MSN | War History

Paul Tibbets Dropped the Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima and Was Given No Funeral or Gravestone

Paul Tibbets sitting in the cockpit of the Enola Gay

Brig. Gen. Paul Tibbets, better known as the man who piloted the Enola Gay during the bombing of Hiroshima, became a well-known figure in the…

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…

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…

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…

How the Sophisticated B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber Stays Invisible

Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit in flight

The Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit stealth bomber is one of the rarest aircraft in the world. Born out of Cold War innovation, only 21 were…

The Short Career of the Civil War-Era Double-Barreled Cannon

Double-barreled cannon on display

The double-barreled cannon is as cool as it sounds. It can shoot two cannon balls at the same time that, when attached by a chain,…

The US Air Force Once Tried Landing Bombers On Tank Treads – It Didn’t End Well

Convair B-36 Peacemaker in flight + Track landing gear installed on the Convair XB-36 Peacemaker

Tanks are invaluable military assets, as are heavy bombers. Combining the two should be a winning combination… Right? As the US Air Force learned, the…