MSN | War History

US Government Shoots Down Chinese Spy Balloon Off the Coast of South Carolina

Clare Fitzgerald
Chinese spy balloon floating in the sky

The Chinese spy balloon has been shot down. In a statement posted to the Department of Defense’s website on February 4, 2023, news of the…

The Republic XF-84H Thunderscreech Was So Loud It Made Ground Crews Sick

Republic XF-84H Thunderscreech taking off

The US Air Force has developed a number of experimental aircraft over the decades, but none was as interesting as the Republic XF-84H Thunderscreech. A…

Brazilian Navy’s Plans to Scuttle Asbestos-Ridden Aircraft Carrier Draws Ire from Environmentalists

NAe São Paulo at sea

The decommissioned Clemenceau-class aircraft carrier NAe São Paulo is causing headaches for the Brazilian Navy. Following her sale to a Turkish company in 2021, the…

The Plumbing Disaster That Led to the Sinking of U-1206

Toilet onboard the HMS Alliance (P147) + Painting of a U-boat being sunk at sea

During the later years of the Second World War, the German U-boat U-1206 was cruising silently off the coast of Scotland. It was one of…

Robert Duvall Served in the US Army Before Becoming An Oscar-Winning Actor

Portrait of Robert Duvall + Robert Duvall as Lt. Col. Bill Kilgore in 'Apocalypse Now'

Academy Award-winning actor Robert Duvall has starred in everything from Western movies to The Godfather franchise. He was even the voice behind Apocalypse Now‘s (1979)…

Pave Low: Converting Search and Rescue Helicopters for Use In Special Ops

Sikorsky MH-53 Pave Low in flight

Sikorsky MH-53 Pave Lows had the ability to perform both search and rescue and special operations missions. “Pave” stands for “Precision Avionics Vectoring Equipment,” the…

Edgar Allan Poe: From West Point Cadet to One of America’s Most Prolific Poets

US Military Academy West Point cadets standing together in uniform + Portrait of Edgar Allan Poe

Edgar Allan Poe is one of the most prolific American poets of all time. His dark, macabre stories and gothic poetry have defined his legacy,…

Pardo’s Push Saved the Lives of Two Men, But Wasn’t Recognized for Decades

John "Bob" Pardo standing with his arms crossed + McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II in flight

Capt. John R. “Bob” Pardo was assigned to the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, 433rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, which attacked an integral North Vietnamese steel mill.…

Gary Wetzel: The MoH Recipient Who Rescued His Commander, Despite Losing His Arm to Enemy Action

Gary Wetzel, Sammy L. Davis, Dwight H. Johnson, Angelo Liteky and James Allen Taylor standing together

Medal of Honor recipients are built differently than your average soldier, and there’s no one who proves this more than Sp4c. Gary Wetzel. The Vietnam…

Anthony Hopkins to Star in Television Adaptation of ‘Those About To Die’

Clare Fitzgerald
Anthony Hopkins posing on a red carpet

Two-time Academy Award winner Anthony Hopkins has joined the cast of Peacock’s upcoming period series, Those About To Die. Directed by Roland Emmerich (Independence Day,…

Workers At the Polish Post Office in Danzig Held Off a German Siege for 15 Hours

German soldiers leading prisoners along the side of a building

The first official move of the Second World War was when the Germans invaded Poland on September 1, 1939. The attack was dubbed “Fall Weiss,”…

Ivar the Boneless: How a Disabled Viking Warrior Conquered England

Elisabeth Edwards
Alex Høgh Andersen as Ivar the Boneless in 'Vikings'

The story of Ivar the Boneless has been told for centuries, striking fear into the hearts of Viking children as elders regaled in his most…