The Unauthorized History of the Pacific War
Seth Paridon, William Toti
The Unauthorized History of the Pacific War Podcast is the creation of Seth Paridon and Bill Toti. Seth is a World War II historian with over 20 years experience who's many roles also was serving as a chief historian for The National WWII Museum for 15 years. Bill is not a historian, but is a retired submarine commodore and military planner with a special interest in the Pacific War. Bill has a unique perspective to offer as one who spent more than a decade sailing those same waters where the action in “The Unauthorized History of the Pacific War” took place.
Each week, Bill and Seth dive deep into topics pertaining to the Pacific War during World War II. We dissect the battles, tactics, strategies, and personalities that drove the United States' victory on the largest battlefront in human history.
Seth and Bill bring out the hard facts about the war that resonates deeply today, some 80 years after the war was fought.
New episodes are released on this channel every Tuesday, and the audio versions of each episode are released at the same time everywhere you receive your podcasts. Make sure you subscribe to get notifications of every fresh upload and new show!
If you prefer an audio-only version of “The Unauthorized History of the Pacific War,” it can be heard here:
And for those of you interested in the transition from active duty to industry, Bill’s book “From CO to CEO: A Practical Guide for Transitioning from Military to Industry Leadership” is available in hardback at Amazon and other resellers, in eBook format on Kindle and Apple, and in audiobook format on Audible.
Each week, Bill and Seth dive deep into topics pertaining to the Pacific War during World War II. We dissect the battles, tactics, strategies, and personalities that drove the United States' victory on the largest battlefront in human history.
Seth and Bill bring out the hard facts about the war that resonates deeply today, some 80 years after the war was fought.
New episodes are released on this channel every Tuesday, and the audio versions of each episode are released at the same time everywhere you receive your podcasts. Make sure you subscribe to get notifications of every fresh upload and new show!
If you prefer an audio-only version of “The Unauthorized History of the Pacific War,” it can be heard here:
And for those of you interested in the transition from active duty to industry, Bill’s book “From CO to CEO: A Practical Guide for Transitioning from Military to Industry Leadership” is available in hardback at Amazon and other resellers, in eBook format on Kindle and Apple, and in audiobook format on Audible.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Mar 5, 2024 • 1h 11min
Historical review of Masters of the Air Episode 7
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 bits of the real story of the Great Escape.
Image courtesy Apple TV
#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 #museum #hollywood #movie #movies #books #mastersoftheair #8thairforce #mightyeighth #100thbombgroup #bloodyhundredth #b17 #boeing #airforce 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 #museum #hollywood #movie #movies #books #oldbreed #1stMarineDivision #thepacific #Peleliu #army #marines #marinecorps #worldwar2 #worldwar #worldwarii
Feb 27, 2024 • 1h 50min
The Invasion of Peleliu Part 3 of 3-Operation STALEMATE II-with Dave Holland
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 commander, Andy Haldane
Feb 26, 2024 • 1h 8min
Historical review of Masters of the Air Episode 6
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 #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 #museum #hollywood #movie #movies #books #mastersoftheair #8thairforce #mightyeighth #100thbombgroup #bloodyhundredth #b17 #boeing #airforce 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 #museum #hollywood #movie #movies #books #oldbreed #1stMarineDivision #thepacific #Peleliu #army #marines #marinecorps #worldwar2 #worldwar #worldwarii
Feb 20, 2024 • 1h 4min
Review of Masters of the Air Episode 5
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 "Rosie" Rosenthal. The raid also signaled a significant shift in the bombing strategy for the American Army Air Forces that would have dire consequences for the rest of the war. Tune in and see what the guys have to say.
Image courtesy Apple TV
Feb 20, 2024 • 2h 4min
The Invasion of Peleliu Part 2 of 3-Operation STALEMATE II with guest Dave Holland
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 The Point, the 5th Marines and their charge across Peleliu's airfield, Medal of Honor recipient Everett P. Pope, and the first taste of the Umurbrogol, better known as Bloody Nose Ridge.
