Best Bomber Command Podcasts (2026)

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291 - Far East RAF Liberators 48:51

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3d ago48:51

48:51

RAF Liberator bombing operations in India, Burma, and Thailand remain one of the least explored air campaigns of the Second World War. Flying long-range missions from Bengal, RAF crews attacked Japanese targets across Southeast Asia, including the infamous Thailand-Burma Railway, under demanding and often dangerous conditions. In this episode of th…

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Guadalcanal's Longest Fight with guest Dave Holland - Episode 535 1:11:25

5d ago1:11:25

1:11:25

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall talk with their good buddy, Guadalcanal historian, Dave Holland. The guys get Dave to dig into his new book, Guadalcanal's Longest Fight: The Pivotal Battles on the Matinikau Front. Dave goes into just what made the Matinikau river the single most fought over section of territory on Guadalcanal and why Tenaru…

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Driver William Henry Morcombe MM 20:31

6d ago20:31

20:31

CW: Suicide 2-November-1917: While serving as a Driver within 14 Field Artillery Brigade, Australian Imperial Force, Driver William Henry Morcombe MM was subjected to one of the terror weapons of the Great War, Gas. Morcombe survived the war, but unfortunately not the peace that followed it. If you or anyone you know needs help: Lifeline on 13 11 1…

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290 - Your WWII Questions Answered 1:16:56

11d ago1:16:56

1:16:56

For this episode of the podcast, we are doing something a little different. Rather than focusing on a single subject, we open the floor to your questions. Over the past few weeks, podcast patrons were invited to submit questions they had always wanted to ask about the Second World War. These range from strategy and leadership to memory, myth and th…

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The Fall of Singapore – Episode 534 1:34:03

12d ago1:34:03

1:34:03

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall take a look at the fall of Singapore in February 1942. After having swept the battlefields from Singora to Muar of British, Australian, Indian, and Malaysian troops in his masterful campaign down the 500-mile-long Malayan island, Japanese General Yamashita stands poised just across the Strait of Johore from S…

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Q&A on the Pacific War Round 2 with special guest Bill Toti - Episode 533 1:34:40

19d ago1:34:40

1:34:40

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall welcome back their buddy Captain Bill Toti to the show for another round of Pacific War Q&A with emcee Shawn Bergstrom. The guys get into the weeds on a variety of topics sent in by you guys. Hope we did well. Thank you, as always, for sending in the questions this go-round. You guys really know your stuff. M…

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289 - Charles De Gaulle 1:03:35

20d ago1:03:35

1:03:35

Charles de Gaulle remains one of the most distinctive figures to emerge from the Second World War. Soldier, writer, leader in exile, and later the creator of the Fifth Republic, he played a central role in reshaping modern France. His relationship with Winston Churchill, their shared struggle during the war, and the influence both men continued to …

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Series 4 Trailer 4:36

23d ago4:36

4:36

Send us a message or question! SERIES 4 OF NEVER MIND THE DAMBUSTERS IS ON THE WAY! Brand new episodes drop Wednesday January 7th 2026 (available from Saturday 3rd for our paid subscribers). We're returning with our most ambitious series yet — filled with new interviews, untold stories, and in-depth explorations of RAF Bomber Command. Here’s a glim…

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Pacific War Q&A Round 1 with special guest Bill Toti - Episode 532 1:27:57

26d ago1:27:57

1:27:57

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall welcome back the OG, Captain Bill Toti to the show for our first of several Q&A episodes. As always, our emcee, retired US Army Major Shawn Bergstrom is with us as well. The guys tackle some of the more than 500 questions sent in (!) and cover all klinds of topics from the Philippines, to torpedoes, dinner gu…

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288 - Beyond Burma: The Forgotten Armies 24:10

27d ago24:10

24:10

The fighting in Burma during the Second World War was among the most demanding of the entire conflict. Soldiers faced dense jungle, monsoon rains, disease, and a determined enemy — conditions that made the campaign both brutal and complex. Yet for decades, Burma remained one of the least remembered theatres of the war. The men who fought there — Br…

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The Invasion of Malaya - Episode 531 1:41:41

1M ago1:41:41

1:41:41

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall dig into the morass that is the British “problem” in Malaya following the Japanese invasion. Just before the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Japanese launched the Invasion of Malaya, landing on several beaches and quickly moving inland. British colonial troop’s reaction to the Japanese advance was both slow and i…

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287 - Tunisgrad: The Battle for Tunisia and the Fall of Tunis 40:26

