Behind-the-Scenes Facts About ‘Schindler’s List’
Steven Spielberg’s Schindler’s List (1993) is a powerful and profoundly moving historical drama based on the true story of Oskar Schindler, a German businessman who…
Why Did a Test Pilot Wear a Gorilla Mask In Flight?
Imagine flying through the skies during the Second World War when, suddenly, an aircraft appears to your left. The pilot waves at you, but it’s…
USS Wisconsin (BB-64): The American Battleship That ‘Lost Her Temper’ In Korea
The USS Wisconsin (BB-64) was an Iowa-class vessel that served with the US Navy on and off from 1944-91. She was the second-last of her…
The Tank Museum Releases 8,000-Brick Model of Tiger 131
Tiger 131 is known for being the world’s only running Tiger I, and now enthusiasts can bring the famed tank into their homes, in the…
One Lucky Bidder Could Own the Ripsaw Tracked Vehicle Featured In the Eighth ‘Fast & Furious’ Film
The Howe & Howe Technologies Ripsaw tracked vehicle that featured in the eighth Fast & Furious film, The Fate of the Furious (2018), is coming…
Research Team Discovers Wreck of WWII-Era Japanese Ship That Sank With Over 1,000 POWs
The Australian government has announced that the wreck of the Japanese auxiliary ship Montevideo Maru has been located in the South China Sea. The announcement…
Sherman’s Neckties: The Ingenious Union Tactic That Immobilized the Confederates
Sherman’s Neckties – also known as Sherman’s Bowties, Jeff Davis’s Neckties and Sherman’s Hairpins – were railway destruction tactics used by the Union Army during…
Alan Alda and Jamie Farr – The ‘M*A*S*H’ Stars Who Earned Their Stripes In Korea
M*A*S*H (1972-83) centers around the Mobile Army Surgical Hospitals during the Korean War. Although the television show is based on fictional characters, a lot of…
The P-38F Lightning ‘Glacier Girl’ Was Buried Beneath The Ice For 50 Years
So many aircraft went down during the Second World War that it would be difficult to calculate the total. One was a Lockheed P-38F Lightning,…
The Morgenthau Plan Would Have Resulted In the Deaths of 25 Million Germans
There reached a point during the Second World War where the Allies felt confident about victory, especially after their incredible success following the invasion of…
D-Day In Color: A Look at the Largest Amphibious Invasion In History
On June 6, 1944, the Allies conducted the largest amphibious invasion in history. Landing on five beaches, as well as at various landing zones behind…
Japan Deployed Suicide Commandos for a Raid on Yontan Airfield
The Japanese were known for their use of kamikaze pilots throughout the Second World War. They were deployed during the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941,…
Century-Old ‘Experimental’ Submarine Discovered Off the Coast of Long Island
A “experimental” submarine dating back well over a century has been discovered off the coast of Long Island by a team of divers. Known as…
de Havilland Mosquito: The Versatile Aircraft That Struck Fear Into the Germans
The de Havilland Mosquito was a British twin-engine, multirole combat aircraft that served with the Royal Air Force (RAF) and other Allied air forces during…
Lew Ayres: The Lead Actor In ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ Was a Pacifist In Real Life
The novel All Quiet on the Western Front was so popular that it was made into two separate films, both of which did extremely well with…
The WWI Assault That Inspired A Movie About Sgt Alvin York
Many men went up against German machine guns during the First World War and didn’t live to tell the tale. Even fewer did so directly…
Battle of Fort Driant – World War II’s Strangest Engagement?
