‘The Dam Busters’ Was Inspired By the Heroics and Heavy Losses of No. 617 Squadron RAF
While there are many good war films, few can be considered truly great. The Dam Busters (1955) is one of the few that falls into…
Hero or Traitor? The Unsolved Disappearance of Leonid Khrushchev
Leonid Khrushchev, son of Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev, served during the Second World War as a fighter pilot for the Soviet Air Force. On March…
Before Becoming a Big-Name Actor, Richard Todd was a Paratrooper Who Fought at Pegasus Bridge
A number of famed Vintage Hollywood actors served during the Second World War. While many enlisted prior to launching their careers, other opted to pause…
Operation Copperhead Was Almost Compromised By A Drunk Bernard Montgomery Lookalike
Operation Overlord was, at that point, the largest amphibious invasion in the history of warfare. It was no easy feat to keep something of this…
William Hopper: The Actor Who Played Paul Drake on ‘Perry Mason’ Served in the Navy in WWII
American actor William Hopper is best remembered for his decade-long portrayal of Paul Drake in the original television run of the popular courtroom drama, Perry…
NPS Researchers Explore Underwater Remnants of the Battles of Guam
Just a few days after the Japanese launched their surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, the US military became embroiled in the First Battle of Guam.…
James Stewart Paused His Hollywood Career to Bomb German Strongholds In Europe
James “Jimmy” Stewart is among the most recognizable stars from the era of Vintage Hollywood. Starring in the likes of Vertigo (1958), It’s a Wonderful…
The 50-Year Battle to Clear Charles McVay III In the Sinking of the USS Indianapolis (CA-35)
The USS Indianapolis (CA-35) was a Portland-class heavy cruiser commissioned by the US Navy in 1932. She was the flagship of Scouting Force 1 prior to the…
The USS Lexington Wreck Was Discovered Over 75 Years After the Battle of the Coral Sea
The sinking of the USS Lexington (CV-2) was one of many to occur during the Second World War, and her wreck has remained on the seafloor…
Esmond Knight: The British Actor Who Was Injured During a Battle with the German Battleship Bismarck
A number of British actors served during the Second World War, but few could claim they came face to face with the German battleship Bismarck…
Operation Long Jump: The Alleged German Plan to Assassinate the ‘Big Three’
A number of plans never came to fruition during the Second World War; one involved the use of bombs guided by pigeons, while another called…
Michael Alexander: The British Commando Who Escaped Death By Faking His Family Tree
Not all those who were captured in combat were taken as prisoners of war (POWs) during the Second World War. Some were shot on-site, particularly…