1M ago40:26

40:26

By late 1942, after the success of Operation Torch, the Allies had finally gained a foothold in North Africa. What followed was a hard-fought and often overlooked campaign in Tunisia. For six months, British, American, and French forces battled determined Axis troops for control of the last corner of Africa held by Germany and Italy. It was a campa…

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The Destruction of Force Z - Episode 530 1:32:41

1M ago1:32:41

1:32:41

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall dig into the destruction of Force Z at the hands of the Imperial Japanese Navy's air arm. Sent as a deterrent to Japanese aggression in the area in December 1941 by Winston Churchill, Force Z was supposed to be the "big stick" of Royal Navy power in the Pacific. Comprised of HMS Prince of Wals and battlecruis…

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286 - Rhineland, 1944-45 53:45

1M ago53:45

53:45

By the autumn of 1944, the Allies had driven across France and Belgium and reached the borders of Germany. Ahead of them lay the Rhine — a vast natural barrier and the last line of defence protecting the heart of the Reich. What followed was some of the most intense and costly fighting of the war in Western Europe. From the bitter battles around Aa…

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Preparations for the Invasion of Malaya - Episode 529 1:13:14

2M ago1:13:14

1:13:14

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall take a look at the preparation for the Japanese invasion of Malaya in December 1941. The guys dig into the Japanese outlook on the region, the reasons for invasion, as well as the invasion plans. Digging into the personalities involved, Jon dishes out the goods on Brooke-Popham, Percival, Yamashita and others…

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285 - The Nuremberg Psychiatrist 36:14

2M ago36:14

36:14

In the aftermath of the Second World War, the Allies brought twenty-four of Hitler's most senior figures to justice at Nuremberg. Among them was Hermann Göring — once Hitler's designated heir and still a commanding presence, even in defeat. Before the trial began, the U.S. Army assigned a young psychiatrist, Captain Douglas Kelley, to assess whethe…

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Invasion of Tarawa and Alexander Bonnyman Medal of Honor Footage - Episode 528 1:32:07

2M ago1:32:07

1:32:07

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall dig into the archival footage shot by Norm Hatch and his crew for the invasion of Tarawa in November 1943. Thge guys dig into some of the personalities seen on screen like Herb Amey, Jim Crowe, Norm Hatch and Alexander Bonnyman. Towards the end of the episode Seth and Jon go through Alexander Bonnyman's Medal…

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284 - Renault FT Tank 1:01:39

2M ago1:01:39

1:01:39

In this episode of the WW2 Podcast, I'm joined by Robby Houben from the Belgian Royal Military Museum to discuss the Renault FT. This small but revolutionary French tank changed armoured warfare. Designed during the First World War, the FT introduced the fully rotating turret and tracked layout that became the blueprint for every tank that followed…

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The US Army at Pearl Harbor with John McManus - Episode 527 1:15:55

2M ago1:15:55

1:15:55

This week, Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall welcome their mutual buddy, John McManus to the show to discuss the role of the US Army at Pearl Harbor. Everyone knows what the Navy and Marine Corps did and went through during the Japanese attack on Oahu, but do you know the role of the US Army? Tune in to this episode and you will find out. The guys get …

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Ep.224 - Fifty Years of Flying Fun 18:02

2M ago18:02

18:02

We talk to Rod Dean about ‘Fifty Years of Flying Fun’ which covers his half-century career in the air, from joining the RAF in 1962 to his work as a general aviation and airshow pilot. Over his career Rod logged more than 7,000 hours on 59 different types of aircraft, including military jets like the Hunter and Jaguar, as well as vintage planes suc…

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283 - General Lucian Truscott 42:28

2M ago42:28

42:28

General Lucian K. Truscott was one of the United States Army's most capable commanders of the Second World War. Known for his aggressive leadership and determination, Truscott led American forces in North Africa, Sicily, at Anzio, and later in southern France and Germany. Despite his impressive record, he remains one of the lesser-known U.S. genera…

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The Battle for Wake Island Part 2 - December 12-23, 1941 Episode 526 1:46:09

2M ago1:46:09

1:46:09

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall take a look at the second part of the Battle for Wake Island, the Japanese invasion and American defense. The guys also dig into the details, focusing on the American relief effort planned by Admiral Husband Kimmel, the Japanese plans for a re-do, the Japanese landings and subsequent beat-down that the Marine…

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282 - The Battle for Arakan, Burma 1945 36:53