The Battle of Fort Driant was a World War II-era engagement fought between the US Third Army and Germany’s 1st Army from September 27 to…
Before Playing a POW In ‘The Great Escape,’ Donald Pleasence Was One In Real Life
British actor Donald Pleasence became one of the most popular antagonists in television and film, and is probably best known for portraying a prisoner of…
These ‘Night Witches’ Weren’t Burned at the Stake – They Bombed German Soldiers
One bomber regiment during the Second World War was so feared by the Germans that a soldier was immediately awarded the Iron Cross for shooting…
Zheng of Qin: The Chinese Emperor Who Escaped Assassination By Running Around a Pillar
Zheng of Qin, who reigned as the first emperor of China’s Qin Dynasty from 221-210 BC, survived several assassination attempts, including some that occurred while…
When War Production Dipped, the US Staged the Mock ‘Battle of the LA Coliseum’
As the Second World War progressed, the US government became concerned that production wasn’t as high as it should be, which directly correlated to public…
The Tank Museum Puts Rare Maus Tank Optical Sight On Display
The 188-ton Panzerkampfwagen VIII Maus was intended to be Germany’s answer to the advanced tank technology being utilized throughout Europe by the Allies. Only two…
Edgar ‘Cobber’ Kain Single-Handedly Decimated 17 Enemy Aircraft During the Battle of France
It might seem strange, but the Royal Air Force’s (RAF) first Flying Ace of the Second World War wasn’t from Britain – he was from…
The Best War-Themed Historical Fiction Films Ever Released
History is full of incredible war stories that Hollywood has beautifully reimagined for the silver screen. However, directors will sometimes tweak facts here and there,…
‘My Way’ Is Based On the Story of Yang Kyoungjong, But Did He Actually Exist?
My Way (2011) follows the story of a Korean soldier who fights for the Soviet Union, Japan and Germany during World War II. The South…
USS Harder (SS-257): The WWII-Era Submarine That Took Out Five Enemy Destroyers In Four Days
The USS Harder (SS-257), a Gato-class submarine, served in the Pacific Theater during the Second World War. She was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation and…
Bruce Willis’ Film ‘Tears of the Sun’ Gave Post-9/11 America An Important Moral Message
US Navy SEALs are infamous special operators. It’s fitting, then, that they’ve been the subject of numerous films, among them 2003’s Tears of the Sun.…
Before He Was Britain’s Most Popular Leading Man, Kenneth More Served with the Royal Navy
Kenneth More was one of Britain’s greatest actors, both on-stage and on the silver screen. He became a household name, but only after he served…
‘Superman’ Actor Henry Cavill Reveals First Photos from the Set of ‘The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare’
Henry Cavill, best known for his roles in the Superman franchise and Netflix’s adaptation of The Witcher video game series, has revealed the first photos…
Northrop Grumman X-47B: The US Navy’s Historic Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle
The Northrop Grumman X-47B is an American unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV). Two were developed for use under the US Navy’s Unmanned Combat Air System…
The History of the US Navy’s Canceled World War II-Era Battleships
The Second World War produced many legendary battleships – Bismarck, HMS Hood (51), Yamato, Roma (1940) and USS Iowa (BB-61). That being said, the conflict…
Albert Göring Used His Brother’s Name to Help Jews Escape Germany
There’s one Göring who comes to mind when people think of the Second World War, yet some may be surprised to learn there was actually…
Valentin: The German U-boat Pen That Survived Multiple 22,000-Pound ‘Grand Slam’ Bombs
During the Second World War, the British dominated the waterways. Their naval fleet proved to be one of the biggest threats to Germany and, as…
The Red Army Used Camels to Fight the Germans at the Battle of Stalingrad
The Second World War saw numerous technological advancements intended to provide distinct advantages over the enemy. Among these were, of course, tanks, which were used…
M1903 Springfield: The World War I-Era Rifle That Continues to See Service With the US Army
The United States Rifle, Caliber .30-06, Model 1903 – commonly known as the M1903 Springfield – was a rifle used primarily by the US military.…
Korean War Helicopters That Were Vital to Those Serving In the Conflict
The Korean War took place between 1950-53 and saw the UN coalition forces operate a plethora of military vehicles, including helicopters. The United States, in…
The Oddest Showdown of World War II? American Blimp vs German U-boat
In what was arguably the oddest battle to take place during the Second World War, a US Navy blimp duked it out with a German…
Project Iceworm: The US Military’s Plan to House and Deploy ICBMs from Beneath Greenland’s Ice
Project Iceworm was a top-secret operation planned by the US Army during the Cold War. It intended to build a massive military base, housing several…
Following A Prior Insult, John Wayne Punished Darryl Zanuck While Filming ‘The Longest Day’
Filmed in the 1960s, The Longest Day is still considered one of the best war movies of all time. However, it wasn’t all smooth sailing…
Did the US Government’s Nuclear Testing Lead the Cast and Crew of ‘The Conqueror’ to Develop Cancer?
