In this 45-minute episode of Mil History Talk, we trace the evolution of U.S. Navy aircraft operations across World War II and explain why the aircraft carrier emerged as the central instrument of American naval power. Picking up themes introduced earlier in the series, the discussion follows the Navy’s hard-won learning curve—from the fragile, improvisational carrier warfare of 1942 to the fully systematized, scalable carrier operations of 1943–1945. We examine key campaigns including Coral Sea, Midway, Guadalcanal, and Tarawa, highlighting how losses in ships, aircraft, and trained aircrews reshaped doctrine, training, and force design. Particular attention is given to operational tempo, survivability, radar-directed air defense, and the industrial capacity that allowed the United States to fight—and win—a war of attrition. By the end of the war, the carrier was no longer an experiment or supporting arm, but the backbone of U.S. naval strategy, a status that would carry directly into the Cold War and beyond.

In Episode 56 of Mil History Talk, Hope—still the unpaid, unparked, but indefatigable Chief of the Book Review Desk—dives into The Korean War by Max Hastings. This episode tackles why the Korean War became “forgotten,” and why that label misses the point entirely. Hastings’ narrative-driven history exposes how overconfidence, bad assumptions, and political miscalculation turned a limited war into a frozen, grinding stalemate with lasting consequences.

Hope breaks down what the book gets right, where it has limits, and why it still matters for modern military professionals and policymakers—especially anyone interested in coalition warfare, escalation, and friction. Expect sharp insight, dry humor about winter warfare (and zero bonuses), and clear guidance on how to read Korea intelligently.

Recommended follow-on reads include The Forgotten War by Clay Blair and The Korean War by Bruce Cumings for deeper operational and strategic perspectives.

Desert Storm — The Real Lessons Learned goes beyond the highlight reels, green-night-vision footage, and easy myths of America’s most celebrated modern war. In this episode of Mil History Talk, Hope and Brian dig into what Operation Desert Storm actually taught the U.S. military—and just as importantly, what it didn’t.

With her trademark wit, pop-culture analogies, and a quick nod to Clausewitz (because of course), Hope challenges the idea of Desert Storm as a flawless blueprint for future war. Brian grounds the conversation with sober analysis, unpacking operational success, logistical brilliance, and the institutional assumptions that followed. Together, they explore how overwhelming victory shaped doctrine, expectations, and strategic blind spots that later conflicts would brutally expose.

This is not a takedown—it’s a recalibration. If you’ve ever wondered how one stunning victory could still leave dangerous lessons misunderstood, this episode connects Desert Storm to the wars that followed—and the ones still ahead.

For a more detailed discussion, see the article on substack: Mil History Talk | Louis DiMarco | Substack