Clergyman Prays for Fallen GIs During the Battle of Ie-Shima
The Battle of Ie-Shima from April 16-21, 1945 was a crucial engagement in the Pacific Theater during the latter stages of World War II. Fought…
Ryan FR-1 Fireball: The US Navy’s First Jet-Engine Fighter Was Also the Worst Aircraft of World War II
The Ryan FR-1 Fireball was an American fighter designed by Ryan Aeronautical for the US Navy during the Second World War. It was a mixed-power…
Germany Used Circus Elephants to Clean Up Following the Allied Bombings of Hamburg
The image above features Mary from Burma and Kieri from Ceylon, elephants who were brought to the Hamburg Zoo to train for the circus. At…
Sturmpistole: The German Handheld Grenade Launcher That Failed to Match More Powerful Anti-Tank Weaponry
The Sturmpistole was a multi-purpose weapon developed for the German Army during World War II. A modified flare gun, it was capable of firing a…
Before Becoming Hollywood’s Leading Man, Kirk Douglas was Chasing Japanese Submarines In the Pacific
Kirk Douglas is arguably one of the most famous names to emerge during Hollywood’s heyday in the 1950s and ’60s. Known for taking on particularly…
The M18 Recoilless Rifle Obliterated Enemy Machine Gun Nests In Korea
The M18 is a 57 mm shoulder-fired, anti-tank recoilless rifle the US Army equipped troops with during the Second World War and in Korea. The…
Denholm Elliott Scored His First Acting Gigs While a Prisoner of War
Denholm Elliott was known for his versatile performances in numerous films and television shows. However, before he became a famous actor, he was a member…
Chuck Yeager: From WWII ‘Ace in a Day’ to Breaking the Sound Barrier
Brig. Gen. Chuck Yeager is widely regarded as one of the greatest aviators of the 20th century. Best known for being the first pilot to…
The ‘Rats of Tobruk’ Lived Underground During the Second World War
During the Second World War, a remarkable and brave group of Australian soldiers became known as the “Rats of Tobruk” for their tenacious defense of the…
These Nurses Had a Front Row Seat to the Battle of Monte Cassino
The Battle of Monte Cassino was fought between the Allies and Germans in the historic Monte Cassino Abbey, at the entrance to the Rapido and…
Cargo from German Ship Sunk During WWII Washing Up On American Beaches
Several tons of cargo went down with German ships that were sunk by enemy action or intentionally scuttled during the Second World War. Rarely, however,…
The Ingenious Reason Farmers Painted Stripes On Their Cows During the Blitz
While facing the Blitz during World War II, British farmers resorted to an unusual and creative tactic to protect their livestock and the public from…