John Wayne was one the most famous stars of Vintage Hollywood, but even he chose roles in movies that wound up being panned by critics.…
‘The Dam Busters’ Was Inspired By the Heroics and Heavy Losses of No. 617 Squadron RAF
While there are many good war films, few can be considered truly great. The Dam Busters (1955) is one of the few that falls into…
Black Sea Bumping Incident: When the Soviet Navy ‘Bumped’ the US Out of Its Territorial Waters
In the 1980s, the Soviet Union took several measures to get American warships out of its territorial waters – this including playing an old-fashioned game…
World’s Only Running Nashorn Tank Destroyer to Make UK Debut at TankFest 2023
The Tank Museum, in Bovington, has announced that the world’s only running Nashorn will be appearing at TankFest 2023, marking the first time the tank…
M28/M29 Davy Crockett Weapon System: The Tripod-Mounted Recoilless Rifle That Fired a Nuclear Warhead
Throughout the Cold War, the United States was concerned about the Soviet nuclear threat. As such, the US military constantly came up with weapons designed…
Hero or Traitor? The Unsolved Disappearance of Leonid Khrushchev
Leonid Khrushchev, son of Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev, served during the Second World War as a fighter pilot for the Soviet Air Force. On March…
The McDonnell F3H Demon Was Doomed Before It Ever Entered Service
The US Navy has operated an array of aircraft throughout its history, but few had as short a service life as the McDonnell F3H Demon.…
Before Becoming a Big-Name Actor, Richard Todd was a Paratrooper Who Fought at Pegasus Bridge
A number of famed Vintage Hollywood actors served during the Second World War. While many enlisted prior to launching their careers, other opted to pause…
Cessna A-37 Dragonfly: The Forgotten Legend of Vietnam
The Cessna A-37 Dragonfly is an American light attack aircraft. Developed from the T-37 Tweet basic trainer, which earned it the nickname, “Super Tweet,” it…
Operation Copperhead Was Almost Compromised By A Drunk Bernard Montgomery Lookalike
Operation Overlord was, at that point, the largest amphibious invasion in the history of warfare. It was no easy feat to keep something of this…
William Hopper: The Actor Who Played Paul Drake on ‘Perry Mason’ Served in the Navy in WWII
American actor William Hopper is best remembered for his decade-long portrayal of Paul Drake in the original television run of the popular courtroom drama, Perry…
NPS Researchers Explore Underwater Remnants of the Battles of Guam
Just a few days after the Japanese launched their surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, the US military became embroiled in the First Battle of Guam.…
US Army Mascot: Mules, Machine Guns and Mischief
Nothing screams team pride quite like a mascot. Even outside of athletics, many organizations usually adopt one as a symbol of good luck. The US…
Viral Video of Russian Soldier Serves as Tutorial on How Not to Throw a Grenade
A number of videos and images have come out in recent months regarding the lack of training Russian recruits are receiving prior to being deployed…
Fouled Anchor: What Does the Navy Chief Anchor Mean?
The fouled anchor is a symbol most associated with the US Navy. The term “foul” generally refers to something that’s wrong or difficult. However, its…
Netflix’s Adaptation of ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ Shows the Brutalities of Trench Warfare
One of the most talked about films of 2022 was All Quiet on the Western Front. The adaptation of Erich Maria Remarque’s classic anti-war novel…
The British Army Took Over the Village of Tyneham to Prepare for D-Day
In December 1943, the British Army took over a village to prepare for the Allied invasion of Normandy. On the south coast of the United…
Museum Releases Promotional Booklet Ahead of ‘The Third Man’ Film Anniversary
In advance of the 75th anniversary of the post-Second World War film The Third Man (1949) in 2024, a hand-sized booklet had been published to…
The Most Historically Accurate War Movies Ever Released
There’s nothing quite like a good war film, with over-the-top explosions and lifelike special effects. While a popular genre, there are some releases that stand…
The Tank Museum to Republish David Fletcher Book About the 79th Armoured Division
The Tank Museum in Bovington, United Kingdom has announced it’ll be republishing David Fletcher’s famed book, Vanguard of Victory: The 79th Armoured Division. Originally published…
How Many Times Did the World Nearly End During the Cold War? Answer: A Lot
There were numerous times throughout the Cold War where the world nearly ended. The Cuban Missile Crisis, for example, saw the United States and Soviet…
The Vought F-8 Crusader was Nicknamed the ‘Last of the Gunfighters’
The Vought F-8 Crusader was an American jet-powered fighter that served with the US Navy from 1957-76. During its tenure, the aircraft participated in the…
NR-1: The Smallest Nuclear Submarine In US Military History
Submarines are typically built to house a sizeable crew, given the amount of time they’re expected to serve beneath the ocean’s surface. There was one,…
James Stewart Paused His Hollywood Career to Bomb German Strongholds In Europe
James “Jimmy” Stewart is among the most recognizable stars from the era of Vintage Hollywood. Starring in the likes of Vertigo (1958), It’s a Wonderful…
The 50-Year Battle to Clear Charles McVay III In the Sinking of the USS Indianapolis (CA-35)
The USS Indianapolis (CA-35) was a Portland-class heavy cruiser commissioned by the US Navy in 1932. She was the flagship of Scouting Force 1 prior to the…
The Republic F-84 Thunderjet Was the ‘Champ of the Fighter-Bombers’
The Republic F-84 Thunderjet was an American jet-powered fighter-bomber. Primarily flown by the US Air Force from 1947-64, it suffered many issues during its development…
Army Ranger vs Green Beret: What’s the Difference Between Green Beret and Ranger Special Forces?
