Best Bomber Command Podcasts (2025)

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Episode 52 - Listeners' Questions 46:05

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1d ago46:05

46:05

Send us a message or question! This week on Never Mind the Dambusters, we answer YOUR questions, on a whole host of issues, including: Could a heavy bomber fly without a full crew? What was Operation Dodge? Mosquito v Lancaster, Lancaster v Halifax Gibson v Cheshire B17s in the RAF Do keep sending in your questions! Support the show Please subscrib…

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Attack on Pearl Harbor: The First Wave Part 1 - Episode 517 1:14:54

4d ago1:14:54

1:14:54

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall finally get to the meat of the Pearl Harbor series with Part 1 of our discussion of the First Wave. We get into the nuts and bolts of 1st Air Fleet's run towards Pearl Harbor, the launch sequence, the attack plan and the flight into Oahu in great detail, giving way to conversations about William Outerbridge a…

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274 - The Battle of Meiktila 1:04:12

3d ago1:04:12

1:04:12

What was the situation in Burma following the Allied victories at Imphal and Kohima? By the summer of 1944, those two hard-fought battles had marked a major turning point in the Burma campaign. Japanese forces were in retreat, and the initiative had passed firmly to the Allies. But pushing into central Burma would require bold strategy, speed, and …

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Episode 51 - Aircrew Flying Kit, with Daniel Richards 43:29

10d ago43:29

43:29

Send us a message or question! In this episode of Never Mind the Dambusters, I take a deep dive into the fascinating and often overlooked world of RAF Bomber Command during the Second World War—through the lens of the airmen's personal flying kit. I'm joined by Daniel Richards an RAF Living History enthusiast, and together we explore the evolution …

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Prepping for Pearl Harbor: American Defenses - Episode 516 1:39:50

11d ago1:39:50

1:39:50

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall take a look at the American preparations, or lack thereof, for an attack on Pearl Harbor. The guys take a dig into Admiral Husband Kimmel and General Walter Short by looking at their personalities, history, leadership and, above all, steps for an eventual war with Japan and how to deal with it. Diving into th…

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273 - Operation Barbarossa, June–July 1941 54:22

13d ago54:22

54:22

In this episode of the WW2 Podcast, we’re turning our attention to the opening phase of one of the most brutal and vast campaigns of the Second World War—Operation Barbarossa. On 22 June 1941, Hitler launched his long-anticipated invasion of the Soviet Union. In the first two weeks, the German Wehrmacht made some of its fastest advances of the war.…

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Episode 50 50th Episode Special: The Dambusters' Legacy, with Dr Dan Ellin 42:42

16d ago42:42

42:42

Send us a message or question! This week, we celebrate our 50th episode by welcoming Dr Dan Ellin of the University of Lincoln and the International Bomber Command Centre, back to the show. Dan joins us to explore the legacy of the Dambusters , and in particular how the 1955 film has shaped the collective memory of Bomber Command. From Star Wars to…

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Japanese Planning for Pearl Harbor - Episode 515 1:27:54

18d ago1:27:54

1:27:54

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall dig into the Japanese planning for the Pearl Harbor attack on December 7, 1941. The guys get into the brain behind the idea, that being Admiral Yamamoto Isoroku, and his first ideas for the plan in April 1940. The guys discuss the growth of the plan from idea to reality through 1940, into 1941, including dive…

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(EARLY ACCESS) Episode 50 50th Episode Special: The Dambusters' Legacy, with Dr Dan Ellin. 42:42

20d ago42:42

42:42

Send us a message or question! ***Episode on general release Wednesday 13 August This week, we celebrate our 50th episode by welcoming Dr Dan Ellin of the University of Lincoln and the International Bomber Command Centre, back to the show. Dan joins us to explore the legacy of the Dambusters , and in particular how the 1955 film has shaped the coll…

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272 - Second Front: Anglo-American Rivalry 59:20

20d ago59:20

59:20

When we talk about the Second Front, most of us think of the Allied invasion of Northwest Europe—D-Day, June 1944. But in his new book, Second Front: Anglo-American Rivalry and the Hidden Story of the Normandy Campaign, historian Professor Marc Milner offers a different perspective. What if the real second front wasn’t in Normandy, but in Washingto…

