Kangaroo Squadron: The Tip of the American Spear in the WW2 Pacific Theatre

Kangaroo Squadron: The Tip of the American Spear in the WW2 Pacific Theatre

In early 1942, while most of the American military was in disarray from the devastating attacks on Pearl Harbor and the Philippines, a single USAAF squadron advanced to the far side of the world to face America's new enemy.

Based in Australia with poor supplies and no ground support, the pilots and crew faced tropical diseases while confronting numerically superior Japanese forces. Yet the outfit, dubbed the Kangaroo Squadron, proved remarkably resilient and successful, conducting long-range bombing raids, armed reconnaissance missions, and rescuing General MacArthur and his staff from the Philippines.

Today I speak with Bruce Gamble, author of Kangaroo Squadron: American Courage in the Darkest Days of World War II. He was inspired to write this story by his uncle, a navigator in the squadron. A footlocker contained his military papers and other memorabilia, including a handwritten dairy filled with day-to-day details of his tour.

And an artifact from this story lives on today to honor its veterans. When a B-17E bomber crashed in a swamp on the north coast of Papua New Guinea in February 1942, the nine-member crew survived, escaped to safety, and returned to combat. But until 2006, the bomber nicknamed “Swamp Ghost” remained submerged in water and tall grass. It has been restored and is now a main attraction in the Pacific Aviation Museum at Pearl Harbor.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jaksot(1079)

When Did People Start Using Last Names?

When Did People Start Using Last Names?

Today's question comes from Melanie Padon: When did people start using last names and why? How did they come up with them? WANT ME TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION ABOUT HISTORY?   Click here to learn more.   ...

26 Touko 20176min

Did Conquering Armies Really Salt the Earth of Their Enemies?

Did Conquering Armies Really Salt the Earth of Their Enemies?

Today's question comes to us from Peter Swanson. My question is what is the history of "salting the earth" after a military victory. How would an army in the ancient world have transported tons and to...

25 Touko 20177min

What if JFK Had Lost the 1960 Election?

What if JFK Had Lost the 1960 Election?

Today's question comes to us courtesy of Brandon. Here's his question: This is Brandon Wall, and I'm wondering what would have happened if Nixon beat JFK in the 1960 presidential election. How would t...

24 Touko 201713min

Justin from the Generation Why Podcast: What Assassination Had the Most Impact on History?

Justin from the Generation Why Podcast: What Assassination Had the Most Impact on History?

Today's question comes to us from Justin from the Generation Why Podcast. It's a true crime podcast that you should definitely check out. Here's his question: What murder or assassination through hist...

23 Touko 201718min

Why Your Favorite Presidents (Lincoln, Washington) Actually Screwed Up America—Brion McClanahan

Why Your Favorite Presidents (Lincoln, Washington) Actually Screwed Up America—Brion McClanahan

Quick – name your favorite president. You probably said Washington or Lincoln, right? C'mon. You can be more original than that. Well, Brion McClanahan is original. He gladly tells people that the gre...

19 Touko 201744min

How a Horse Became a Sergeant in the Korean War — Robin Hutton

How a Horse Became a Sergeant in the Korean War — Robin Hutton

The story of Reckless—a pack horse in the Korean War who was a beloved household name in the 1950s and the only animal in U.S. history to officially achieve the rank of Sergeant—is one of the stranges...

19 Touko 20171h 27min

When Camels Roamed the American Southwest—The U.S. Camel Corps (1856-1866)

When Camels Roamed the American Southwest—The U.S. Camel Corps (1856-1866)

Welcome to the first episode of the History Unplugged podcast. We are kicking things off by exploring the US Army’s failed experiment of using camels as the military’s main pack animal in the American...

11 Touko 201744min

Suosittua kategoriassa Yhteiskunta

sita
olipa-kerran-otsikko
kaksi-aitia
hupiklubi
siita-on-vaikea-puhua
i-dont-like-mondays
ihme-ja-kumma
uutiscast
poks
gogin-ja-janin-maailmanhistoria
antin-palautepalvelu
kolme-kaannekohtaa
mamma-mia
rss-murhan-anatomia
aikalisa
yopuolen-tarinoita-2
meidan-pitais-puhua
rss-palmujen-varjoissa
naakkavalta
mystista