Never Mind The Dambusters
Never Mind The Dambusters…It’s The Bomber Command Podcast!
Join historians and authors Jane Gulliford Lowes and James Jefferies as they delve into the world of RAF Bomber Command during the Second World War. In this weekly podcast (episodes released every Wednesday), Jane and James explore strategy, policy, and the events which shaped one of the most controversial campaigns of the war.
Despite their iconic status, Bomber Command's history extends far beyond the famed Dambusters raid of 1943 and the Avro Lancaster. Through insightful discussions, expert analysis of the strategic bombing campaign and first hand accounts by veterans and civilians on the ground, Never Mind the Dambusters offers listeners a comprehensive exploration of Bomber Command's operations and the diverse aircraft it employed, as well as tackling some tough topics.
Jane and James will be joined by leading academics, historians, aircraft enthusiasts, technicians and engineers and veterans' family members. Expect discussions on relevant books and films and a spotlight on a different aircraft in each episode. Please send in your questions to us on X (twitter) at @RAFBomber_Pod and on Instagram at @NeverMindTheDambusters. You can email the show at nmtdambusters@gmail.com, and continue the conversations in our Facebook group.
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Never Mind The Dambusters
Episode 64 - USAAF and the Schweinfurt Raids, with Mike Peters
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The Schweinfurt Raids
With Mike Peters
Never Mind the Dambusters – Series 4
Presented by Jane Gulliford Lowes and James Jefferies
In this episode, Jane Gulliford Lowes and James Jefferies turn their attention to the USAAF bombing raids on Schweinfurt, among the most dramatic, costly, and consequential operations of the Allied strategic air campaign in 1943.
Schweinfurt was a vital centre of Germany’s ball-bearing industry, making it a high-priority target for the US Eighth Air Force. The daylight raids launched against it — most notably the Schweinfurt–Regensburg mission of 17 August 1943 — tested American doctrines of daylight precision bombing to their limits and had far-reaching implications for the conduct of the air war.
The hosts are joined by Mike Peters, co-host of the Mighty Eighth Podcast, who brings deep knowledge of the USAAF and its aircrews to the discussion.
Together, they explore:
- Why Schweinfurt was considered so critical to the German war economy
- USAAF daylight bombing doctrine and its underlying assumptions
- How the Schweinfurt–Regensburg mission unfolded
- The combat conditions faced by American bomber crews
- Aircraft and aircrew losses, and their impact on strategy and morale
- The legacy of Schweinfurt in American memory and air power history
This episode places the Schweinfurt raids within their broader strategic and human context, highlighting both the ambition of USAAF doctrine and the heavy price paid by the men who flew these missions.
About the Guest
Mike Peters is the co-host of the Mighty Eighth Podcast, a show dedicated to the people, aircraft, and operations of the US Eighth Air Force during the Second World War.
You can find the Mighty Eighth Podcast here:
👉 https://mighty8thpodcast.com/
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Thank you for listening! You can reach out to us on social media at @RAF_BomberPod (X) or @NeverMindTheDambusters (Instagram)
You can find out about James' research, articles, lectures and podcasts here .
You can read more about Jane's work on her website at https://www.justcuriousjane.com/, and listen to podcasts/media stuff here