When comparing a US Army Ranger vs a Green Beret, there’s not usually an intention to suggest one is better than the other. Both are…
The Real-Life Battle Behind the Brutal Vietnam War Movie, ‘Hamburger Hill’
Some of the best war movies are based on real-life events – stories that are so fantastical that they’re almost unbelievable, such as Hacksaw Ridge…
The Degtyaryov Light Machine Gun’s Pan Magazine Made It Immediately Recognizable On the Battlefield
The Degtyaryov became the standard Soviet infantry light machine gun shortly after being introduced to the Red Army during the interwar period. While it had…
Retired Navy Adm. Jamie Foggo Rates Warship Battle Scenes from Popular Movies
American warships are often portrayed in film, due to their epic size and effectiveness in battle. In an interview with Insider, retired US Navy Adm.…
The USS Lexington Wreck Was Discovered Over 75 Years After the Battle of the Coral Sea
The sinking of the USS Lexington (CV-2) was one of many to occur during the Second World War, and her wreck has remained on the seafloor…
Esmond Knight: The British Actor Who Was Injured During a Battle with the German Battleship Bismarck
A number of British actors served during the Second World War, but few could claim they came face to face with the German battleship Bismarck…
Iraq War Timeline: Looking Back At the Conflict 20 Years Later
For many, it might feel like the Iraq War happened just yesterday, with the nightly news reporting updates on American troops overthrowing Saddam Hussein’s government…
RPD Machine Gun: The Soviet-Era Weapon That’s Seen Nearly 80 Years of Action
The Soviet Union developed a number of effective machine guns during World War II and the Cold War. Some were only used for a short…
Operation Long Jump: The Alleged German Plan to Assassinate the ‘Big Three’
A number of plans never came to fruition during the Second World War; one involved the use of bombs guided by pigeons, while another called…
Michael Alexander: The British Commando Who Escaped Death By Faking His Family Tree
Not all those who were captured in combat were taken as prisoners of war (POWs) during the Second World War. Some were shot on-site, particularly…
MoH Recipient Richard O’Kane Was the US Navy’s Most Successful Submarine Commander
Richard O’Kane is the most successful submarine commander in the history of the US Navy. He served during the Second World War, and sank a…
Battlefield Cross: A Powerful Symbol to Memorialize the Sacrifices of Fallen Soldiers
The Battlefield Cross has gone from having a functional purpose to providing symbolic meaning for those mourning the loss of their comrades. Its imagery is…
The Devastating Fire That Caused $700 Million In Damages to the USS Miami (SSN-755) and Forced Her Decommissioning
The submarine USS Miami (SSN-755) was decommissioned as a result of a planned fire that caused significant damage. Although there appeared to be no malicious…
Charles Brown Never Received His MoH Because He Deserted Before It Was Presented
During the 19th century, Korea was extremely isolationist. Before agreeing to the Japan-Korea Treaty of 1876, it didn’t have an interest in developing trade agreements…
US Military Video Shows Russian Su-27 Fighter Jet Colliding with Reaper Drone
US European Command (EUCOM) has declassified footage of a recent encounter between a Russian Sukhoi Su-27 and an MQ-9 Reaper operated by the United States.…
Mysterious US Navy Vessel Washes Ashore In North Carolina, Disappears Overnight
It’s not uncommon for strange things to wash ashore along North Carolina’s Outer Banks, but rarely are the objects related to the military. That’s exactly…
Puckle Gun: The Early Machine Gun That Fired Both Round and Square Bullets
Many consider the Maxim to be the world’s first machine gun – and they’re technically not wrong. Developed in 1884, it was the first automatic…
Facts About the Award-Winning and Controversial Vietnam Epic, ‘The Deer Hunter’
