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The Unauthorized History of the Pacific War

Big Ben-The Story of USS Franklin-Episode 417

The Unauthorized History of the Pacific War

Captain William Toti, USN

Halsey, Station Hypo, World War Ii, Macarthur, Seth Paridon, Pacific War, History, Stavridis, Cactus Air Force, Fargo, William Toti, Aircraft Carriers, Nimitz, Mush Morton, Wahoo, Imperial Japan, Cruisers, Wake Island, Battleships, Spruance, Courses, Submarines, Midway, Cincpac, Guadalcanal, Documentary, Naval History And Heritage Command, Society & Culture, Admiral King, Imperial Japanese Navy, New Guinea, Cincpoa, Cryptology, Navy, Sam Cox, Pearl Harbor, Education, Bill Toti, December 7, Us Navy, Bombers, Fighters

4.8654 Ratings

🗓️ 8 October 2024

⏱️ 118 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

This week Seth and Bill take a look at one of the most famous stories of survival and bravery in all of World War II, the story of the USS Franklin. On March 19, 1945 aircraft carrier USS Franklin (CV-13) better known as Big Ben, was hit by one or two bombs dropped by a Japanese Judy dive bomber. In the ensuing inferno and chaos that followed, more than 700 American sailors and Marines were killed while the remainder of the crew underwent one of the most trying experiences in all of US Naval history. The story of Franklin is legend, and this week, we get into every aspect of it, from Big Ben's crew to her captain, to her destruction, and finally her survival. #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #usnavy #usa #usarmy #medalofhonor #enterprise #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #cv6 #midway #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #worldwar2 #usnavy #usnavyseals #usmc #usmarines #saipan #usa #usarmy #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #battleship #battleships #ussenterprise #aircraftcarriers #museum #essex #halsey #taskforce38 #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #usnavy #usa #usarmy #medalofhonor #enterprise #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #cv6 #midway #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #worldwar2 #usnavy #usnavyseals #usmc #usmarines #saipan #usa #usarmy #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #battleship #battleships #ussenterprise #aircraftcarriers #museum #hollywood #movie #movies #books #mastersoftheair #8thairforce #mightyeighth #100thbombgroup #bloodyhundredth #b17 #boeing #airforce wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #usnavy #usa #usarmy #medalofhonor #enterprise #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #cv6 #midway #wwii #wwiihistory #ww2 #worldwar2 #usnavy #usnavyseals #usmc #usmarines #saipan #usa #usarmy #aircraft #aircraftcarrier #battleship #battleships #ussenterprise #aircraftcarriers #museum #hollywood #movie #movies #books #oldbreed #1stMarineDivision #thepacific #Peleliu #army #marines #marinecorps #worldwar2 #worldwar #worldwarii #leytegulf #battleofleytegulf #rodserling #twilightzone #liberation #blacksheep #power #prisoner #prisonerofwar #typhoon #hurricane #weather #iwojima#bullhalsey #ace #p47 #p38 #fighter #fighterpilot #b29 #strategicstudying #tokyo #boeing #incendiary #usa #franklin

Transcript

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0:00.0

The

0:07.0

The Hello, and welcome to episode 417 of the unauthorized history of the Pacific War podcast.

0:43.6

My name is Seth Parenthood and historian and deputy director of the Mississippi Armed Forces Museum here at Beautiful but Wet Camp Shelby.

0:49.9

And with me, as always, is my esteemed co-host retired Navy Captain Bill Toadie, skipper of the Fast Attack Submarine, USS, Indianapolis, Commodore Submarine Squadron

0:57.1

3 in Pearl Harbor, and many others.

0:59.5

How are you this wet September 10th, Bill?

1:03.3

Well, it's, yes, September 10th, 2024, and for the first time of my life I have COVID,

1:09.0

but I'm going to power through this today.

1:13.0

You know, I've had lung issues ever since, frankly, since 9-11, 2001.

1:18.2

And so I've always been afraid of getting COVID, and now that I have it, I'm blessed to say that it's not so bad.

1:25.9

I don't know if that's something you ought to say, but

1:28.5

I'd attempt the faith, but God is protecting me or something because it's not so bad.

1:34.3

Why, we'll make an observation, though, first of all, I've got to get better because next week

1:40.4

I'm going to my 45th Academy reunion in Annapolis, and I want to be well for that.

1:45.6

But the second observation, this is the 17th episode of season four, and we're in March of 45.

1:52.4

Is this going to be a 70 episode season, Seth?

1:56.0

I don't know.

1:56.8

I'm sure a lot of our viewers or listeners are sitting there and they're answering that question for you and they're saying, yes, please.

2:03.3

But I don't know.

2:04.3

It didn't really dawn on them until you just said that, that yeah, it's 17.

2:08.2

We're and we're only in March, but, and we haven't even touched Okinawa yet.

2:14.1

And that's going to be a Guilcanal-esque string episodes for all the right reasons you know

...

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