This Is Your FBI

Espionage: The Chauffeur Who Bowed Back

OTR.FM — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 14:58:00 +0000

In this dramatic wartime episode of This Is Your FBI, the Bureau uncovers a chilling case of espionage that begins with a single strange gesture: a Japanese prince bowing to a lowly chauffeur. But this isn’t a story of honor—it’s a story of betrayal, code words, and secret societies hiding in plain sight.

San Francisco, 1939. FBI agents witness Prince Tsuji, on an official visit from Japan, bowing to a man in a chauffeur’s uniform—an act strictly forbidden by Japan’s rigid caste system. The chauffeur, Yasu Kajioka, becomes an immediate person of interest. What follows is a patient, dangerous, and far-reaching investigation into Kajioka’s life, his influence in Japanese-American circles, and his role as a key agent of the secretive Hamushikai—a pro-Japanese organization raising funds and planning sabotage on American soil.

With the help of a brave Japanese-American university student, Tom Tanaka, who goes undercover inside Kajioka’s operation, the FBI is able to expose the inner workings of the network. Tanaka risks his life to steal and deliver a list of members, right under the noses of enemy agents during a rally staged in the basement of a Japanese high school.

But the most chilling moment comes years later—on December 7, 1941—when Pearl Harbor is bombed, and Kajioka, dressed in full military uniform, reveals his true role. He believed Japan had already won. What he didn’t know was that the FBI had been watching all along.

A suspenseful true-crime tale of patriotism, infiltration, and quiet heroism, this episode shows the high-stakes work of loyal Americans during one of the nation's most vulnerable hours.

Bank Robbery: The Dynamite in Betsy’s Box

OTR.FM — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 02:53:16 +0000

Originally Aired: June 1, 1945

Bank Robbery: The Dynamite in Betsy’s Box

This explosive episode of This Is Your FBI dramatizes the gripping pursuit of two criminals—Phil Bardo and Arthur Clinton—whose quiet, calculated heist nearly fooled an entire city. But it wasn’t a gun that got them in the door... it was a box named Betsy.

In a small Midwestern city, Phil and Artie plot a bank robbery with a unique twist. Rather than waving pistols, Phil walks into a bank with a box of dynamite—“Betsy”—and hands the teller a note: hand over the cash, or the box blows. The plan works. The duo disappears into a department store, ditching their getaway car. But that’s where their luck runs out.

The FBI, now armed with a detailed description and a trail of stolen vehicles, launches a massive multi-state manhunt. As leads stack up—witnesses, license plates, stolen cars—the Bureau narrows in. Phil is caught first, thanks to a tip from a bus station and a slip of overconfidence.

But it’s Artie Clinton who proves harder to catch, slipping off to Cincinnati to marry his unsuspecting fiancée and hide in a lakeside cabin in Minnesota. It takes a clever hunch—based on the bride’s passion for painting—and a watercolor left behind in a Duluth art shop to finally lead agents to their hideout. When they arrive, they find Clinton and Betsy still side by side.

A masterclass in methodical investigation and cross-agency cooperation, this case captures how even the most carefully planned crimes unravel under the weight of a single trail—and the eyes of a watchful public.

Cast: Mandel Kramer (Arthur Clinton), Frank Lovejoy (Narrator), with supporting performances by the This Is Your FBI radio company. Music by Van Cleave. Produced by Jerry Devine.

Draft Dodging: The Case of Dr. Woodbury

OTR.FM — Tue, 03 Dec 2024 05:35:47 +0000

In "Draft Dodging: The Case of Dr. Woodbury," the FBI uncovers a dangerous racket aimed at undermining the nation's war effort. A fraudulent doctor, known as Dr. Woodbury, preys on young men seeking to avoid the draft, selling dangerous pills and concocting false medical conditions. When two victims collapse during their physical exams, the FBI launches a nationwide manhunt, unraveling a web of deceit. Can the Bureau bring the elusive "Dr. Woodbury" to justice before more lives are endangered? Tune in for a thrilling tale of crime, patriotism, and relentless pursuit.

