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:

Despite Being Prone to Crashing, the Loach Helicopter Was Favored By Pilots In Vietnam

Hughes OH-6 Cayuse parked in a field

The Hughes OH-6 Cayuse was a revolutionary rotorcraft operated during the Vietnam War. Adopted after the company behind its design deceived the US Army, the…

After 80 Years, the Fate Of the USS Cythera (PY-26) and Her Crew Still Remains a Mystery

USS Cythera (PY-26) anchored at a dock

The USS Cythera (PY-26) has several distinctions. She started out life as a civilian yacht before being acquired by the US Navy, and later went on…

How Did An A-10 Warthog Wind Up With A Cow Kill Marking?

Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II parked on a runway + Portrait of a cow

Among the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt IIs operated by the US Air Force, there’s one that stands out from the rest. The reason? Among its…

The Soviet Maxim-Tokarev Light Machine Gun Outperformed The Classic PM M1910

Fedor Tokarev and his son standing with a Maxim-Tokarev

The Maxim-Tokarev was the first ever domestically mass-produced light machine gun of its kind. Born off the back of the reliable PM M1910, it became…

Andrew Bundermann’s Expert Leadership Saved the Lives of Many Stationed at COP Keating

Aerial view of Combat Outpost (COP) Keating + Andrew Bundermann wearing a suit

Andrew Bundermann had to tap into everything he knew about battle when the Taliban led a 400-man attack against his position at COP Keating in…

Human Shadows Left Etched In Stone By the Atomic Bombs Dropped On Japan

Human shadow on the steps at the entrance of the Hiroshima branch of Sumitomo Bank

There were many scars left behind in Japan after the Americans dropped the atomic bombs over Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The explosions had lasting effects on…

The US Air Force Lost a Mark 15 Nuclear Bomb Off the Coast of Tybee Island

Aircraft flying over Tybee Island + Mark 15 nuclear bomb on a dolly

Somewhere in the waters off Tybee Island, near the population hub of Savannah, Georgia, lies a Mark 15 nuclear bomb that was dropped by US…

Fritz X: The World’s First Precision-Guided Missile Took Out the Italian Navy’s Flagship

Fritz X on display

The Fritz X was a German radio-guided anti-ship missile that went by many names: Ruhrstahl SD 1400 X, PC 1400X, Kramer X-1 and FX 1400.…

The Second Battle of Fort Wagner Proved the 54th Infantry Regiment Had the Chops

Still from 'Glory'

The 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment proved their bravery and courage in fighting against Confederate forces at Fort Wagner.

Lost Cosmonauts: The Supposed Victims of the Soviet Union’s Space Endeavors

Space scene + Yuri Gagarin wearing a spacesuit

During the 1960s, rumors circulated that the Soviet Union had been sending people to space long before they announced their first successful launch. Experiments frequently…

The Tragic Story Behind One Man’s Refusal to Salute the Führer

Blohm+Voss employees performing the German salute, while August Landmesser stands with his arms crossed over his chest + August Landmesser standing with his arms crossed

Among the rows of men saluting the Führer in an infamous photo dating back to July 1936, one individual is seen standing, arms crossed, daring…

Tommies: Did the Endearing Term for British Soldiers Actually Originate During WWI?

Three British "Tommies" sitting together in uniform

The term “Tommies” is most closely associated with British soldiers who served during the First World War. However, where and how did the nickname originate?…