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Hello, I'm Angus Wallace and welcome to another World War II podcast.

We're once more in the Pacific looking at what must be the longest dog fighting history of a single B17 bomber against a swarm of Japanese zero fighters. If not at 40 minutes it's certainly one of the longest dog fights of the war. I'm joined by Bob Drury. Bob along with his co-author

Tom Calvin aren't strangers to the Pacific Theatre, having previously penned Hosey's Typhoon. Their

latest book, Lucky 666, follows the crew of a B17 bomber who volunteered to undertake

a solar reconnaissance mission, even from the outset it seems like a suicide mission.

Before we get to Jane, 666 666 I thought we'd start with the

situation in the Pacific at this time. We're looking post-Bil Harbor mid-43.

It was a very secondary theater of war Angus.

As you well know, I mean, once Singapore fell and the Japanese empire stretched, I think it was

one-eighth of the Earth's circumference from the India-Burma border up to the Aleutians, and then down

through half a new Guinea.

But the Allies had come to a Germany First decision.

And so the American, and to what extent the Brits

were still in India, it was holding pattern.

Germany first, we want to take out Germany, then we'll turn all eyes towards the Japanese Empire.

And I believe the exact instructions were defend Australia, hold the supply lines raid when you

can.

...