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Episode 49 - Len Deighton's "Bomber" : Telling Stories, with Adrian Bean 43:12

23d ago43:12

43:12

Send us a message or question! (Apologies - no James this week due to technical issues!) This week, Jane is joined by Adrian Bean, a writer and director with a passion for military history. They explore the complexities of RAF Bomber Command, the challenges of adapting Len Deighton's 'Bomber' for BBC radio, and the human stories behind the bombing …

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The Air War Over China 1937-40 with Justin Pyke - Episode 514 1:56:35

25d ago1:56:35

1:56:35

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall welcome a new guest to talk about the air war over China. Justin Pyke joins us and delivers a masterful performance talking about an oft-forgotten aspect of the war in China. We always talk about nerding out--well here you go guys. We get into everything from the first deployment of the G3M, to the P-36 Hawk …

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271 - Feeding the Bear: Lend Lease to the USSR 46:57

27d ago46:57

46:57

In this episode, we’re doing something a little different. I recently joined Scott Bury on his podcast Beyond Barbarossa, which takes a close look at the Eastern Front of the Second World War from a Soviet perspective. Together, we explored the topic of American aid to the USSR through the Lend-Lease program. The usual narrative often paints Lend-L…

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Episode 48 - "Desert Island Books" : Our Top 10 Bomber Command Reads 50:09

30d ago50:09

50:09

Send us a message or question! This week we each share our top 5 Bomber Command books in the categories of popular history, memoir, academic, fiction and we also throw in a wild card! What are your favourites? Do you love or hate our picks? Spoiler alert: If you don't want to know what we chose, avoid the shopping list below! Jane's choices Popular…

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Countdown to Pearl Harbor-Diplomatic Warfare Part 2 with Rich Frank - Episode 513 1:25:07

1M ago1:25:07

1:25:07

This week Seth Paridon and co-host Jon Parshall welcome their good buddy Rich Frank back to the show to continue last week's conversation on the diplomatic road to Pearl Harbor. The guys pick up where they left off and begin with Rich's key steps to the oil embargo of July 1941. The discussion is fascinating as the trio waxes poetic on the world vi…

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Episode 47 - Remembering the Bombing War in Normandy, with Paul Woodadge 50:26

1M ago50:26

50:26

Send us a message or question! This week, we tackle some thorny issues with our with guest Paul Woodadge, the host of YouTube show WW2TV about the multifaceted history of RAF Bomber Command during World War II. Growing up near former USAAF airbases in Suffolk, just across the border from Essex and Colchester, Paul, who most of you will know simply …

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The Diplomatic Road to Pearl Harbor Part 1 with Rich Frank - Episode 512 1:19:46

1M ago1:19:46

1:19:46

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall welcome their good friend, the "Grand Poo-Bah" of Pacific war historians, Rich Frank to the show to discuss the actions of Japan and the United States between the years 1938 and early 1941. Incidents such as the sinking of the USS Panay, FDR moving the fleet to Pearl Harbor, the Japanese move into Indochina, …

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270 - Bruce Lockhart and the Political Warfare Executive 1:00:10

1M ago1:00:10

1:00:10

In this episode of the WW2 Podcast, I am joined by Professor James Crossland to discuss the extraordinary life of Robert Bruce Lockhart — a British diplomat, journalist, author, and secret agent. Though not a household name, Lockhart was a key figure behind the scenes of 20th-century history. His career began before the First World War and took him…

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(EARLY ACCESS) Episode 47 - Remembering the Bombing War in Normandy, with Paul Woodage 50:26

1M ago50:26

50:26

Send us a message or question! This week, we tackle some thorny issues with our with guest Paul Woodadge, the host of YouTube show WW2TV about the multifaceted history of RAF Bomber Command during World War II. Growing up near former USAAF airbases in Suffolk, just across the border from Essex and Colchester, Paul, who most of you will know simply …

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Battle of Second El Alamein: Interview with Author Tom Gilling 34:42

