Valor | War History

James Garner’s Nose Saved His Life While Serving In Korea

James Garner as Flight Lt. Bob "The Scrounger" Hendley in 'The Great Escape'

A number of Hollywood stars have served in the military, but few have done so during two conflicts. Actor James Garner was one of them.…

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…

Gewehr 43: The German Semi-Automatic Rifle Inspired By the Soviet SVT-40

East German soldiers marching together while armed with Gewehr 43s

When the Germans launched Operation Barbarossa, they weren’t prepared for a number of things. While the weather is often the aspect most historians point to,…

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…

Tommies: Did the Endearing Term for British Soldiers Actually Originate During WWI?

Three British "Tommies" sitting together in uniform

The term “Tommies” is most closely associated with British soldiers who served during the First World War. However, where and how did the nickname originate?…

Chemical Research and Spy Satellites: Secret Military Bases You’ve Never Heard Of

Rosemary Giles
Aerial view of Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia + Aerial view of Pine Gap

Villains lairs are a staple in the James Bond universe. Whether located deep within a mountain, on a secluded island or inside an oddly-shaped building, they…

Prince Philip and An American GI Are Two Deities Worshipped By WWII-Era Cargo Cults

John Frum followers dancing in a circle

Undoubtedly, the arrival of the Allies in Melanesia had a profound effect on those who lived there. Troops and natives came into contact for the…

John R Fox Ordered An Artillery Barrage On His Own Position to Save His Comrades

US artillerymen manning an artillery battery + Military portrait of John R Fox

In one of the greatest acts of bravery seen during the Second World War, John R Fox ordered an artillery barrage on his own position…

The German V-1 ‘Buzz Bomb’ Was Developed to Terrorize the British Public

V-1 "buzz bomb" on display

Vengeance weapon one (V-1), the “buzz bomb,” the “doodlebug” or the “Fi 103” – whatever name you call it by, this impressive World War II-era…

Secret Service Snipers and Their History of Protecting the US President

Two Secret Service snipers keeping watch over US President Barack Obama from a rooftop

First established by US President Abraham Lincoln in 1865, the Secret Service has protected American political leaders and their families for over 150 years. Within…

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…