The Unauthorized History of the Pacific War

This week, Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall take a look at some well known, and some not so well known, archival footage of USS Franklin (CV-13). On March 19,1945, USS Franklin was struck by two Japanese bombs dropped in a quick strike while she and Task Force 58 were a mere 50 miles from the coast of Japan. What was filmed next by ships of the Task Force and Franklin herself, amount to some of the most famous and harrowing footage shot during the entirety of the Pacific War. Tune in to see the shots and get the straight dope as Seth...

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall are happy to welcome a member of The Nerderati to the show as Brian Perry comes aboard to talk about Yorktown’s damage at Coral Sea and Midway. Brian gets into the deep weeds about what happened to Ole Yorky at Coral Sea and if the damage she suffered actually played any part in her performance at Midway. We then get into the famous Pearl Harbor drydock story, and bust a few myths along the way before getting to Midway and diving into exactly what happened to CV-5 and what made her si...

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall tackle some of your Sunday Scuttlebutt questions while we dig through the inbox. The guys cover topics like Halsey, relief of the Philippines, Mitscher, Japanese defensive positions, and the dreaded “what ifs” that I love so much. Hope you guys like this off the cuff episode. Also, big thanks to The Nerderati who showed up to see us in Fredericksburg, TX. We love y'all. ATTN!! Make sure and preorder Seth and Bill's book, The Killing Sea: The Naval Battle of Guadalcanal that Turned the Tide of the Pacific War. It publishes in May...

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall are joined by Bruce McCandless III, Grandson of the Medal of Honor recipient, and son of the astronaut, to discuss Bruce's new book about his grandfather's wartime experience. In 2022, Bruce discovered his grandfather's unpublished memoir of his World War Two service, quite literally, under a hay bale and a barn. Compelled to bring his grandfather's incredible wartime experience into full view for the very first time, accomplished author Bruce McCandless III, sat down and edited his grandfather's own words and to the book that we discuss today. The words of a true...

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall Bring the long story of the Philippine campaign of 1941 to 1942 to an unceremonious and tragic end with the fall of the fortress of Corregidor. After week upon week of relentless artillery barrage and aerial assaults, the Japanese put boots on the ground of Corregidor during the night of May 7th 1942. Initially, the enemy was met with fierce American fire that laid waste to the initial Japanese assault waves that hit the beach. However, unorganized, bereft of communication, and simply overwhelmed, the American defenders quickly gave ground and by morning found themselves with...

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall welcome a new guest to the show, author Alex Wooley, to discuss Alex’s new book about the legendary Japanese battleship Yamato. The guys get into the conversation with Alex about the deep ties that the Japanese people have with the legendary ship even to this day and how the ship has morphed into symbols of both peace and war and places beyond. Starting with the massive construction project of the ship, her short combat history, her destruction, and how people viewed her during the war and how they viewed her immediately af...

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall Take a look at the Siege of Corregidor. One of the main linchpins and the American planned defense of Manila, Corregidor was built to be an impregnable fortress that guarded the coast of Luzon from all attackers. While that plan may have been effective in the early part of the twentieth century, by 1942, Corregidor surrounded by Japanese captured territory and lacking in modern weapons, was obsolete. Beginning in December 1941 and stretching all the way until the beginning of May 1942, the “Rock” as it was called, was under almost constant aerial bombardment and hara...

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall along with a new guest, their good friend, Filipino historian Desiree Benipayo, Guerrilla movement that began in 1942 almost immediately after the Japanese invaded. Desiree gives a unique perspective into the legacy of the movement, as well as some of the more important Filipino figures within the guerrilla war. Desiree discusses some of the local leaders, and the importance of women in the guerrilla movement and the vital roles that they played. From spies, to saboteurs, to nurses, to frontline combatants you will be surprised, and amazed, at the importance these brave women...

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall take a break from the Philippines to look at some archival footage. First, The guys take a look at footage from the USS Birmingham, a Cleveland class light cruiser that saw a tremendous amount of action in the Pacific. Daily life aboard a light cruiser such as loading ammunition and other mundane activities are highlighted, along with, Birmingham's shore bombardment of Tinian Town in June 1944. After that we take a look at some archival footage from the Battle of the Philippine Sea including some incredibly awesome shots of two very, very pretty...