2M ago36:53

36:53

In early 1945, the Allies were advancing in Burma after their hard-won victories at Kohima and Imphal. The focus shifted to the Arakan, a region of dense jungle, mangrove swamps, and unforgiving terrain. For the men sent there, disease, supply difficulties, and the monsoon were as formidable as the Japanese defenders. Among the formations deployed …

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The Battle for Wake Island-Part 1- December 8-11 Episode 525 1:40:09

3M ago1:40:09

1:40:09

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall tackle the topic of the American defense of Wake Island. In this much-anticipated series of episodes, Seth and Jon take a look at why Wake was occupied in the first place, what it took to build Wake into a useful base, as well as the commanding officers, both American and Japanese. Finally, the guys get into …

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281 - Canada at War 1:07:00

3M ago1:07:00

1:07:00

When we think of the Second World War, the story is so often told through an Anglo-American lens: Britain holding out alone in 1940, the United States joining the fight in 1941, and the combined Allied effort that followed. But this perspective tends to overshadow the contributions of other nations, particularly Canada. Canada was not usually regar…

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Battle of Midway Archival Footage - Episode 524 1:29:51

3M ago1:29:51

1:29:51

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall take a look at the archival footage shot just before and during the Battle of Midway from June 3-7, 1942. Some of the footage we go through here was shot in late May 1942 aboard USS Enterprise and shows such future Midway heroes such as Wade McClusky, Dusty Kleiss, Cleo Dobson and others. The guys then go thr…

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Raising the Fleet: Pearl Harbor Salvage Operations - Episode 523 1:13:52

3M ago1:13:52

1:13:52

By Jon Parshall, Seth Paridon

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280 - MacArthur and the Philippines 47:37

3M ago47:37

47:37

Douglas MacArthur was one of the most prominent — and controversial — generals of the Second World War. As Field Marshal of the Philippines, he withdrew to Australia in 1942, famously declaring, "I shall return." That promise became central to his reputation and shaped the rest of his war. How far did MacArthur's vow influence his actions? Was he a…

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Ep.223 - Riding Rockets, with astronaut Mike Mullane 28:53

3M ago28:53

28:53

Colonel Mike Mullane flew three Space Shuttle missions as a Mission Specialist and is a retired US Air Force weapon systems operator, flying 134 combat missions in Vietnam. He wrote the award-winning children's book Liftoff and the outrageously amusing and often times tragic “Riding Rockets”. He is a speaker on leadership, teamwork, and safety. He …

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279 - The Vistula-Oder Offensive 1945 48:44

3M ago48:44

48:44

By January 1945, the war in Europe neared its final phase. In the west, the Allies had repelled the Ardennes offensive. In the east, the Red Army prepared the Vistula–Oder offensive, a huge strike that pushed German forces out of Poland. The Soviet advance carried them to the very gates of Berlin. The Vistula–Oder offensive in 1945 liberated vast a…

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Episode 57: The U-boat War - Wolfpack, with Roger Moorhouse 48:37

3M ago48:37

48:37

Send us a message or question! Have we got a treat for you...Something different - U-boats instead of aircraft! In our final episode of this series, “The U-boat War - Wolfpack,” we explore the U-Boat War from the German perspective with historian and author Roger Moorhouse, whose new book Wolfpack: Inside Hitler’s U-Boat War will be published on 9 …

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Immediate Post Pearl Harbor America with Rich Frank Part 2 - Episode 522 57:07

3M ago57:07

57:07

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall welcome back their mutual good friend, Rich Frank to talk about the after-effects of the Pearl Harbor attack here in the United States.The guys get into the fountains of rumors that sprang up from coast to coast telling of Japanese aircraft carriers in the Panama Cana Zone to Japanese paratroopers landing on …

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Episode 56: Rough Justice - The Murder of Allied Airmen, with Thomas Rost 45:40

3M ago45:40

45:40

Send us a message or question! In Episode 56 ( the penultimate episode of series 3), we delve into a chilling chapter of World War II history: the murders of Allied airmen in Germany. As the war raged on, downed airmen often found themselves at the mercy of their captors - military, civilian authorities and sometimes ordinary citizens. This episode…

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Immediate Post Pearl Harbor America with Rich Frank Part 1 - Episode 521 1:00:45

3M ago1:00:45

1:00:45

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall welcome back their good buddy historian Rich Frank to the show to talk about immediate post Pearl Harbor America. In the days and weeks after Japan's successful attack on Pearl Harbor and Oahu, the United States found itself in a strange new world. The news hit both FDR and the populace like a thunderbolt cau…

