This week Seth and guest co-host Jon Parshall maneuver their way through the two aircraft carrier raids on the Japanese fortress of Rabaul. The team goes through the personal stories of some of those involved, discusses the impact of the raids on the almost mythical Japanese complex, and discusses the ships used in both raids. Tune in and see how these two raids impacted the overall campaign not only in the Solomons area, but the war as a whole.

This week Seth and Bill are again joined by naval historian Drachinifel and the trio discusses the Battle of Empress Augusta Bay that was fought as a result of the invasion of Bougainville on the night of November 1-2, 1943. Tune in and see what the trio has to say about the resounding American surface victory.

This week Seth and Bill tackle the invasion of Bougainville on November 1, 1943. With the noose around Rabaul growing ever tighter, ADM Halsey and the new 3rd Marine Division and veteran 37th Infantry Division land at Cape Torokina and establish airfields to further tighten the grip on the Japanese fortress at Rabaul. Tune in and see what the team has to say about the reasons for the invasion, the operation itself, heroism, and the end results.

This week Seth and Bill welcome special guest Chuck Merkel to the show to discuss the Medals of Honor awarded to those members of the Silent Service during World War II. Together the trio goes into the stories of Howard Gilmore, John Cromwell, Sam Dealey, Red Ramage, and George Street. Tune in and see what gallantry is really like.

This week Bill and Seth sweep up the remaining naval surface battles in the long and bloody road up the Solomons island chain. US Navy destroyers meet the Imperial Navy once again at The Naval Battle of Vella LaVella and a gentleman named Arleigh Burke sets the pace at Cape St. George.

This week Seth and Bill take a step back to 1942 and look at the somewhat audacious, somewhat foolhardy Makin Island Raid of August 1942. Colonel Evans Carlson and his 2nd Raider Battalion, Carlson's Raiders, launched an audacious, ferocious and extremely hazardous raid behind enemy lines on Makin Atoll in August of 1942. Hailed as a success by the American press at the time, the team breaks down whether or not it really was as successful as originally said to be.

This week Seth and Bill welcome first time guest, author and historian John Bruning to the show to discuss the ace race of New Guinea in 1943. The trio unpacks the stories of General George Kenney, the birth of his 5th Air Force, as well as Richard Bong and Tommy Maguire and their quest to become America's Ace of Aces.

This week Bill and Seth discuss one of the most famous pilots and famous squadrons in history, Pappy Boyington and his famous Black Sheep. Seth and Bill debunk some of the myths and lore about Pappy and his men, and in turn reveal the true stories of the professionals who flew the Corsairs of VMF-214 with their legendary skipper.

We wanted to drop a quick note in honor of Memorial Day this year. In this short video, Seth reads the famous "Dear Jackie" letter written by LCDR John J. Shea to his young son shortly before LCDR Shea was killed in action aboard USS WASP (CV-7) on September 15, 1942. Remember the Fallen.

#memorialday

This week Bill and Seth break down the leadership and the war patrols of the incomparable Eugene B. "Lucky" Fluckey and his beloved USS Barb (SS-220). Tune in and see what the team breaks down as the ingenious, innovative and revolutionary skipper rewrites the tactics of submarine warfare in World War II.