Month: February 2026

436: Too Good to Be True

Mark Podcast
Japanese aircraft carrier Zuikaku (upper center) and two destroyers take evasive action as American bombers attack on the second day of the Battle of the Philippine Sea.

The Americans invaded Saipan, because they could use it as an airbase from which they could bomb Japanese cities, including Tokyo.

The Japanese anticipated this move and sent their fleet in the hope of forcing the decisive naval battle they’d been trying to wage for more than two years.

  • Listen now:

Transcript.

Playlist:

Fanfare

Opening War Theme

“The Marines’ Hymn”
Music composed in 1867 by Jacques Offenbach. Public domain.
Performed by The United States Marine Corps Band. Source.

Closing War Theme

Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are © and ℗ 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved. Some music and sound effects used by arrangement with Pond 5.

435: D Plus One

Mark Podcast
Caen Canal Bridge with British paratroopers. This drawbridge was one of their first objectives. Note the glider on the ground on the opposite side of the canal.

At Normandy, Allied forces struggled to expand and link their beachheads against the gathering German defenders.

Adolf Hitler was surprisingly calm upon hearing the news of the landings and confident the Allies would be defeated.

  • Listen now:

Transcript.

Playlist:

Fanfare

Opening War Theme

Fantaisie
Composed in 1898 by Gabriel Fauré. Public domain.
Performed by Lydia Roth, flute, and Gwen Varineau, piano. Used pursuant to a Creative Commons CC BY 3.0 license. Source.

Closing War Theme

Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are © and ℗ 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved. Some music and sound effects used by arrangement with Pond 5.

434: The Longest Day III

Mark Podcast
US soldiers leave a landing craft and wade toward Omaha Beach on the morning of June 6, 1944.

In this episode, we conclude our look at the Normandy landings.

The most difficult invasion site was Omaha Beach, where cliffs overlook the beach. The defending German soldiers were able to rake the approaching Americans with deadly machine-gun fire.

  • Listen now:

Transcript.

Playlist:

Fanfare

Opening War Theme

Invercargill March
Composed in 1909 by Alex Lithgow. Public domain.
Performed by the United States Air Force Band. Public domain recording. Source.

Closing War Theme

Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are © and ℗ 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved. Some music and sound effects used by arrangement with Pond 5.