Philip Toosey Served As the Inspiration for Lt. Col. Nicholson In ‘The Bridge on the River Kwai’
The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) was a sensational film so well-received that it earned several Academy Awards. What most people don’t realize is…
Bell X-1: America’s Experimental Rocket-Powered Aircraft That First Broke the Sound Barrier
The Bell X-1 was a rocket-powered aircraft designed by Bell for a supersonic joint research project between the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) and…
Henschel Hs 129 :The Luftwaffe’s Soaring Tank Buster Armed With a 75 mm Cannon
As tank warfare evolved and became a key strategy during the interwar period, the German Wehrmacht envisioned a new kind of blitzkrieg – one that…
‘More Than Fitting’ – Mel Gibson Speaks Out About Fort Benning Being Renamed for Hal and Julie Moore
Throughout the last few years, the US government and military have worked together to formulate a plan regarding the renaming of streets, installations and vehicles…
Harry Belafonte Narrowly Missed One of WWII’s Deadliest Disasters On US Soil
Harry Belafonte passed away in April 2023, ending a decades-spanning career that forever changed the faces of music, cinema and activism. Prior to becoming a…
The Red Army Recruited Blind Citizens During the Siege of Leningrad
The Red Army turned to desperate measures following Operation Barbarossa, as they were outnumbered. In one instance, they deployed camels, instead of horses, during the…
National Emergency Command Post Afloat: The ‘Floating White Houses’ for Times of Nuclear War
During the 1960s, America’s Continuity of Operations plans included the National Emergency Command Post Afloat (NECPA). It was one of three parts – airborne, ground…
‘The Battle of Algiers’ Is So Realistic That Guerrilla Groups Took Training Notes From It
The Battle of Algiers (1966) is a powerful and provocative film directed by Gillo Pontecorvo. It covers the Algerian struggle for independence from French colonial…
‘Last Post’ Memorial In Ypres Undergoing Two-Year Restoration
After a century of battling the elements, the Menin Gate in Belgium is about to get some well-earned rest and recuperation. The monument dedicated to…
Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star: The Only US Jet Fighter to See Action In WWII – During Secret Operations In Italy
The Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star, also known as the F-80, was the first jet fighter used operationally by the US Army Air Forces (USAAF). While…
The ‘M*A*S*H’ Death That Stunned America
In an episode titled “Abyssinia, Henry,” the producers of M*A*S*H (1972-83) decided that McLean Stevenson’s character, Henry Blake, was to depart from the show. It…
No. 1426 Flight RAF Flew German Aircraft Decked Out In Royal Air Force Insignia
In September 1942, Rachel and Eddie Jones were enjoying the warm weather at their home near Romsey, England. Rachel had formed a keen interest in…