Walk Among Heroes
‘Walk Among Heroes’ is a podcast that presents real stories from the bravest men and women in the world, real military heroes. Jeff Wells, Veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, hosts military heroes, as they tell their stories, unedited, and in their own words. From the sights, sounds, and smells of combat, to their secrets for a long and successful life, these Veterans tell all. This podcast is perfect for anyone who wants to learn about our nation’s history, and most importantly, wants to understand the intimate details of those who fought to provide us with the greatest privilege in the world, freedom. Wars are not won by generals standing in front of maps. They are won by the men on the ground, fighting through near-impossible odds to ensure our liberty will never falter. Unlike other podcasts that focus on higher-level military history, ‘Walk Among Heroes’ brings you stories and perspectives from those closest to the battles: the Ground-Pounders, G.I.’s, Dog Faces, Doughboys, Grunts, Sailors, Flyboys, Squids, Frogmen, Devil Dogs, Leathernecks, and others who were on the ground, in the arena, fighting for our great nation. Hear their stories and perspectives as ‘Walk Among Heroes’ strives to ensure they are never forgotten. A new episode will be released every Tuesday. To check out more stories from our great heroes, visit walkamongheroes.org.
Walk Among Heroes
Walk Among Heroes Podcast Episode 24A: Gerry Auerbach Part 1 (B-29 Superfortress, Bombing of Tokyo, Berlin Airlift)
Walk Among Heroes is proud to welcome Gerry Auerbach as our guest for Episode 24. Mr. Auerbach served in the United States Army Air Corps (Air Force in 1947) from 1943-1963, before retiring to work as a civilian pilot. During World War II, Mr. Auerbach was a radar navigator in the revolutionary B-29 Superfortress program. Mr. Auerbach flew his first B-29 mission on Christmas Day, 1944, then subsequently participated in the firebombing of Tokyo, as well as missions to bomb many other Japanese cities. The B-29 Superfortress was the first high-elevation long-range bomber of its’ kind, and the firebombing missions became one of the primary catalysts for destruction of Japanese industry. These missions began a long path toward eventual surrender by the Japanese.
Following World War II, the Air Force selected Mr. Auerbach for pilot training, and he began a long career as a pilot. Mr. Auerbach was stationed in Germany in 1948, when the Russians created a blockade around Berlin, isolating the city in an attempt to force the Allies out. This blockade was one of the first acts of aggression by the Russians in what evolved into the ‘Cold War.’ Urgent action was necessary, so the US Air Force mobilized and flew thousands of supply missions into Berlin to deliver life-saving food and other supplies. This massive humanitarian effort became known as the ‘Berlin Airlift.’ Mr. Auerbach flew 3 missions each day into Berlin as part of the ‘Airlift,’ accumulating more than 200 total missions into Berlin. Throughout the Berlin Airlift, the largest humanitarian mission in history, the U.S. Air Force flew 200,000 flights delivering more than one and a half millions tons of supplies.
After Mr. Auerbach retired from the Air Force, he flew as a civilian for many years in Saudi Arabia, helping to build Saudi Arabia Airlines. He eventually flew privately for the Bin Laden family, one of the wealthiest families in the world.
The book referenced extensively in episode 24 is ‘A Torch to the Enemy: The Fire Raid on Tokyo,’ by Martin Caidin. This book can be purchased on Amazon, and provides an excellent overview (along with many first-hand accounts) of the firebombing of Tokyo and other Japanese cities.
Episode 24 will consist of two parts. 24A focuses on Mr. Auerbach’s early life, joining the military, B-29 training, deployment to the South Pacific, B-29 missions, and finally, the firebombing of Tokyo. 24B focuses on Mr. Auerbach’s military service after World War II, including his significant role in the Berlin Airlift, the largest humanitarian mission of all-time. 24B also touches on Mr. Auerbach’s life after the military, including his civilian for Saudi Arabia and the Bin Laden family. Very interesting!
A special ‘thank you’ to Shreyas Ganesh for donating your time as sound engineer for this podcast.
As always, enjoy this episode, and thank you for listening and sharing!