Podcast Episodes

Episode 426-Kill Or Be Killed

by WWIIPodcast | July 11, 2023 | Featured, Podcast Episodes | 0 Comments

With Lord Mountbatten in charge of Combined Operations, the plan to soften up the enemy’s coastline defenses is underway. But there is much to learn and lessons here are normally accompanied by death. As Commando raids take place, the British and their Common Wealth...

Episode 425-Here Come the Commandos

by WWIIPodcast | July 7, 2023 | Featured, Podcast Episodes | 0 Comments

In building up to Operation Sledgehammer, Mountbatten’s arrival is a whirlwind for Combined Operations. Their numbers will grow as will the number of their raids. But soon, the commandos are too few. Churchill wants larger raids, as does Mountbatten. The Canadians on...

Episode 424-Operation Sledgehammer

by WWIIPodcast | June 28, 2023 | Featured, Podcast Episodes | 0 Comments

Operation Pedestal would ensure that Malta stayed in the fight. But Stalin is not appeased. He wants a Second Front. So does Gen. George Marshall and he’s coming to London to say so. The British had to come up with a plan, big enough to impress the Russian and the...

Episode 423-Pedestal: The Final Curtain

The final episode of Operation Pedestal. Through luck and determination and American engineering,...

Episode 422-By the Skin of Her Teeth

As everyone on Malta, and in Britain and in the US and in North Africa wait, the tanker Ohio,...

Episode 421-It’s Today or Nothing

When the sun rises on August 14th, the Stuka’s and Italian bombers are back. It would only take...

Episode 314-The Battle of Bataan

Gen. Homma sends his forces at MacArthur's defensive line on Bataan. For days the line holds, until it doesn't. Falling back, the Allied try to keep cohesion, in order to stave off destruction.

Episode 313-Retreat to Bataan

As Gen. Jonathan Wainwright conducts the battle of the 5 lines, Gen. Douglas MacArthur declares Manila an open city and continues to beg Washington for supplies and reinforcements. All the while, Gen. Homma grabs up more and more of Luzon.

Episode 312-Bataan or Bust

With the defenses of Lingayen Gulf shattered, Gen. MacArthur has decided to retreat to the Bataan peninsula, though there are no waiting supplies there. So while there is fighting to the north and south of Manila, supplies and men are moved to the final defensive...

Episode 311-Gen. Douglas MacArthur: Defending the Indefensible

With MacArthur’s alteration to the American defensive plan for the Philippines left in tatters, he reverts back to Plan Orange: to move all available troops to the Bataan Peninsula. But first, he has to give his command staff enough time to make this happen. Thus a...

Episode 310-December 22, 1941: A Date Which Will Live in Infamy

The main Japanese attack comes to Luzon on December 22nd, but Gen. Douglas MacArthur is overly confident. Besides, Gen. George Marshall is unable to help, as much as he wants to. This leaves the under trained and ill-equipped Philippine troops to guard the beaches of...

Episode 309-MacArthur: Between a Rock and a Hard Place

As northern and southern Luzon becomes Japanese controlled territory, Gen. Douglas MacArthur finds himself trapped, besides which, his air arm has been devastated. The Allies’ only chance for survival are reinforcements, which are on their way from Pearl Harbor. But...