Air Date: May 25, 1945

Cast: Frank Lovejoy

Grand Larceny: The Double Life of Daniel Hawley

OTR.FM — Sat, 30 Nov 2024 08:26:37 +0000

In "Grand Larceny: The Double Life of Daniel Hawley," the FBI unravels the complex and deceptive existence of a man living two lives. By day, Daniel Hawley is a hardworking salesman and devoted husband, but by night, he’s a cunning thief orchestrating safe-cracking operations. When Hawley and his accomplice make a critical mistake, leaving behind incriminating evidence, the FBI launches a relentless investigation. This gripping tale follows the trail of clues, from fingerprints to stolen goods, leading to a dramatic conclusion. Will Hawley’s charm and guile be enough to escape justice? Find out in this thrilling episode of crime and deception.

Air Date: May 18, 1945

Cast: Frank Lovejoy

War Fraud: The Case of Andrew Rockland

OTR.FM — Wed, 27 Nov 2024 06:50:56 +0000

In "War Fraud: The Case of Andrew Rockland," the FBI takes on a dangerous war profiteer exploiting the Second World War for personal gain. Andrew Rockland and his sons run a munitions plant that manufactures defective grenades, cutting corners to maximize profits at the expense of soldiers' lives. With the help of a vigilant factory worker and groundbreaking investigative tactics, including covert surveillance, the FBI uncovers a conspiracy that threatens national security. Can justice prevail before Rockland’s greed causes further harm? This episode showcases the relentless efforts of the FBI to protect the nation during wartime.

The Confidence Game: A Major Deception

OTR.FM — Sat, 23 Nov 2024 19:07:00 +0000

In “The Confidence Game: A Major Deception,” the FBI investigates a charming con artist posing as a decorated Army officer to defraud vulnerable women. As “Major William Evans Roscoe” weaves tales of valor and romance, he exploits his victims’ trust and patriotism during wartime. The trail of bad checks and broken hearts leads FBI agents across New York and beyond, culminating in a high-stakes confrontation. Will the FBI expose his lies and bring him to justice before more lives are destroyed? This suspenseful episode highlights the FBI’s role in protecting citizens from exploitation.

Air Date: May 4, 1945

Cast: Arnold Moss, Charlotte Holland, Frank Lovejoy

Escaped POWs: The Hunt for Paul Tanner

OTR.FM — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 05:00:00 +0000

In “Escaped POWs: The Hunt for Paul Tanner,” the FBI faces one of its most challenging cases—a daring escape by two Nazi prisoners of war. When Lieutenant Paul Tanner and his accomplice vanish from a Texas POW camp, the race begins to prevent them from causing further harm. With an intricate network of clues, from stolen bicycles to coded diaries, the FBI unravels Tanner’s movements across the Texas landscape. Will they intercept him before he reaches Mexico? Tune in for a gripping story of vigilance, patriotism, and the pursuit of justice.

Air Date: April 27, 1945

Cast: Paul Mann, Frank Lovejoy

The Kidnapping of Shotgun Hadley

OTR.FM — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 05:00:12 +0000

In a daring and chilling tale of crime, “The Kidnapping of Shotgun Hadley” recounts the rise and fall of a notorious criminal mastermind and his equally cunning wife, Sally. From meticulous planning to a series of catastrophic mistakes, the Hadleys find themselves ensnared by the relentless pursuit of justice led by the FBI. Follow the agents as they use every clue—from the smell of oil fields to a child’s recollection of creaking stairs—to locate their targets. With betrayal, suspense, and high stakes, this episode showcases the relentless drive of America’s finest investigators to bring kidnappers to justice.

Air Date: April 20, 1945

Cast: Leslie Woods, Mandel Cramer, Frank Lovejoy