MSN | War History

The US Military Dropped Pianos Onto the Battlefield with Parachutes During WWII

American soldiers standing around a Victory Vertical piano

During any conflict, it’s important to keep troop morale up. This was especially true during the Second World War, when a large portion of enlisted…

A B-52 Bomber Fire Almost Caused a Chernobyl-Like Incident in North Dakota

Clare Fitzgerald
B-52 Stratofortress in flight + Mushroom cloud

It might come as a surprise to some, but the United States came close to nuclear disaster more than once during the Cold War. The…

The Wardrobe Department Messed Up the Uniforms in ‘Top Gun: Maverick’

Clare Fitzgerald
Tom Cruise as Capt. Pete "Maverick" Mitchell in 'Top Gun: Maverick'

Top Gun fans eagerly awaited the film’s much-anticipated sequel. Its release was delayed by three years, and it earned a whopping $1.487 billion at the…

The Polish MANPADS Piorun Beats the Stinger In Every Aspect – And Might Replace It

PZPR Piorun with a CTP-1 termovision sight

If someone thought the era of MANPADS was coming to an end, they couldn’t be more wrong. While western NATO countries neglected the effectiveness of…

John Levitow: The Lowest-Ranking US Air Force Airman to Receive the Medal of Honor

Todd Neikirk
Tracer rounds in the sky at night + Military portrait of John Levitow

John Levitow came from humble beginnings, but achieved great things. By the time he retired from his career with the US Air Force, he was…

The Sinking of the USS Housatonic was a Turning Point in Naval Warfare

A print showing the sinking of the USS Housatonic

The US Navy has existed longer than the country itself. The branch was established in August 1775 and re-established in 1794 during the French Revolution.…

How Did Bravo Zulu Come To Mean ‘Well Done?’

Madeline Hiltz

The military can be a rather thankless place. So when you do get a compliment, it should be celebrated. Arguably, the most famous form of…

Jimmy Carter Once Saved Canada From Nuclear Disaster

Todd Neikirk
Jimmy Carter at a press conference

Jimmy Carter was a one-term president, but he has long been lauded for his character and empathy. The 39th president of the United States, he…

The Molotov Cocktail: A Quick History Of The Surprisingly Effective Weapon

Todd Neikirk
A protester throws a Molotov cocktail in Kiev, Ukraine in 2014

Russian forces invaded Ukraine on February 24th of 2022. Ukrainian soldiers are taking on the Russian troops, but so are a number of Ukrainian civilians.…

Did the Term ‘Grunt’ Originate in Vietnam or During WWII?

Todd Neikirk
Infantrymen walking through a creek

For decades, infantry soldiers in the US Army and Marine Corps have been called “grunts,” wearing the moniker like a badge of honor. Grunts are…

USS Clamagore (SS-343) to Be Dismantled and Recycled

USS Clamagore docked

The USS Clamagore (SS-343), currently stationed at the Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum in South Carolina, is slated to be dismantled and recycled, after…

Wild Weasels Undertake the US Air Force’s Most Dangerous Missions

General Dynamics F-16CJ Fighting Falcon in flight + Wild Weasel patch

There is nothing we love more than a good motto! The unofficial slogan for the US Air Force’s Wild Weasel crew is “YGBSM” – an…