Samantha Franco

Samantha Franco is a Freelance Content Writer who received her Bachelor of Arts degree in history from the University of Guelph, and her Master of Arts degree in history from the University of Western Ontario. Her research focused on Victorian, medical, and epidemiological history with a focus on childhood diseases. Stepping away from her academic career, Samantha previously worked as a Heritage Researcher and now writes content for multiple sites covering an array of historical topics.

In her spare time, Samantha enjoys reading, knitting, and hanging out with her dog, Chowder!

linkedin.com/in/samantha-v-franco

Articles by Samantha Franco:

Korean War Veteran Reunites with Long-Lost Love After 70 Years

Portraits of Duane Mann and Peggy Yamaguchi

Many American soldiers found love while away at war, but what happened when the fighting came to an end? Many were shipped back to their…

The Defiant Tanker Who Disobeyed Orders and Saved the Lives of 65 US Rangers in Korea

US infantrymen sitting on top of a tank

The situation for the 8th Ranger Company (Airborne) was looking pretty grim on April 24, 1951. Ordered to move forward to gain intelligence, they soon…

Details About ‘Inglourious Basterds’ That Make It Worth a Rewatch

Brad Pitt as Aldo Raine in 'Inglourious Basterds'

2009’s Inglourious Basterds is a war movie, comedy and drama all at the same time. It’s an homage to World War II movies and Spaghetti…

There Was Almost a Stealth Bomber Version of the F-22 Raptor

Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor in flight

The Lockheed Martin FB-22 Strike Raptor was going to be an innovative and new stealth bomber. Not only that, it had the promise of being…

Douglas A-4 Skyhawk: The US Military’s Beast in the Sky

Douglas A-4 Skyhawk in flight

The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk has a long and impressive history that spans over more than half a century. Developed for the US Navy and Marine…

The Short Career of the Civil War-Era Double-Barreled Cannon

Double-barreled cannon on display

The double-barreled cannon is as cool as it sounds. It can shoot two cannon balls at the same time that, when attached by a chain,…

American Soldiers Teamed Up with Germans and Cossacks to Save Horses from the Red Army

Man standing beside a Lipizzaner horse

On April 28, 1945, a portion of the American forces set off on an incredibly dangerous and unique mission. Dubbed Operation Cowboy, it saw them…

The Doolittle Bombers Traded Their Tail Guns for Broomsticks

James Doolittle and his crew standing together

On April 18, 1942, the United States responded to Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor by doing something that had never been done before: launching bombers…

The US Military Used Tourist Maps to Prepare for the Invasion of Grenada

US Marines sitting on a captured Soviet-made BRDM-2 amphibious armored scout car

When the US military invaded Grenada in 1983, troops were grossly unprepared. Knowing little about the country, officials had to get inventive in order to…

The World’s First Ever Gliderborne Attack Allowed Germany to Take Belgium

Soldier standing along the side of a dirt road

Between May 10-11, 1940, Belgium’s Fort Eben-Emael was captured by a relatively small group of Germans. It was supposed to be manned by 1,200 soldiers,…

Tsar Nicholas II Wouldn’t Approve the Russian Army’s New Uniform Until He Tested It Out Himself

Portrait of Tsar Nicholas II

Tsar Nicholas II saw himself as not only a member of the royal family, but as a soldier as well. He received a military education…

Why Wasn’t the Second Antonov An-225 Finished?

Antonov An-225 Myria in flight, with the Buran space shuttle on its back

The Antonov An-225 Mriya is an incredibly rare aircraft, with only one ever put into service. There was the intention to build a second, and…