1M ago34:42

34:42

In 1942, while Australian troops were battling for survival along the Kokoda Track, thousands of others were fighting a very different kind of war—across the world in the deserts of North Africa. In this episode, I speak with author Tom Gilling about his new book, Start Digging You Bastards!, which vividly brings the ANZAC experience at the Second …

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Episode 46 From the Channel Dash to the Long March: The Navigator's Story, with Stuart Green. 47:52

1M ago47:52

47:52

Send us a message or question! This week, hosts Jane Gulliford Lowes and James Jefferies chat to Stuart Green, who shares the remarkable story of his father Alan, a Bomber Command navigator on Wellingtons and Stirlings. Alan Green took part in some of the most famous operations of the war, including the Channel Dash, the 1000 Bomber Raid, and the s…

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Doolittle Raid Archival Footage Dissection - Episode 511 1:08:20

2M ago1:08:20

1:08:20

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall take a look at the archival footage from the famous Doolittle Raid of April 18, 1942. There are several iconic moments in Pacific War history, or WWII for that matter, and the Doolittle Raid ranks right up there in the top five for sure. The guys take a peek at some footage that hasn't been seen very much, as…

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269 - The Diary of a German POW 50:41

1M ago50:41

50:41

In this episode of the WW2 Podcast, I am joined by Bernd Häber to discuss the remarkable story of his grandfather, Fritz Häber — a German soldier who became a prisoner of war in American custody at the end of World War II. During his 16 months in a U.S. POW camp, Fritz kept a diary that not only captured the daily realities of captivity but also re…

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Episode 45 - Flying into the Storm: Early War Bombers, with Chris Sams 50:53

2M ago50:53

50:53

Send us a message or question! This episode has EVERYTHING! (even the Titanic). This week, Jane and James engage in a rich and absorbing discussion with historian Chris Sams about his book, Flying into the Storm, about the early war bombers of the RAF. The conversation covers personal anecdotes, the significance of various bombing operations, and t…

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Annapolis Goes to War: The Naval; Academy Class of 1940 with Craig Symonds - Episode 510 59:30

2M ago59:30

59:30

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall welcome noted author and historian Craig Symonds to the show to discuss Craig's new book. Annapolis Goes to War: The Naval Academy Class of 1940 is an excellent read and this episode gives you a brief look at some of the grads who made an imprint on the Pacific side of the war. Craig is an amazing historian a…

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Episode 44 - The Greatest Enemy - Meteorological Flights, with Jamie Heffer 43:04

2M ago43:04

43:04

Send us a message or question! Welcome to Series 3! In the first episode of the new series of Never Mind the Dambusters, hosts James Jefferies and Jane Gulliford Lowes discuss the often-overlooked role of meteorology in RAF Bomber Command during World War II. Joined once more by Jamie Heffer from RAF Bircham Newton Heritage Centre, , they explore t…

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FDR and the Preparation for War 1933-1940 - Episode 509 1:31:50

2M ago1:31:50

1:31:50

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall take a really deep dive into the preparation for the war that no one in the US wanted to fight. We have always said that it isn't like flipping on a light switch--the build-up had to start somewhere. Where did the US Naval and US Army build-up begin? In the heart of the Great Depression of all places. Seth an…

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268 - The First US Army Rangers of WWII 1:02:33

2M ago1:02:33

1:02:33

In the early stages of America’s involvement in the Second World War, the U.S. Army began forming a new kind of fighting force—elite units trained for speed, surprise, and special operations behind enemy lines. These were the first Army Rangers, inspired by British Commandos and destined for some of the toughest missions of the war. In this episode…

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January through March 1942 in Pearl Harbor Archival footage Dissection-Episode 508 1:25:26

2M ago1:25:26

1:25:26

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall take a look at some really, really cool National Archives archival footage. The guys dig into the records of Hollywood director John Ford's Field Photographic Unit that operated on Oahu, mainly at Kaneohe and Pearl Harbor from February-May 1942. In a startling, but super cool, discovery, the guys find footage…

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267 - The T-13 Tank Destroyer 1:14:13

2M ago1:14:13

1:14:13

During the critical interwar years, Belgium found itself walking a diplomatic tightrope—maintaining neutrality while neighbouring Germany rapidly rearmed. Faced with the growing threat of conflict, the country was forced to modernise its defences. One of Belgium’s key military developments during this period was the T-13 tank destroyer—an armoured …

