SNAFU
It's March 1944, and the world remains engulfed in war. The United States is locked in a fierce battle to establish air superiority over Europe. Over the past year and a half, the Eighth Air Force has conducted bombing missions primarily targeting coastal cities. However, the focus is now shifting deeper into Nazi-occupied Europe.
The death toll among the Eighth Air Force continues to rise, with most bomber crews failing to complete even half of their 25-mission tour. Flak fields have become denser and more accurate, posing a grave threat to any plane that dares to fly through them. Nazi fighter pilots, growing in skill, relentlessly pursue American bombers, despite the defensive measures onboard.
Unknown to the American bomber crews, a significant change has occurred in their mission objectives. Under the leadership of Jimmy Doolittle, the Eighth Air Force now employs a risky strategy. Bombers are used as bait to lure Nazi fighters into combat, allowing escort fighters to pick them off one by one. This shift means the lives of bomber crews are no longer considered sacrosanct but rather as expendable casualties in the pursuit of victory.
By this time next year, the death toll of the Eighth Air Force will reach a staggering 26,000, surpassing the losses of Marines throughout the entirety of World War II. This podcast chronicles the experiences of one such bomber crew during the early months of 1944.
Lieutenant Bakas, a 24-year-old pilot from Youngstown, Ohio, leads a B-17G named "Load of Bull" and commands a 10-man crew with a singular goal: survival. With daunting odds stacked against them, Lieutenant Miller, a 23-year-old co-pilot, must navigate the challenges of leadership, perseverance, and duty.
Tasked with motivating a crew comprised mostly of young men fresh out of high school, Bakas and Miller grapple with the weight of their responsibilities. As they confront the harsh realities of their suicidal missions and the uncertain impact on the war effort, they must find the strength to inspire their men to keep fighting.
Starting in July 2021, SNAFU, a historical fiction podcast, will begin to tell the story of a group of men, as their families never knew them.
- Update frequency
- every 20 days
- Average duration
- 51 minutes
- Episodes
- 51
- Years Active
- 2021 - 2025
S2, E3: France
Jack goes on a mission with a rookie crew, The Boss meets Sal and Timothy and tries to persuade Col. Poole into transferring Timothy to a different crew, and The Boss comes face to face with the cons…
S2, E2: Alone
The Men of The Bull are greeted by their new replacements and things don't go well. Jack wrestles with the idea of leading his men, and The Boss is haunted by his past.
Please feel free to reach out…
S2, E1: Mortem Obire
The men of The Bull try to make sense of the events that occurred in the season 1 finale and realize that all they have to comfort them are their brothers around them, and the many vices that await t…
S1, E25 SNAFU
In the Season 1 finale, The Boss and the rest of Load of Bull embark on the toughest mission they've ever had to fly.
Season 2 of SNAFU will air on July 1st, 2022. See you then!
Please feel free to r…
S1, E24: Rain On A Tin Roof
The men of The Bull fight the enemy of boredom as they're forced to stay inside their huts due to a nasty rain storm.
Please feel free to reach out with any questions, comments, or constructive criti…
S1, E23: Go In, Get Out
Andy deals with his inner demons as he awaits for his crew to return from a milk run. While doing so, he uncovers something about The Boss that will forever change how he see's him.
Please feel free…
S1, E22: A Night In London
The men of the 300th are given a 48 hour pass and the men try to enjoy themselves at the infamous Rainbow Corner Club in London.
Please feel free to reach out with any questions, comments, or constru…
S1, E21: Blood & Glory
Jack flies a mission with Parnell and his crew and observes the horrors of war as it effects those he loves.
Please feel free to reach out with any questions, comments, or constructive criticism by p…
S1, E20: The Favor
The men visit Mills and Skimpy in the hospital, Rosie asks The Boss for a troubling favor and Skimpy and Emma reunite.
Please feel free to reach out with any questions, comments, or constructive cri…
S1, E19: Remember This
Load of Bull is set to fly a mission with some rookies mixed in the crew to gain experience. Jack runs into an a familiar face, and the men of The Bull experience pure hell in the skies over France.
…
S1, E18: I Got One!
The men fly a short mission to Ghent, Belgium and things so surprisingly well. The Boss and Jack come together for the first time since before Berlin and the men discover a troubling revelation about…
S1, E17: The Cost
Skimpy deals with the horrors of being blind inside the base hospital, Pally, Tommy and the others pay Mills a visit and go looking for Skimpy. The 530th Squadron is assigned a new commander, The Bos…
S1, E16: Dying Skies
The Boss and the men of Load of Bull are put through the ringer, as they are sent on a deadly mission to Frankfurt, Germany. Sadly, not every plane of the 530th Squadron make it back to base.
Please …
S1, E15: Rendezvous
The Boss wrestles with his demons for the first time in over a year, Jack and his friends head to Bury St. Edmunds for a night at a wild club and run into someone familiar. Meanwhile, Tommy and Willy…
S1, E14: Frozen
The men are sent up on a dangerous mission to bomb the U-Boat Pens in St. Nazaire, France. The mission is worse than the men thought, and not everyone from the 530th Squadron make it back to Thurlow.…
S1, E13: A Day of Firsts
The Boss gets the recognition he feels he deserves after flying a mission with the 530th squadron commander. Parnell and the others try to convince Jack of how toxic The Boss is to his men. The Boss …
S1, E12: The Milk Run
The crew of Load of Bull are ready to enjoy a beautiful warm day in England after they finish a "milk run" sortie in the morning that will have them back before Lunch. However, this easy mission, bec…
S1, E11: Non Ducor, Duco
Rosie discovers a disturbing and troubling revelation related to The Boss and Jack. However, nobody knows it yet, but Jack and the crew of "Dropping Duces" are missing in action.
Please feel free to…
S1, E10: Target For Today
Jack is chosen to fly a mission by himself. He ends up cutting a deal that allows him to fly with a familiar face, however, the target for today ends up being a thing that nightmares are made of.
Pl…
S1, E9: A Night On The Town
The men go out for a night on the town in Haverhill, Parnell pays a visit to Jack, The Boss makes new friends, and Skimpy crosses some things off his "becoming a man" list. However, underneath all th…