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall are joined by the very good friend author and historian James Scott for the first episode of our new series called Sunday Scuttlebutt.  In this once a month, maybe, series Seth and John and a guest we'll tackle recent listener/viewer questions and talk about recent topics to keep you guys up to date with what's going on. As most of you know the majority of our episodes are recorded weeks in advance and by the time we get questions and or comments we've moved well beyond the questions that have been a...

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall welcome back their good friend author and historian John Bruning to the show To discuss the birth of the Filipino guerrilla movement. John gets into some of the more polarizing figures of the movement, including Harry Fenton, James Cushing and his brothers, Chick Parsons and more. John gets into the dark side of the movement and talks about the intrigue, the backstabbing, the murder, the betrayal, the torture, and the overall seediness that actually was the internal workings of the movement. While there were certainly Filipinos who are fighting to dislodge the...

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This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall welcome there good buddy author and historian James Scott to the show to discuss James's new book, Empire of Ashes. In this week's episode the guys dig into the other American president of World War II, Harry S Truman and his decision to use the atomic bomb on Japan and all the intricacies therein. The conversation then shifts to that of the Soviet intervention in the Pacific war its actual effects, versus the myth, and the reasons behind the usage of the atomic bomb in relation to the Soviets. Finally the team...

This week Seth Paridon and John Parshall take a look at the unfortunate, but inevitable, end of the defense of Bataan. After months of defending the peninsula valiantly, and short on everything but guts, the defenders finally capitulate under the guns and relentless assault of the Japanese army. Sick, exhausted, demoralized, and flat worn out, the Americans and Filipinos do the best they can against the fresh troops of General Homma’s 14th army. Unfortunately for General Jonathan Wainwright's men, the best they can do at this stage is simply not enough. Bereft of supplies, food, medicine, and everything bu...

This week Seth Paridon and John Parshall dig into the Battle of the Pockets on Bataan in February 1942. As the Japanese continue to try and push their advantage along the rear battle position, after having forced the Fil-American forces to retreat from their main line of resistance, the month before, The previously victorious Japanese run into a buzz saw of defensive lines. The Japanese continue to try to push their advantage but make absolutely no headway, and before long, begin to run out of men and supplies. Japanese General Homma is forced to make a call to suspend offensive...

This week, Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall welcome back their good buddy author and historian Dave Holland to the show to talk about Dave's new book. In his second book, Dave takes on the underappreciated and largely misunderstood role of the United States Army on Guadalcanal. For years, the narrative history of Guadalcanal always states that the United States Marines were the only ones ashore, and fought and won the battle single-handedly. That could not be farther from the truth. Coming ashore in October 1942, staying through the hellish days of that month into November, and taking over after the...

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall get together to shoot the breeze in between shows, talk about future ideas and just generally hang out. The guys get into some new books that are coming out or are already out, talk about Jon's new book that just got released, Seth's new book that is at the publisher currently. and a rather startling revelation about a personal injury and the story that goes with it. Next week, we will return to our regularly scheduled programming, but we wanted to just hang out and felt like recording it might be a...

This week Seth Paridon and John Parshall dig deep into the actions of I Corps on the western coast of Bataan in January 1942. The guys discuss the tactical and strategic situation facing Wainwright's men and discuss the heroic, if not romantic, death of the American horse cavalry with the 26th Cav’s last horse charge at Morong. Following the end of the cavalry, the guys get into what has become known as the Battle of the Points. Towards the end of January in an effort to wrap up the campaign on Bataan, the Japanese make several poorly thought of am...

This week, Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall take up the topic of the first Japanese attacks on the Fil-American lines in January 1942. With Manila now in his hands, Japanese General Homma feels that an end to the campaign on Luzon is in sight and feels that an attack with the units he has on hand will bring the Fil-American line crashing down. The valiant defense put up by American General Parker’s II Corps proves just how wrong Homma was. In a series of sharp fights along the Abucay Line, Parker’s Filipino and American troops fight tooth and nail...

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall take a look at some fairly rare and very important archival footage from 1942. While scenes of the Fil-American disaster on Luzon are few and far between, there are some shots of the campaign, and as one would suspect, they are from the Japanese point of view. This week we look at footage from the final Japanese assault on Bataan in April 1942, as well as some eerie footage of the Bataan Death March as it began near Mariveles and made its way through the plains of Luzon towards Camp O’Donnell. The footage of...