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The Battle of Nomonhan/Khalkhin Gol - Episode 507 1:21:29

2M ago1:21:29

1:21:29

This week Seth Paridon and co-host Jon Parshall dig into a little-known event that had massive implications on the future progression of the Pacific War. In 1939, the renegade Japanese Kwangtung Army decided, on their own, to launch an offensive against Soviet and Mongolian forces near the small village of Nomonhan. Initial Japanese successes were …

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266 - Robert Capa's D-Day Photographs 59:03

3M ago59:03

59:03

On the morning of June 6th, 1944, war photographer Robert Capa waded ashore on Omaha Beach during the Allied landings in Normandy. What happened next became the stuff of legend: under withering fire, Capa supposedly captured over a hundred photographs of the chaos and courage of D-Day, only for all but eleven to be lost in a darkroom accident. Thes…

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The War in China 1937-1940 - Episode 506 1:34:07

3M ago1:34:07

1:34:07

This week Seth Paridon and co-host Jon Parshall take a look at the war in China from 1937-1940. Major clashes occurred in 1937, most notably at Nanking, where the guys get into both the battle and the Rape of Nanking, both catastrophes that grabbed the world's attention with both hands. Following that, we get into the negotiations, such as they wer…

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Exploring the Wreck of USS Yorktown - Episode 505 1:34:23

3M ago1:34:23

1:34:23

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall take you guys on an exclusive look at the remarkable footage taken by NOAA during their recent dive on the wreck of the USS Yorktown (CV-5). Seth and Jon tour the wreck and focus in on some of the highlights of the footage, explaining what some of the material is, why it looks like it does, the state of the w…

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265 - British Tanks of the Red Army 59:48

3M ago59:48

59:48

Today, we are exploring a topic that doesn’t get talked about much — the British tanks that ended up serving with the Red Army during the Second World War. We often think about the Soviet Union producing huge numbers of its own tanks like the T-34, but in the early years of the war—and even before it—the Soviets were looking abroad for armoured veh…

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Pearl Harbor Attack Archival Footage Dissection-Episode 504 1:16:05

3M ago1:16:05

1:16:05

As promised, this week Seth and Jon Parshall take a dive into the world of WWII archival footage from the US National Archives. The team focuses their attention on a few reels of footage from the early part of the Pacific War, namely, captured Japanese footage from Hong Kong, and the Pearl Harbor attack. The guys go through the shots step by step a…

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264 - SAS Great Escapes, Archie Gibson 47:03

3M ago47:03

47:03

In this episode, I’m joined by bestselling author Damien Lewis to talk about one of the remarkable men featured in his new book SAS Great Escapes Four — Archie Gibson. Archie served with the Long Range Desert Group and worked closely with the SAS during some of their earliest and most daring operations. His wartime journey took him from the harsh d…

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Ep.221 - Eagle Days with Victoria Taylor 1:20:47

3M ago1:20:47

1:20:47

In this episode, Tim talks to Award-winning aviation historian Victoria Taylor about her new book ‘Eagle Days: Life and Death for the Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain’. Recorded 9th April 2025 For full show notes and imagery please visit https://aviation-xtended.co.uk/

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The Marco Polo Bridge Incident and the Battle of Shanghai - Episode 503 1:53:24

3M ago1:53:24

1:53:24

This week Seth and co-host Jon Parshall take a look at...yes you read that correctly. More on that later. Seth and Jon take a look at what some historians say is the beginning of World War II, the Marco Polo Bridge Incident. The team dives into the lead-up to the shots being fired and then what happens next. Both Japan and China, especially Chiang …

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Ep.220 - Over Cold War Seas with Mike Napier 1:10:44

3M ago1:10:44

1:10:44

In this episode we have Mike Napier back to talk about his latest book ‘Over Cold War Seas - NATO and Soviet Naval Aviation, 1949–89’ - a fascinating review of Cold War naval aviation. Mike shares his approach to the topic, explains the evolution of naval technology and how the conflicting cold war scenario’s lead to new evolving aviation developme…

