Podcast
Never Mind The Dambusters
Hosted by Jane Gulliford Lowes and James Jefferies · EN
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.
Never Mind the Dambusters Merchandise is now available at https://never-mind-the-dambusters.teemill.com/
13episodes
Episodes
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Episode 64 - USAAF and the Schweinfurt Raids, with Mike Peters
Feb 1100:44:28Tap to summarizeSend us a message or question! The Schweinfurt RaidsWith Mike Peters Never Mind the Dambusters – Series 4 Presented by Jane Gulliford Lowes and James JefferiesIn 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 economyUSAAF daylight bombing doctrine and its underlying assumptionsHow the Schweinfurt–Regensburg mission unfoldedThe combat conditions faced by American bomber crewsAircraft and aircrew losses, and their impact on strategy and moraleThe legacy of Schweinfurt in American memory and air power historyThis 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 GuestMike 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/Support the showPlease subscribe to Never Mind The Dambusters wherever you get your podcasts. You can support the show, and help us produce great content, by becoming a paid subscriber from just $3 a month here https://www.buzzsprout.com/2327200/support . Supporters get early access to episodes and invitations to livestreams. 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
Transcribe →Episode 63: "Advance Britannia" - Bomber Command & Britain's War 1942-1945, with Professor Alan Allport
Feb 400:52:40Tap to summarizeSend us a message or question! (Buy tickets for Jane's talk at the International Bomber Command Centre, Lincoln, on 5 March 2026 here ) In this episode, Jane Gulliford Lowes is joined by historian Professor Alan Allport for a wide-ranging discussion of his new book, Advance Britannia, which re-examines Britain’s war effort from 1942 onwards — a period when the nation moved from survival to sustained, large-scale offensive operations.From the rapid expansion of RAF Bomber Command to the mounting moral, political, and human questions surrounding the bombing war, Advance Britannia offers a fresh perspective on how Britain fought, endured, and understood the later years of the Second World War.Alan Allport brings his characteristic clarity and depth to topics including:Why 1942 marks a turning point in Britain’s war effortBomber Command at the height of its power and controversyHow the bombing campaign was understood by the British public at the timeMoral debate, doubt, and dissent within wartime BritainBritain’s changing role within the Allied coalition alongside the USAAFHow victory shaped post-war memory and reckoningWhat Advance Britannia adds to our understanding of Britain’s wartime experienceThis episode situates Bomber Command within a broader social, political, and cultural history, offering listeners a deeper understanding of how the air war was fought — and how it has been remembered.Advance Britannia is available as a hardback book, an ebook, and on Audible. See Links hereAbout the GuestProfessor Alan Allport is a historian of modern Britain and a frequent guest on Never Mind the Dambusters. He is the author of several acclaimed books, including Demobbed, Browned Off and Bloody-Minded, and Britain at Bay. His work focuses on the social and cultural history of war, with particular attention to morale, memory, and lived experience.Coming Up NextIn the next episode, Jane will be joined by Mike Peters from the Mighty Eighth Podcast to discuss the USAAF daylight bombing raids on Schweinfurt, examining their objectives, their cost, and what they reveal about the American approach to the air war.Support the showPlease subscribe to Never Mind The Dambusters wherever you get your podcasts. You can support the show, and help us produce great content, by becoming a paid subscriber from just $3 a month here https://www.buzzsprout.com/2327200/support . Supporters get early access to episodes and invitations to livestreams. 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
Transcribe →Episode 62 Peenemunde: The Attack on Hitler's V-Weapons, with Sean Feast
Jan 2800:55:43Tap to summarizeSend us a message or question! In this episode, Jane Gulliford Lowes is joined by author and military historian Sean Feast to examine one of the most strategically important — and morally complex — operations of the bombing war: RAF Bomber Command’s attack on the German V-weapons research centre at Peenemünde in August 1943.Peenemünde was no ordinary target. As the heart of Germany’s V-1 and V-2 programme, it represented a direct threat to Britain and forced Allied planners to attempt an unprecedented level of precision under combat conditions. The raid, known as Operation Hydra, played a crucial role in the development of the Master Bomber concept and highlighted both the possibilities and limitations of precision bombing in 1943.Sean draws on decades of research to explore:Why the V-weapons programme alarmed Allied leadersThe intelligence picture behind identifying and targeting PeenemündeHow Operation Hydra differed from routine bombing operationsThe evolution and operational role of the Master BomberWhat the raid was like for the aircrews who flew itBomber Command losses and the human cost of the operationThe raid’s short- and long-term impact on the V-1 and V-2 programmesHow Peenemünde is remembered today, and what it reveals about the moral complexity of the bombing warThis episode goes beyond operational history to focus on the lived experience of Bomber Command aircrew, the pressures they faced, and the difficult balance between innovation, necessity, and sacrifice.About the GuestSean Feast began his career in journalism in the mid-1980s and is now a highly respected military historian and author of more than twenty books. His works include Master Bombers, Heroic Endeavour, and A Pathfinder’s War. He is a regular contributor to FlyPast and Aeroplane Monthly, and his research has significantly shaped modern understanding of RAF Bomber Command and its aircrews.Sean is also the co-host of the new aviation history podcast Fighting High, which explores the air war through expert discussion and deep historical insight.You can find Fighting High here:👉 https://fightinghighpodcast.com(or via your usual podcast platforms)Coming Up NextIn the next episode, Jane will be joined by Professor Alan Allport to discuss his new book Advance Britannia, examining Britain’s war effort from 1943 onwards and how the conflict has been remembered and interpreted.Support the showPlease subscribe to Never Mind The Dambusters wherever you get your podcasts. You can support the show, and help us produce great content, by becoming a paid subscriber from just $3 a month here https://www.buzzsprout.com/2327200/support . Supporters get early access to episodes and invitations to livestreams. 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
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