The USS Stickleback (SS-415) Was Sunk In a Collision During An Anti-Submarine Exercise
On May 28, 1958, the USS Stickleback (SS-415) became the second US submarine lost since the end of World War II. The Balao-class vessel had…
The World War II-Era British Covenanter Tank’s Issues Made It Immediately Obsolete
The Cruiser tank Mk V – or the A13 Mk III Covenanter – was a British tank that saw service during World War II. Manufactured…
Facts About ‘Top Gun’ and Its Award-Winning Sequel
Top Gun is a 1986 American action flick directed by Tony Scott. It follows Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Tom Cruise) and his co-pilot Nick “Goose” Bradshaw…
Forget CGI! A B-17 Was Actually Crashed During the Filming of ‘Twelve O’Clock High’
We live in a world where CGI is commonplace in movies. It’s actually become a selling point to say that flight sequences, such as those…
Why the US Made the Japanese Surrender Aboard the USS Missouri (BB-63)
On September 2, 1945, the Empire of Japan surrendered to the Allies. Ending hostilities, the Japanese agreed to an unconditional surrender by signing the Instrument…
The B-17 Tail Gunner Who Continued to Fight, Even After Being Shot Down
On November 29, 1943, tail gunner Eugene Paul Moran survived what could have been a horrific crash aboard a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. While on…
Convair XFY Pogo: The Tail Sitter That Looked Like a Mallard Duck
The Convair XFY Pogo was an American experimental vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) tail-sitter aircraft. Following World War II, the Americans began developing VTOL combat…
USS California (BB-44): The Battleship That Survived Pearl Harbor and a Kamikaze Strike
The USS California (BB-64) was the second of two Tennessee-class battleships. The vessel saw service throughout World War II, including being targeted by the Japanese…
Northrop YB-49: The Flying Wing Strategic Bomber That Was Years Ahead of Its Time
The Northrop YB-49 was an American prototype jet-powered strategic bomber. The Northrop Corporation developed it following the Second World War for service with the US…
The US Navy Considered Arming Frigates with Mk 48 Torpedoes During the Cold War
On January 17, 1955, the USS Nautilus (SSN-571) radioed the historic message, “Underway on nuclear power.” This was the foundation of a new era that…
E-boat: The Effective German Fast Attack Boat of the Second World War
The Schnellboot – or S-Boot – was a German fast attack craft that served with the Kriegsmarine during the Second World War. It was referred…
A WWII Bomber Pilot Flew a Cessna 172 for Over 64 Days As a Publicity Stunt
If you thought the seven-hour New York to London flight was bad, buckle up because two men decided to break the record for the world’s…