4,000 Sea Mines Were Set Off By the Sun During the Vietnam War
In August 1972, American magnetic sea mines in the oceans surrounding northern Vietnam began simultaneously exploding. They had been strategically placed to detonate close to…
When Male Air Traffic Controllers Went to War, Women Stepped in to Fill Their Positions
With men overseas in Europe and the Pacific during World War II, women were needed to fill the positions they’d previously had. Many male-dominated industries…
A ‘Spooky’ Aircraft Known as Puff, the Magic Dragon – The Story of the Douglas AC-47
“Puff, the Magic Dragon” wasn’t just a popular ’60s song by Peter, Paul and Mary, it was also the nickname for the Douglas AC-47 Spooky,…
The Battles of Narvik Were Fueled By Allied and German Self-Interest
The Battles of Narvik refer to the naval offensives and land battle that occurred between the Germans and Allies in Norway. It was one of…
Iron Dome: Israel’s Defense System That’s Up to 90 Percent Effective at Destroying Incoming Targets
Since 2011, Israel has operated one of the world’s most powerful and effective air defense systems. Designed to protect against rocket and artillery attacks, it’s…
Munitionettes: The Women Who Stepped Up to Build Munitions During World War I
As World War I raged on, the British government ran low on both soldiers and munitions. While conscription rectified the troop shortage, it only fueled…
Nijmegen Bridge: A Bridge Over Troubled Waters
It might look like a normal structure today, but the Nijmegen bridge was a pivotal strategic point throughout the entirety of the Second World War.…
Military Events That Prove Just How Unlucky Friday the 13th Really Is
Friday the 13th is considered one of the unluckiest days of the year. While many feel it’s just everyone being overly superstitious, others believe there’s…
Operation Olive: The Allied Attempt to Break Through the Gothic Line
The final years of World War II saw Germany fighting a defensive battle against the Allies. The country’s forces had been pushed out of North…
The All-Female Civilian Organization That Provided Air Defense for Hawaii
The Women’s Air Raid Defense (WARD) was a civilian organization working alongside the US military to protect the Hawaiian Islands from Japanese air attacks during…
Meat is Such a Treat – and the Black Market’s Hottest Commodity in the 1940s!
Americans faced a major toilet-paper shortage with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, but this wasn’t the first time they nearly ran out of a…
Theodore ‘Teddy’ Roosevelt Was Denied His Chance to Join the Western Front
It’s a well-known fact that the United States officially entered the First World War in April 1917, but if it had been up to Theodore…