Samantha Franco

Samantha Franco is a content writer with a BA and MA in history, focusing on Victorian, medical, and epidemiological history. She has written content for multiple sites covering an array of historical topics.

Articles by Samantha Franco:

USS Barb (SS-220): The Gato-Class Submarine That ‘Sunk’ a Train In Japan

USS Barb (SS-220) at sea

The USS Barb (SS-220) was a US Navy submarine that became highly decorated after successfully sinking 96,628 tons of enemy shipping during her service in World…

Lockheed AC-130: The Gunship That Provided Much-Needed Support in Vietnam

Lockheed AC-130 in flight

The Lockheed AC-130 is a special operations gunship that can trace its history back to the Douglas C-47 Skytrain. Over its nearly 60 years of…

A-12 Spy Plane: Why Lockheed’s CIA Spy Plane Only Flew 29 Missions

Lockheed A-12 in flight

The Lockheed A-12 spy plane was developed for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) for service during Project Oxcart. While it had the potential for a…

Grumman F-14 Tomcat: The Versatile Fighter Made For Top Gun Pilots

Grumman F-14 Tomcat taking off

The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is one of the most iconic aircraft to ever be operated by the US Navy, with it serving as the primary…

Tomahawk Missiles: A Modular, Incredibly Accurate And Brutally Lethal Weapon

A BGM-109 Tomahawk long-range cruise missile is launched from the battleship USS Missouri (BB-63).

The Tomahawk missile first joined the US Navy fleet in 1983 and following multiple recertifications, has continued to be an integral weapon for ship and…

Why The RAH-66 Comanche Was Doomed From The Start

The RAH-66 mid-flight

The RAH-66 Comanche was a twin-turbine, two-seat armed reconnaissance helicopter that couldn’t meet its high expectations. With intended missions of armed reconnaissance, light attack, and…

US Troops in Vietnam Hated the M16 So Much They Picked Up the Enemy’s AK-47s

US Navy sailor firing an M16 rifle

The M16 rifle was initially adopted for use in jungle warfare operations in Vietnam. However, it wound up being such an unreliable weapon that American…

The Spencer Repeating Rifle Saved ‘A Thousand Lives’ During the Battle of Hoover’s Gap

Spencer Repeating Rifle + John T. Wilder

When the Spencer Repeating Rifle was first recommended to the US Department of War, it was turned away due to the notion it would be…

USS New York (BB-34): The Only US Ship to Sink a German U-boat In WWI

Naval guns firing on the deck of the USS New York (BB-34)

The USS New York (BB-34) was a US Navy battleship and the lead vessel of her class. Named after the state of New York, she was…

George Preddy Jr: The American Ace Shot Down By Friendly Fire During the Battle of the Bulge

George Preddy Jr. holding up his hands

George “Ratsy” Preddy Jr. was a US Army Air Forces officer and Air Ace credited with downing 32 1/2 enemy aircraft. This made him not…