#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 #museum #hollywood #movie #movies #books #oldbreed #1stMarineDivision #thepacific #Peleliu
Feb 14, 2024 • 1h 16min
Review of Masters of the Air Episode 4
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 #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 #museum #hollywood #movie #movies #books #mastersoftheair #8thairforce #mightyeighth #100thbombgroup #bloodyhundredth
Feb 13, 2024 • 1h 32min
Operation STALEMATE II-The Invasion of Peleliu Part 1 of 3
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 the bloody Point by George Hunt's K-3-1 would be bloody harbingers of what was to come as the Old Breed gutted it out against the toughest defense in the Pacific to that time.
#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 #museum #hollywood #movie #movies #books #oldbreed #1stMarineDivision #thepacific #Peleliu
Feb 6, 2024 • 1h 11min
Review of Masters of the Air Episode 3
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.
Image Courtesy Apple TV
#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 #museum #hollywood #movie #movies #books #mastersoftheair #8thairforce #mightyeighth #100thbombgroup #bloodyhundredth
Feb 6, 2024 • 1h 8min
Unauthorized Looks at Pacific War Books
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 list of books:
-Run Silent Run Deep (Edward Beach)
-Silent Victory (Clay Blair)
-Wahoo & Clear the Bridge (Richard O’Kane)
-War in the Boats (William Ruhe)
-Thunder Below (Eugene Fluckey)
-Ghosts of Bungo Suido (P. T. Deutermann)
-Submarine Operations in World War II (Theodore Roscoe)
-The Last Patrol (Harry Holmes)
-Nimitz (E.B. Potter)
-Nimitz at War (Craig Symonds)
-Mastering the Art of Command (Trent Hone)
-Master of Seapower (Thomas Buell)
-Quiet Warrior (E.B. Potter)
-The Admirals (Walter Borneman)
-Indianapolis (Lynn Vincent & Sara Vladic)
-Clash of the Carriers (Barrett Tillman)
-Joe Rochefort’s War (Elliot Carlson)
-And I was There (Edwin Layton)
-Shattered Sword-Jon Parshall/Tony Tully
-Surigao Strait-Tony Tully
-The Japanese Navy in WWII as told by Japanese Naval Officers-David Evans
-Fighting in the Dark-Trent Hone
-Saipan-James Hallas
-The Devil's Anvil-James Hallas
-Japan’s Imperial Army:Its Rise and Fall-Ed Drea
-The Knights of Bushido-Edward Russell
-Island Infernos-John McManus
-Fleet at Flood Tide-Hornfischer
-Utmost Savagery-COL Alexander
-Target Rabaul-Bruce Gamble
-Fortress Rabaul-Gamble
-Invasion Rabaul-Gamble
-Pacific War Diary-James Fahey
-Race of Aces-John Bruning
-Day of Infamy-Walter Lord
-Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors-Hornfischer
-Neptune’s Inferno-Hornfischer
-Enterprise-Tillman
-Whirlwind-Tillman
-Pacific Crucible-Toll
-Conquering Tide-Toll
-Twilight of the Gods-Toll
-Battleship Commander-Paul Stillwell
-The Big E- Stafford
-Hell from the Heavens-John Wukovits
-Battle for Hell’s Island-Steve Moore
-Pacific Payback-Steve Moore
-Guadalcanal-Rich Frank
-Downfall-Rich Frank
-Tower of Skulls-Rich Frank
-Myth and the Greatest Generation-Kenneth Rose
-Soldier from the War Returning-Thomas Childers
-Their Backs Against the Sea-Bill Sloan
-Helmet for my Pillow-Leckie
-Rampage-James Scott
-Black Snow-Scott
-One Square Mile of Hell-John Wukovits
-Tin Can Titans-Wukovits
-Ghost Mountain Boys-James Campbell
-Wake of the Wahoo-Sterling
-Pig Boats-Theodore Roscoe
-The Old Breed-Sledge
-The First Team-John Lundstrom
-The First Team at Guadalcanal-Lundstrom
-Black Shoe Carrier Admiral-Lundstrom
-Fading Victory-Matome Ugaki
#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 #museum #hollywood #movie #movies #books
Jan 30, 2024 • 54min
Review of Masters of the Air Episode 2
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 relation to their historical accuracy. Tune in and see what the guys have to say.
Cover image courtesy Apple TV
#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 #museum #hollywood #movie #movies #books #oldbreed #1stMarineDivision #thepacific #Peleliu #mastersoftheair #8thairforce #b17
