Todd Neikirk

Todd Neikirk is a New Jersey-based politics, entertainment and history writer. His work has been featured in psfk.com, foxsports.com, politicususa.com and hillreporter.com. He enjoys sports, politics, comic books, and anything that has to do with history.

When he is not sitting in front of a laptop, Todd enjoys soaking up everything the Jersey Shore has to offer with his wife, two sons and American Foxhound, Wally.

Articles by Todd Neikirk:

US Marine Corps Aviator William Rankin Survived a Fall from a Thunder Cloud

Streak of lightning moving through clouds + Vought F-8A Crusader in flight

In times of crisis, pilots may have to parachute out of their aircraft due to damage or mechanical failure. For the most part, these descents…

The Truth Behind Royce Williams’ Legendary Dogfight was Hidden for 50 Years

Grumman F9F Panther in flight + Royce Williams wearing a baseball cap

The years following the Second World War were tricky. While Russia had been an ally to the United States during the conflict, the two frequently…

Red Army Cook Ivan Pavlovich Sereda Took Out a German Tank With Just an Axe

German soldiers riding on a Panzerkampfwagen 38(t) + Axe + Pot filled with vegetable soup

Over the course of human history, unlikely heroes have emerged from surprising places, and the battlefields of World War II were no exception. Ivan Pavlovich…

FICON Project: When the US Air Force Practiced Hooking Smaller Aircraft Under Large Bombers

Republic F-84E Thunderjet attached to the bottom of a larger bomber via a trapeze

As a result of the majority of the world’s powers participating in the Second World War, there were near-constant advancements in weapons technology. When the…

The Japanese Battleship Kongō was Among the Most Heavily Armed When It was First Built

Kongō at sea

The Japanese battleship Kongō had some of the greatest nicknames in history; the Japanese translations for the vessel’s many names are “Indestructible Diamond,” “Indra’s Spear” and…

Star Trek Creator Gene Roddenberry Faced Death Twice While In the US Army Air Forces

Gene Roddenberry sitting in a chair

Gene Roddenberry’s Star Trek: The Original Series (1966-69) remains enormously popular and influential; critics still point to the creator’s forward-thinking views on race and human…

CIM-10 Bomarc: The First Operational Long-Range SAM Ever Developed

People standing below a CIM-10 Bomarc

The United States was in a strange position following the end of the Second World War. Not only was this an era that saw rapid…

Lauri Törni: The Only SS Member to Be Buried At Arlington National Cemetery

Military portrait of Lauri Törni

Finland was in a strange place during the Second World War. At first, the nation hoped to stay out of the conflict. That became impossible…

The MP 40 Was Widely Used By German Soldiers During World War II

MP 40 being held up in front of another firearm

The early 20th century saw two major wars fought within only a few decades, and since most of the world’s powers were taking part, the…

Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer Was the Luftwaffe’s Best Night Fighter Pilot

Underside of a Messerschmitt Bf 110 in flight + Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer in uniform

Between World War I and II, a number of advancements were made in aviation. Despite this, there were still some conditions that made flying difficult,…

Five Bloodless Wars That Have Been Fought Throughout History

Aerial view of four Brazilian Navy ships at sea

Written by Todd Neikirk and Clare Fitzgerald. Wars have been fought pretty much since the beginning of time, and they have a brutal effect on…

The Incredible Military Career of Graves Erskine, the US Marine Who Escorted the Unknown Soldier

Graves Erskine standing with John Wayne

When John Wayne and Republic Pictures needed a technical adviser for the 1949 film Sands of Iwo Jima, they reached out to Graves Erskine. It…