The Unauthorized History of the Pacific War

Thhis week Seth and Bill welcome back good friend and fantstic historian John McManus to talk about GEN Douglas MacArthur's long-anticipated return to the Philippines. Mac and the 6th Army land on Leyte on October 20, 1944 to liberate the first portion of the archipelago as MacArthur's crusade to liberate the place he called home finally takes off. #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 #essex #halsey #taskforce38 #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 #leytegulf #battleofleytegulf

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 force. Tune in and see what the guys have to say about the ultimate destruction of the Japanese carrier force. #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 #essex #halsey #taskforce38 #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 #leytegulf #battleofleytegulf

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.

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 and dig into the effectiveness of both the American surface counterattacks and the aerial assault by Taffys 2 and 3 on Kurita's Center Force. Tune in and hear what the guys have to say. #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 #essex #halsey #taskforce38 #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 #leytegulf #battleofleytegulf

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 guys get into the ships such as Samuel B Roberts and USS Johnston of Taffy 3 and the aircraft as well. Tune in and see what the guys uncover as we dig into the first part of the discussion on the Battle off Samar.

We will be accepting questions by April 14, 2024 for recording the final episode of Season 3.

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, Tennessee, Maryland, California and all their pals join in the fight as the Pearl Harbor survivors (minus Mississippi), the heavy and light cruisers absolutely annihilate Nishimura's Southern Force. The battle, more of a nautical execution, was the last battleship versus battleship fight in naval history. Tune in to see what the guys have to say. #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 #essex #halsey #taskforce38 #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 #leytegulf #battleofleytegulf

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 with the guys. #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 #essex #halsey #taskforce38 #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 #leytegulf #battleofleytegulf

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 decisions leading up to Task Force 38's attack on Kurita's Center Force on October 24-25, 1944. The team looks at the aerial attacks on Kurita's Center Force by TG 38.2 and TG 38.3 as they launch wave after wave of attacks against the Japanese super battleship Musashi. Tune in and see what the guys have to say about Musashi suffering a death by a thousand cuts. #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 #essex #halsey #taskforce38 #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 #leytegulf #battleofleytegulf

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 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

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 #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

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 and Leyte landings. The massive air battle that followed over the next four days was the single largest air-sea battle of the ENTIRE WAR and saw the single largest deployment of United States naval aviation to that point. The massive air battle consumed more Japanese resources than did the Great Marianas Turkey Shoot and was essentially the prelude to the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Yet, the Air Battle of Formosa remains largely unknown to the general public. Tune in and see what the team has to say. #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 #essex #halsey #taskforce38

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 take Formosa by ADM King and the tactics employed by both teams as they each tried to steer the JCS and the President of the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt, to their side of the fence. The back-and-forth fight culminated in a meeting between Nimitz, MacArthur and FDR in Hawaii in 1944. Tune in and see what the political intrigue and in-fighting was all about in 1944. #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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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