INSTANT ARTICLES | War History

The Story of the Original US Navy I-Bar Featured in ‘Top Gun: Maverick’

Behind-the-scenes image from 'Top Gun: Maverick'

The famous I-Bar, a favorite spot for US Navy aviators at Naval Air Station North Island, is making history, thanks to the release of Top…

Elvis Presley’s Fundraising Efforts Helped Erect the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor

Aerial view of the USS Arizona Memorial + Headshot of Elvis Presley

In the 1950s, any American of a certain age could be drafted into the US military. Famous athletes and actors regularly served, as did musicians…

Ray C. Hunt: US Army Air Corps Mechanic Turned Guerrilla Fighter

US Army Rangers walking together in a group

Ray C. Hunt signed up for the US Army Air Corps at the start of the Second World War. He trained as an aircraft mechanic,…

Long-Lost Burial Site of Harald Bluetooth, Legendary Christian King of Vikings, Found in Polish Village

Map of Europe + Drawing of Harald "Bluetooth" Gormsson + Stone with red writing

The burial site for the Viking king whose name inspired that of modern Bluetooth wireless technology has likely been uncovered in the Polish village of…

Operation Wikinger: The Kriegsmarine’s Disastrous Mission in the North Sea

German destroyer Z1 Leberecht Maass at sea + Heinkel He 111 in flight

The Luftwaffe was the main arm and, arguably, the most dangerous aspect of the German military. Another branch intended to be just as strong was…

Dean Laird: The Ace Who Downed Both Japanese and German Aircraft During World War II

Dean Laird sitting in the rear seat of a Beechcraft T-34 Turbo-Mentor + Two aircraft in flight

There were numerous air aces during the Second World War. These aviators exhibited bravery and courage in the face of danger, earning the status of…

Did the US Try to Give France Nuclear Weapons to Use in Vietnam?

Soldiers holding up a flag + Mushroom cloud

Vietnam has been a desirable target for many of the world’s most powerful countries since the French conquest in 1858. China, Japan and the United…

Bob Roop was a Special Forces Medic Prior to Becoming a World-Famous Wrestler

Todd Neikirk
Jim Barnett standing with Bob Roop

Professional wrestlers come from all kinds of backgrounds. Few, however, have the backstory of Bob Roop. The Michigan native wrestled in high school, but went…

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 OSS Manual That Encouraged Axis Citizens to Sabotage the War Effort

Cover of the Simple Sabotage Field Manual + Woman crying while speaking with a police officer

As the Second World War raged on, the Allied and Axis powers employed various tactics to gain ground. One way was to utilize spies and…

Fact or Fiction: Did Christopher Lee Embellish His World War II Service?

Todd Neikirk
Christopher Lee wearing a suit and tie

Written by Todd Neikirk and Clare Fitzgerald. Christoper Lee had an incredibly long acting career that began in the late 1940s. He gained notoriety for…