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall take a deep dive into the withdrawal actions fought by General Jonathan Wainwright’s troops of the Northern Luzon Force from December 24, 1941 through January 1, 1942. The guys get into the actions of some of the men who, quite literally, held the door open so that General Parker’s Southern Luzon Force could escape into Bataan during the latter portion of 1941. Wainwright’s battered troops of the 11th and 91st Filipino Divisions as well as the American tankers of the 192nd and 194th tank battalions do battle with Homma’s troops in sharp fights not ofte...

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall welcome back their buddy John McManus to discuss the situation facing Douglas MacArthur’s troops from Christmas Eve, 1941 through the New Year as Wainwright and his beleaguered men begin the phased withdrawal from their fighting positions to the Bataan Peninsula. Among the many topics the guys get into is the leadership of General Jonathan Wainwright and how so very important he was to the overall plan in late 1941 in the Philippines. The logistics situation on Bataan, is also discussed in detail, all setting up the disaster that befalls Fil-American forces through the fi...

This week Seth Paridon, Jon Parshall and their buddy, John McManus, talk about the initial Japanese landings on Luzon in December 1941. The guys get into the very real panic that was in Manila following the debacle at Clark Field and how the citizenry reacted to the news that the Japanese were indeed going to invade. The landings at Aparri, Legaspi and Vigan are discussed as are the main Japanese landings at Lingayen Gulf and MacArthur's response to those landings and the actions that follow. The early actions of the 26th Cavalry as well as Wainwright and others are discussed...

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall take a deep dive into the debacle that occurs at Clark Field in December 1941 as war comes to the Philippines and General Douglas MacArthur. The series of missteps from General Lewis Brereton, to Dick Sutherland all the way to MacArthur himself all lead down the road to disaster as the Japanese catch Mac's major defensive/offensive assets with their pants down. In one of the most humiliating performances by the American Army Air Corps in the entire war, the Japanese wipe out the vast majority of American air assets on the first...

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall take a deep dive into the realm of the pre-war Philippines. The guys dig into the ever-revolving question that flew through defense circles in the 1920’s and 30’s as to whether or not the US should defend the Philippines in any way. Then, with defense a definite, the guys get into War Plan Orange, WPO-3, and Douglas MacArthur’s own plan for defense and the preparations for said defense. All of these topics set us up for the in-depth series of videos coming up this season as we dive into the Fall of the...

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall open up Season 6 with friend, author and historian Pete Owen. Pete, a retired United States Marine, and Naval Academy graduate, brings us the story of VMF-221's Pacific War odyssey. 221 first saw combat at Midway in June 1942, then went on to Guadalcanal after a lengthy rebuild. After the Canal, and flying the F4U Corsair, the Falcons flew in the Solomons before finally ending up aboard USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) in 1945. Pete gives us the low-down on the squadron and some of their personalities and training that are in his new book...

This week, Seth is introducing another documentary from his massive film archive. This time its the USN and USCG produced, The Fleet That Came to Stay. The title is obvious and this film is filled with awesome archival footage. Check it out and get ready for Season Six that debuts next week! #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...

This week Seth introduces a really good documentary film produced right after the war by General MacArthur's command entitled Appointment in Tokyo. The film focuses on Mac's theater of the Pacific war from the Fall of the Philippines to the surrender aboard USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay in 1945. Another couple weeks before the start of Season Six. Stand by! #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...

This week we are combining both Wake Island episodes as Seth and Jon prep for Season 6. Enjoy. #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...

Special Announcement here gang: Both Jon and myself, along with John McManus , will be at The National Museum of the Pacific War's annual conference in October. The museum's annual conference will conference will feature several speakers, including both of us. Jon and my session will be Friday October 16, 2026 at 5 pm. Jon will be speaking separately the following day. The entire conference is Friday through Saturday October 16-17, 2026 in Fredericksburg, Texas. Seats are limited so make sure you register for the conference here: https://www.pacificwarmuseum.org/learn/museum-programs/conference #wwiihistory #ww2 #usnavy #usa #usarmy #medalofhonor #enterprise #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #cv6...

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall take a look at the attack on Pearl Harbor, the first wave in this super-long episode. We've combined the two parts of the first wave into this massive episode while we prepare for Season 6. Enjoy.

The Unauthorized History of the Pacific War Podcast is the creation of Seth Paridon, Bill Toti and Jon Parshall. Seth is a World War II historian with over 20 years experience whose many roles in his career have been serving as historian for The National WWII Museum for 15 years, as well as museum deputy director and...