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278 - The Maginot Line 50:20

3M ago50:20

50:20

The Maginot Line was one of the most ambitious defensive projects of the 1930s. Built along France's eastern border, this vast system of underground forts, tunnels, and bunkers included hospitals, kitchens, telephone exchanges, electric railways, and turrets that could rise from the ground to strike at attackers. Designed to withstand artillery and…

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Episode 55 - Operation Pimento: Escape, Evasion and Resolution, with Adam Hart 50:32

4M ago50:32

50:32

Send us a message or question! This week, we're joined by Adam Hart, to discuss his new book about a downed Halifax pilot, who also happens to be his great-grandfather. Operation Pimento is a riveting story of courage, defiance, and survival. Centered on his great-grandfather, Frank Griffiths, this extraordinary true account shines a light on the m…

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Marshall Islands Raid, Butch O'Hare Medal of Honor, and Coral Sea Archival Footage-Episode 520 1:19:05

4M ago1:19:05

1:19:05

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall take a dive into the archival footage world of the US National Archives and look at imagery from the Marshall Islands Raid of February 1, 1942. After looking through selected shots, the guys dig into previously unrecognized archival footage of Edward "Butch" O'Hare's Medal of Honor action. The footage was sho…

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277 - The People's War 32:44

4M ago32:44

32:44

In 2005, the BBC launched an ambitious public history project called The People's War. It aimed to collect and preserve the memories of those who lived through the Second World War, inviting the public to share their experiences online. This was long before today's social media platforms, and the scale of the response was remarkable. By the time th…

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Episode 54 - (Part 2) Above Us The Stars : 10 Squadron Bomber Command - The Wireless Operator's Story. 40:08

4M ago40:08

40:08

Send us a message or question! (Available on general release on 10 September) In this episode James and Jane continue their chat about Jane's book, Above Us The Stars: 10 Squadron Bomber Command - The Wireless Operator's Story. Jane continues the story of the Pennicott crew, through the summer and autumn of 1943, and into 1944 and discusses the emo…

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Attack on Pearl Harbor: The Second Wave - Episode 519 1:46:41

4M ago1:46:41

1:46:41

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall wrap up the Japanese attack on Oahu with the second wave. As the first wave of Japanese attackers winged off and away from Oahu, the second wave followed them into the area just a short 15 minutes later. Seth and Jon get into the weeds of the second wave discussing the vast differences between the two assault…

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Ep.222 - Flight 540: 'Wake up, it's a crash' 29:46

4M ago29:46

29:46

This is a moving interview with Earl Moorhouse, crash survivor and author. ‘Wake Up, It’s A Crash – The Survivors’ Stories’ is his account of the world’s first Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet disaster, in November 1974. For full show notes, visit: www.xtended.co.uk

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276 - The Malay Regiment 1:02:25

4M ago1:02:25

1:02:25

In this episode of the WW2 Podcast, we explore the remarkable history of the Malay Regiment during the Second World War. Formed in the 1930s as an experiment with just 25 local recruits, the regiment quickly grew into a respected fighting force. By the time of the Japanese invasion of Malaya in late 1941, it had expanded to two full battalions. The…

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Episode 53 - Above Us the Stars: 10 Squadron Bomber Command - The Wireless Operator's Story (part 1) 52:36

4M ago52:36

52:36

Send us a message or question! This week James interviews Jane about her first Bomber Command book, "Above Us the Stars: 10 Squadron Bomber Command - The Wireless Operator's Story." We can't believe it's taken us 53 episodes to finally get around to discussing it! Jane shares with listeners the background to the book, her motivation for writing it,…

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Attack on Pearl Harbor: The First Wave Part 2 - Episode 518 1:04:03

4M ago1:04:03

1:04:03

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall wrap up the First Wave of the attack on Pearl Harbor by covering what happens to USS California, USS Arizona, and other ships in the anchorage before they move inland. The guys get into the attacks on Hickam Field and tell the story of the inbound flight of B-17s coming in from the mainland. Flying into a war…

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275 - War, Empire and the Struggle for a New World 39:45

4M ago39:45

39:45

In this episode, we're turning our attention to British India during the Second World War. While the war in Europe and the Pacific often dominates the narrative, the role India played—both as a military contributor and as a nation on the cusp of independence—is often overlooked. I'm joined by Philip Craig, author of 1945: The Reckoning. His book lo…

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Episode 52 - Listeners' Questions 46:05

4M 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

4M 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

4M 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

5M 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

5M 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…