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263 - The Halbe Pocket, 1945 44:41

4M ago44:41

44:41

In the final weeks of the Second World War, as Soviet forces closed in on Berlin, tens of thousands of German soldiers and civilians found themselves encircled in what became known as the Halbe Pocket. In a desperate attempt to break out west and surrender to the Americans rather than the Soviets, brutal fighting erupted in the forests south of Ber…

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The Mukden Incident: Planting the Seeds of War-Episode 502 1:27:53

4M ago1:27:53

1:27:53

This week Seth and Bill take a deep look at where it all began...the Mukden Incident and the following Japanese invasion of Manchuria in 1931. Contrary to popular belief, World War II did not begin on September 1, 1939 when the Germans invaded Poland--it all started right here. In an absolutely fascinating episode, the guys break down the contrived…

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Deadly Effective: US Subs vs the Imperial Japanese Army-with Rich Frank - Episode 501 1:09:48

4M ago1:09:48

1:09:48

This week Seth and Bill welcome Season 5 into the world with very special guest, the "Grand Poo-bah" of Asia-Pacific War historians and very dear friend, Rich Frank. Rich delivers and absolutely fascinating presentation on the effectiveness of US Navy submarines against---the Imperial Japanese ARMY! Yes, you read that correctly. In a way that only …

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262 - The 7th Infantry Regiment 49:08

4M ago49:08

49:08

The 7th Infantry Regiment, known as the "Cottonbalers," is one of the oldest units in the U.S. Army, originally formed in 1812. It has fought in nearly every major American conflict, including the Civil War, both World Wars, Korea, and Iraq. Renowned for its bravery and deep traditions, the regiment remains an active combat unit to this day. I'm jo…

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The Fighting Lady 1:03:37

4M ago1:03:37

1:03:37

This week we are feeding you guys another wartime documentary. This one is called The Fighting Lady. A so-called "news drama" of the day, the Fighting Lady focuses on the exploits of the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown (CV-10) from her commissioning through many of the Navy battles and campaigns of the Pacific war from 1943-late 1944 including the Gr…

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To The Shores of Iwo Jima 22:16

4M ago22:16

22:16

As Bill and I prepare and record episodes for Season 5, we wanted to make sure you guys had something to check out, so here you go. This is a US Govt produced film of the campaign for Iwo Jima. Produced using footage shot from US Navy and US Marine Corps photographers, including Bill Genaust, this film was made to show the American citizenry what t…

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261 - Agent Zo 43:52

4M ago43:52

43:52

In this episode of the WW2 Podcast, I’m joined by Clare Mulley to uncover the extraordinary story of Elżbieta Zawacka—known by her codename, "Zo"—a woman who defied the odds as a resistance fighter, courier, and special operations agent during the Second World War. Zo was the only woman to make the perilous journey from Warsaw to London as an emiss…

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Episode 43 - Norwegian Heroes of Bomber Command, with Haakon Vinje 30:31

5M ago30:31

30:31

Send us a message or question! In the final episode of this series, hosts James Jefferies and Jane Gulliford Lowes are joined by the head of the Norwegian War Graves Service, Haakon Vinje, to explore the often-overlooked contributions of Norwegian airmen in RAF Bomber Command during World War II. They discuss the Norwegian War Graves Service, the i…

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The Invasion of Iwo Jima (Both Episodes Combined) with Jon Parshall 4:29:19

5M ago4:29:19

4:29:19

As wed prep for Season 5, we thought that maybe you guys would like both of our Iwo Jima episodes we did with Jon Parshall combined into one massive episode. We wanted to make sure you guys had something to look at/listen to this week as we record for next season. Hope you enjoy the re-run.#wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #usnavy #usa #usarmy #medalofhonor …

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260 - Operation Bagration 53:04

5M ago53:04

53:04

For this episode, I am by Prit Buttar to discuss Operation Bagration—the massive Soviet offensive launched in the summer of 1944 that shattered the German Army Group Centre. While the D-Day landings in Normandy dominate the narrative of mid-1944, events on the Eastern Front were just as decisive, if not more so, in determining the course of the war…