takes you on a tour of Pearl Harbor, to include USS Bowfin, the Pacific Submarine Force Museum, and the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum.PS-- this is our version of "Operation Shoestring" where we try to do on location video podcasts on a shoestring budget, complete with audio problems! The good news is that we learned from this and futu…

1
Special Episode: Captain Toti's Pearl Harbor (Part 1) 1:05:44

7M ago1:05:44

1:05:44

This week Bill takes you on a tour of Pearl Harbor, to include Admiral Kimmel's office (with a great revelation regarding Admiral Nimitz), the site of the HA-19 midget submarine grounding, the spot where midget submarine I-22 tau was sunk in Pearl Harbor, Lockwood Hall to include the Clean Sweep Bar and the Skipper's Lounge, the site of Station Hyp…

1
Bloody Betio-Tarawa Days 2-3 and Wrap Up 1:37:58

8M ago1:37:58

1:37:58

This week Bill and Seth wrap up the bloody battle for Betio as they go through days 2 and 3 of the historic fight for Tarawa. Then the team goes into the significance of the Battle of Tarawa and what it's implications held for the remainder of the war and even today.By William Toti, Seth Paridon

1
Special Episode: The Nimitz House, a visit with Admiral Spruance's grandchildren, and gravesites 15:52

8M ago15:52

15:52

In this special episode of "The Unauthorized History of the Pacific War" podcast, Bill brings us to the house Admiral Nimitz "retired" to and died in, he visits with the grandchildren of Admiral Raymond Spruance, and he brings you to the gravesites of Admirals Nimitz, Spruance, Lockwood, and Turner.By William Toti

1
Utmost Savagery-Tarawa Day 1 1:51:56

8M ago1:51:56

1:51:56

This week Seth and Bill dive into day 1 on Bloody Betio as the 2nd Marine Division assaults Tarawa atoll as part of Operation GALVANIC. The team discusses the absolute bloodbath that was D-Day ashore at Betio, the mistakes, the successes and the heroism of the common Marine. The team takes a deep dive into the personal stories that offer countless …

1
Operation GALVANIC-Preparations for Tarawa 1:25:42

8M ago1:25:42

1:25:42

This week Bill and Seth dig into the preparations for the operation that kicks off the mighty Central Pacific Drive, that being of course, Operation GALVANIC, specifically the invasion of Tarawa atoll and Betio island. The team discusses the planning that went into the operation, the leaders who would take part, the equipment, the opposition and ju…

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