Saburō Sakai: The Half-Blind Japanese Pilot Who Flew His Damaged Zero for Five Hours
Patriotism means some men are willing to fight and die for their country. Taken to the extreme, this impulse also means some are willing to…
John Finn: The First Person to Receive the Medal of Honor During World War II
For the United States, the first day of the Second World War came on December 7, 1941 with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. During…
William Dunham: The US Air Force Hero Who Spared His Enemy’s Life
Brig. Gen. William Dunham was a highly-decorated US Air Force hero. His achievements during World War II and beyond are well-documented. However, his most notable…
Classic ’80s War Movies That Show Just How Great Cinema Used to Be
While the ’80s wasn’t all about action-buddy movies and teen comedies, there were a lot of war films made throughout decade, as well. It’s easy…
Remy Van Lierde: The WWII Air Ace Whose Helicopter Was Attacked By the World’s Largest Snake
Col. Remy Van Lierde would be worth studying for his incredible military exploits alone – the fact he claimed later in life to have encountered…
Ian Fortune Kept Flying After Being Shot In the Head By Enemy Machine Gun Fire
Whether it be in peacetime or war, being shot is never pleasant. Taking a bullet once in the body is often enough to maim or…
Royal Navy Slang That’s Found Its Way Into Everyday Life
In Britain, it’s said you’re never more than 70 miles from the sea. Given this, the country’s most important means of defense has, historically, been…
Everyday Slang That Originated In the Trenches of World War I
The English language is constantly evolving, with new words being added all the time. This isn’t a new phenomenon, with terms and expressions from across…
Republic P-47 Thunderbolt: The Most Produced American Fighter of World War II
The “Juggernaut,” the “Jug” – whatever you want to call it, the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt was an absolute beast in the skies over Europe and…
John Chapman: Mistaken for Dead, He Fought a Heroic Last Stand Against the Enemy
There have been many who performed distinct acts of valor and bravery during combat. While the majority are awarded for these actions not long after…
The BBC’s Coded Messages to the French Resistance During World War II
One of the best-known films about the Second World War is The Longest Day (1962), which centers around D-Day. In a number of scenes, members…
Did German Americans Actually Leave the US to Fight for Germany During WWII?
In the acclaimed HBO miniseries, Band of Brothers (2001), Tech. Sgt. Donald Malarkey, played by Scott Grimes, asks a German prisoner of war (POW) where…