USAF – Page 3 – The Cold War Conversations History Podcast

Gary Powers & the 1960 U2 Incident

Welcome to episode 23 of Cold War Conversations. Today’s episode is the first in a new partnership we have formed with the Cold War Museum. We speak with Gary Powers Junior. His father piloted the U2 spy plane shot down over the Soviet Union. Powers’ U-2 was shot down on May 1, 1960, … Read more

Able Archer & the nuclear war scare of 1983

Welcome to episode 19 of Cold War Conversations Today we’re talking to Francesca Akhtar who holds a BA Hons in American Studies with 1st class honours from Canterbury Christ Christ Church University in Kent, and a Masters degree in US history & Politics from the Institute of the Americas, University College London. Her main research … Read more

Greenham Common – an iconic British Cold War nuclear airbase

Welcome to episode 18 of Cold War Conversations RAF Greenham Common opened in 1942 and was used by both the Royal Air Force and United States Army Air Forces during the Second World War and the United States Air Force during the Cold War. The airfield is probably best known, certainly in the UK, for … Read more

Cold War Berlin and Signals Intelligence

Welcome to Episode 2 of Cold War Conversations where we start with a fascinating eyewitness account of Berlin during the Cold War. Michael lived in Berlin as a child of US Airforce personnel in the 1960s and 70s and then subsequently joined the US Airforce himself and worked in Signals Intelligence during the 1980s. … Read more

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A series of podcasts chatting to those who lived through and experienced the Cold War first hand and those that are fascinated by the period.

Our Latest Podcasts

The Challenges of a Christian East German Childhood (344)

Tilo offers an engaging and personal account of growing up in East Berlin before the fall of the Berlin Wall. He begins by describing his early childhood in a rundown building in Prenzlauer Berg before moving to a new prefab neighbourhood in Lichtenberg. Tilo’s grandfather on his mother’s side was a pastor in the Lutheran…

Commanding a Cold War US Navy Nuclear Missile Submarine (343)

Bill Woodman is a former US Navy nuclear missile submarine commander, who shares his rich experiences from joining the US Naval Academy in 1964 to commanding two SSBN submarines, the USS James Monroe and the USS Alabama during the Cold War. Bill opens up about his initial aspirations, rigorous training at the Naval Academy, and…

My friend the Bridge of Spies spy - Part 2 (342)

Burt recounts the surreal experience of learning about Fisher's true identity from a newspaper headline, the subsequent FBI interrogations, and the emotional courtroom testimony where he struggled to reconcile his friendship with the stark reality of espionage. Burt's journey leads him to Moscow in a failed attempt to reconnect with Fisher, revealing a labyrinthine world…

What our listeners say

Podcasting At Its Best

☆☆☆☆☆

A superb collection of stories and recollections, covering all aspects of the period. Absolutely fascinating insights from people who were there, great insights and anecdotes in every episode. Ian’s conversations are well delivered in a relaxed style that draws me in and paints pictures in my mind.

craig56997 via Apple Podcasts ·Great Britain

Fantastic!

☆☆☆☆☆

Each episode is very engaging and enjoyable. It’s great to listen to real life stories from the people who experience all this first hand and lived through it. This podcast is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in Cold War history and the host does a great job letting the each guest shine and tell their stories.

tommy1583 via Apple Podcasts ·Ireland ·