World War 2 | War History

Three Aircraft Defended Malta from the Entire Italian Air Force

Side profile of a grounded Gloster Gladiator

When Italy joined the Second World War, the island of Malta found itself immediately under attack. The only defenses available were three Gloster Sea Gladiators…

The Surprisingly Sweet Role Ice Cream Played During World War II

British troops eating ice cream at a shop counter

Whether it’s a photograph of a loved one, a favorite meal or one of the many simple commodities we take for granted at home, the…

Relic Hunters Surprised By What They Discovered In WWII-Era ‘Swamp Ghost’ Bomber

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress in flight

While flying over Papua New Guinea in 1972, airmen from the Royal Australian Air Force spotted something strange in the swamplands below. The large object…

Colditz Cock: The Glider Constructed By POWs to Escape from Colditz Castle

Crowd watching the replica of the Colditz Cock in flight

Throughout World War II, prisoners of war (POWs) were taken by both sides. They were kept under constant guard, forced into work details and kept…

Jagdtiger: The German Tank Destroyer That Was Both Devastating and Problematic

Jagdtiger on display outside

Throughout the Second World War, the Wehrmacht used some of the best equipment of the era. This was largely due to the fact the German…

The Douglas SBD Dauntless Changed the Course of the Second World War In a Single Day

Crewman standing in front of a number of Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers

Throughout the course of the Second World War, the US Navy and Marine Corps flew the Douglas SBD Dauntless, a naval scout aircraft and dive…

The US Army Air Forces Accidentally Dropped Bombs on Boise City, Oklahoma

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress in flight

Accidents happen. Some, however, are far worse than others, such as mistakingly attacking one’s own country during a practice aerial bombing mission. As ridiculous as…

Operation Tonga: 150 British Paratroopers Took the Merville Gun Battery Before D-Day

Four paratroopers standing in front of an aircraft

Then the largest seaborne invasion in history, the D-Day landings were planned down to the last detail. One of the most important parts of this…

Tony Rolt Escaped from POW Camps Seven Times Before Becoming a Successful Racing Driver

Tony Rolt driving a race car around a track

It’s safe to say Tony Rolt’s life after the Second World War was just as impressive as his time overseas. Rolt is best known for…

The Tragic Fate of the USS Grenadier (SS-210) and Her Crew

Memorial for the USS Grenadier (SS-210)

For over 70 years, nobody knew the fate of the USS Grenadier (SS-210). Struck by a Japanese aircraft, the submarine sank to the bottom of…

Mitchell Paige: The MoH Recipient Who Took On 2,700 Japanese Soldiers on Guadalcanal

US Marines crossing Lunga River + Military portrait of Mitchell Paige

World War II produced a number of heroes, particularly within the US military. A total of 473 service members were presented with the Medal of…

The MI5 Used Falcons to Catch German Carrier Pigeons

Ursula, a peregrine falcon, swooping down to attack a carrier pigeon + Two soldiers releasing a carrier pigeon into the air

The use of pigeons on the battlefield is often associated with the First World War. Homing pigeons, in particular, were used the most, with the…