The Academy Award-winning film The Deer Hunter (1978) is the most controversial Vietnam-era film – that’s not an opinion, it’s a fact. Starring Robert De…
Henry T Elrod: The Marine Corps Aviator Who Single-Handedly Took Out a Japanese Destroyer
Maj. Henry T Elrod was better known by his nickname, “Hammerin’ Hank.” The US Marine Corps aviator had always dreamed of taking to the skies,…
SS Normandie: The French Ocean Liner Lost to a Suspicious Fire During World War II
The SS Normandie was one of the grandest ocean liners to see service during the 1930s. When the Second World War broke out, she found…
The Personal Experiences That Influenced Oliver Stone’s Vietnam War Trilogy
Oliver Stone is arguably one of the best directors and screenwriters in Hollywood, known for his ability to bring blockbuster and award-winning stories to the…
A B-2 Spirit Was the Victim of the Most Expensive Crash in US Air Force History – $1.4 Billion!
Undoubtedly, the United States has put a large amount of money into its Air Force between improving aerial technology, funding production and, of course, dealing…
The Little-Known Lost Battalions of World War II
Everyone is aware of the Lost Battalion of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive; 554 men from the US 77th Division who became trapped by the Germans in…
Four Men Aboard the USS California (BB-44) Were Awarded the Medal of Honor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was disastrous for American vessels, particularly those moored along Battleship Row. The nine were the primary targets of the Japanese,…
George Patton Called Creighton Abrams a ‘World Champion’ Tank Commander
There are some military commanders who stand out among the rest, and Creighton Abrams is one of them. Serving during the Second World War, as…
Meuse-Argonne Offensive: The Deadliest American-Involved Campaign of World War I
The Meuse-Argonne Offensive toward the end of World War I is widely considered to be the campaign that truly stopped any and all fighting along…
Sprint Missile: The ABM That Traveled So Fast a Plasma Ring Formed Around It
After years of speculation and planning, the US military began developing an anti-ballistic missile (ABM) that could intercept Soviet re-entry vehicles (RVs). Called the Sprint…
The Tank Museum Exhibiting Rare Mark I Tank Model Painted By Percyval Tudor-Hart
The Tank Museum in Bovington, United Kingdom has announced one of the star attractions for its Tanks for the Memories: The Tank in Popular Culture…
Tom Cruise Keeping Connection to US Navy Alive with New ‘Mission: Impossible’ Film
Throughout the course of 2022, Tom Cruise couldn’t escape the hype of Top Gun: Maverick, the highly-anticipated sequel to the 1986 original film. The 60-year-old…
Netflix Releases Trailer for Highly-Anticipated ‘The Last Kingdom’ Sequel
The BBC Two and Netflix series The Last Kingdom (2015-22) may have aired its last episode one year ago, but that doesn’t mean fans haven’t…
Cast of ‘Saving Private Ryan’ – Where Are They Now?
Saving Private Ryan (1998) is arguably one of the best war films ever released. The film follows a group of US Army soldiers as they…
Russian Reservists Being Sent Into Combat With ‘Firearms and Shovels’
As the Russo-Ukrainian War passes the one-year mark, it appears the invading Russian forces may be struggling more than ever with a lack of equipment.…
Folding Gun Models That Allow Operators to Hide Their Weapons In Public
A folding gun is a unique weapon that offers concealment, while also ensuring the operator is ready for action. Unfortunately, the designs are typically expensive,…
Is ‘The Bridge on the River Kwai’ Really the Greatest War Film Ever Made?
The 1957 historical epic The Bridge on the River Kwai has long been regarded as one of the greatest war films ever made. Based on…
Rheinwiesenlager: The Notorious American Prison Camps That Held German POWs Following WWII
There were hundreds of thousands of prisoners of war (POWs) taken during World War II. Under the Geneva Convention, it was required they receive certain…