This week Seth Paridon, and his son, take you through the National Naval Aviation Museum located on NAS Pensacola in Pensacola, Florida. Yours truly and my son take an annual "History with Dad" trip, and my boy selected P'Cola as this year's destination. This is one of, if not the, finest museum in the entire country. The aircraft collection is amazing and the artifacts, including some from CV6, are inspiring. In this video we will see an F4B4, SBD, FF1, F4F3, PBY and many, many others. Check it out as we prep for Season 6. #wwiihistory #ww2 #usnavy...

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall wrap up Season 5 with a Q&A episode with their good buddy and Q&A emcee-Shawn Bergstrom. The team wraps up the massive amount of questions sent in with some really thought provoking answers to some excellent questions. See if you made the cut. #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...

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall welcome back buddy Sal Mercogliano  @wgowshipping  to talk about US Navy shipbuilding and fleet repair in the Pacific theater of Operations. The guys get into several Admirals you’ve probably never heard of and dive into the Navy’s shipbuilding programs that began during the mid-1930’s and rolled through to the Two Ocean Navy Act. The sheer amount of vessels constructed is mind blowing! Then the guys get into the absolutely fascinating topic of at sea, or in theater ship repair, how it evolved from 1942 until 1945 when if a ship git hit, she...

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall take a look at some utterly awesome archival footage. Remember when we said that the airspace over Task Force 58 was the most deadly anti-aircraft envelope on the planet in 44-45? Well, after watching this, you will understand why we are right. The sheer amount of lead flying through the air from the likes of USS Washington, USS Lexington, USS Hornet, USS Bennington, USS Quincy, and several Cleveland-class light cruisers is simply mind-blowing. We also delve into some famous footage from Yorktown in 1943, as well as some harrowing images of Ticonderoga in 1945, and...

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall welcome author and historian Sara Vladic to the show to discuss her new book, The Dangerous Shore: How a Motley Crew of Scientists, Mobsters, Double Agents, Retirees, Volunteer Pilots (and a Boy Scout) Stopped the Invasion of America. I bet you never thought you would ever hear the name Lucky Luciano or Meyer Lansky on this show. Well, just sit back and watch. This is our first foray, if you will, into the homefront with our pal Sara, and believe me, it does not disappoint. Check out this absolutely fascinating episode to...

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall welcome their good friend John McManus to the show to talk research. Jon and I get stacks of emails every week asking where to look, how to look, what to look for, etc when it comes to researching a subject, person, photo, what have you. As we begin the wrap-up of Season 5, we thought it would be a good idea to have our buddy on to discuss that very topic. Hope this helps those budding historians and writers. 

#wwiihistory #ww2 #usnavy #usa #usarmy #medalofhonor #enterprise #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #cv6 #mi...

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall are delighted to welcome Sal Mercogliano from What’s Going on With Shipping to the show to discuss US Navy fast oilers and the logistic issues in the Pacific during 1942.  Seth and Jon give Sal the wheel and he drives us through an absolutely fascinating presentation on the US Navy’s oiler situation in late 1941 and through 1942.You guys will be absolutely amazed at how much just a handful of oilers mattered when it came to the overall scheme of making war in the Pacific from Pearl Harbor through Guadalcanal.  Sal expertly delive...

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall wrap up the campaign in Burma with the fall of Rangoon, and the subsequent Japanese advance north into central Burma. British General Harold Alexander takes over for the fired Thomas Hutton and we also see the introduction of two of the more famous allied characters of the war, British General William Slim and American General Joseph “Vinegar Joe” Stilwell. The Japanese literally walk into Rangoon and then spin north and launch an offensive that smacks Stilwell and Slim right in the mouth. The remaining actions in the oil fields and Stilwell’s destru...

This week Seth Paridon and Jon Parshall bring the Burma campaign, or the beginning of it anyway, to the table. The guys get into the strategic setup for the campaign, and talk about the British defensive forces, or lack thereof. Jon dishes on Iida Shojiro, Japanese CO of the 15th Army, and the guys get into the series of defenisive battles fought by the Commonwealth forces that occur in the beginning of the Japanese invasion. The fate of the heroic 17th Indian Division at Sittang Bridge will make you want to pull your hair out. This one is an...