INSTANT ARTICLES | War History

Six Famous Comedians Who Served in the US Military

Todd Neikirk
Bob Newhart + George Carlin

The very best stand-up comedians connect with the audience by talking about their experiences and finding humor in both the mundane and dangerous. As such,…

The Real-Life Inspiration for Top Gun’s ‘Viper’ Made a Cameo in the Movie

Todd Neikirk
Tom Skerritt as Mike "Viper" Metcalf in 'Top Gun'

Top Gun debuted in theaters in May 1986, and moviegoers had never seen anything like it. The film was sleek and cool, and portrayed the…

The World’s First Ever Gliderborne Attack Allowed Germany to Take Belgium

Soldier standing along the side of a dirt road

Between May 10-11, 1940, Belgium’s Fort Eben-Emael was captured by a relatively small group of Germans. It was supposed to be manned by 1,200 soldiers,…

131,553 Allied Pilots and Airmen Trained in the ‘Aerodrome of Democracy’

Eight RAF pilots standing together in their uniforms

At the outset of the Second World War, the United Kingdom was faced with many problems, one of which was how to train the aircrews…

The History of Chechnya’s Fierce Fighting Force

Todd Neikirk
Chechen fighters walking together

In February 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin sent the country’s Army to invade Ukraine. He believed he could make quick work of the invasion, but…

China Once Tried to Pass Off a ‘Top Gun’ Scene As Footage of Its Own Air Force

Tom Cruise as Lt. Pete "Maverick" Mitchell in 'Top Gun' + Chinese flag

The majority of military and war movie fans will likely agree that 1986’s Top Gun has some of the best aerial combat scenes ever captured…

Whitey Bulger: Air Force Service Member Turned Organized Crime Boss

Todd Neikirk
Whitey Bulger in a bathrobe + Whitey Bulger mugshot

The 1900s was the century of mobsters in America, and few are more well-known than James “Whitey” Bulger. The leader of the notorious Winter Hill…

The Germans Had High Hopes for the Goliath Tracked Mine

US Navy sailors standing around captured Goliath tracked mines

It’s common today for bombings to be done via drone. This is an effective strategy for a number of reasons. The aerial vehicles don’t need…

The True Story Behind the Events of ‘Charlie Wilson’s War’

Todd Neikirk
Julia Roberts and Tom Hanks as Joanne Herring and Charlie Wilson in 'Charlie Wilson's War' + Charlie Wilson smiling

Charlie Wilson’s War premiered in 2007. The film boasted such A-list talent as Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts, and was a critical success, earning five…

Tsar Nicholas II Wouldn’t Approve the Russian Army’s New Uniform Until He Tested It Out Himself

Samantha Franco
Portrait of Tsar Nicholas II

Tsar Nicholas II saw himself as not only a member of the royal family, but as a soldier as well. He received a military education…

Marine Harold Schultz Helped Raise the Flag at Iwo Jima – He Wasn’t Recognized Until 2016

US Marines raising the American flag on Iwo Jima + Military portrait of Harold Schultz

The grainy black and white image of six US Marines raising the American flag at the summit of Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima is one…

Why Wasn’t the Second Antonov An-225 Finished?

Antonov An-225 Myria in flight, with the Buran space shuttle on its back

The Antonov An-225 Mriya is an incredibly rare aircraft, with only one ever put into service. There was the intention to build a second, and…