History Unplugged Podcast

An Interview With Jerry Yellin, the 93-Year-Old Vet Who Flew WW2’s Last Combat Mission


Listen Later

I had the extraordinary pleasure to talk with Captain Jerry Yellin, a 93-year-old World War Two vet who flew the final combat mission in World War Two's Pacific Theatre. Yellin piloted for the 78th Fighter Squadron and was part of the 1945 bombing campaigns that ultimately triggered Japan's surrender. From April to August of 1945, Yellin and a small group of fellow fighter pilots flew dangerous bombing and strafe missions out of Iwo Jima over Japan. Even days after America dropped the atomic bombs on Hiroshima on August 6 and Nagasaki on August 9, the pilots continued to fly. Though Japan had suffered unimaginable devastation, the emperor still refused to surrender. Nine days after Hiroshima, on the morning of August 14th, Yellin and his wingman 1st Lieutenant Phillip Schlamberg took off from Iwo Jima to bomb Tokyo. By the time Yellin returned to Iwo Jima, the war was officially over—but his young friend Schlamberg would never get to hear the news. Yellin joined the war efforts when he was 19 and jumped directly into action. The stench of death, the rain of bullets, and the minute-to-minute fight for survival faced young Captain Jerry Yellin when he landed on Iwo Jima in in 1945. Little did Capt. Yellin know that his life would be turned upside down during a routine flight, which turned out to be the last combat mission of WWII. Flanked by his devoted comrades, Yellin was a flight leader in the final fight for freedom—a mission that will forever leave its mark on the history of the world.   TO HELP OUT THE SHOW Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one. Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

History Unplugged PodcastBy History Unplugged

  • 4.2
  • 4.2
  • 4.2
  • 4.2
  • 4.2

4.2

3,733 ratings


More shows like History Unplugged Podcast

View all
The History of WWII Podcast by Ray Harris Jr

The History of WWII Podcast

3,973 Listeners

Ben Franklin's World by Liz Covart

Ben Franklin's World

1,552 Listeners

1001 Heroes, Legends, Histories & Mysteries Podcast by Jon Hagadorn  Podcast Host

1001 Heroes, Legends, Histories & Mysteries Podcast

1,673 Listeners

The WW2 Podcast by Angus Wallace

The WW2 Podcast

1,190 Listeners

Dan Snow's History Hit by History Hit

Dan Snow's History Hit

4,623 Listeners

The Explorers Podcast by Matt Breen

The Explorers Podcast

1,453 Listeners

This American President by This American President

This American President

734 Listeners

Tides of History by Wondery /  Patrick Wyman

Tides of History

6,282 Listeners

History That Doesn't Suck by Prof. Greg Jackson

History That Doesn't Suck

5,599 Listeners

American History Tellers by Wondery

American History Tellers

19,006 Listeners

Presidential Fight Club by Presidential Fight Club

Presidential Fight Club

79 Listeners

Key Battles of the Civil War by Key Battles of the Civil War

Key Battles of the Civil War

687 Listeners

Last Night on the Titanic by Last Night on the Titanic

Last Night on the Titanic

134 Listeners

Ottoman Lives by Ottoman Lives

Ottoman Lives

89 Listeners

HISTORY This Week by The HISTORY® Channel | Back Pocket Studios

HISTORY This Week

4,102 Listeners

Key Battles of the Revolutionary War by Key Battles of the Revolutionary War

Key Battles of the Revolutionary War

338 Listeners

The Ancients by History Hit

The Ancients

2,885 Listeners

Key Battles of World War One by Key Battles of World War One

Key Battles of World War One

255 Listeners

Key Battles of American History by Key Battles of American History

Key Battles of American History

895 Listeners

History Daily by Airship | Noiser | Wondery

History Daily

2,016 Listeners

Eyewitness History by Eyewitness History

Eyewitness History

65 Listeners

American History Hit by History Hit

American History Hit

1,349 Listeners

Historical Jesus by Historical Jesus

Historical Jesus

51 Listeners