Shahan Russell

Shahan Russell is one of the authors writing for WAR HISTORY ONLINE

Articles by Shahan Russell:

The US Navy Destoyer That Sank A Japanese Sub With The Aid of Potatoes

In 1943, a US Navy destroyer engaged a Japanese submarine during the Solomon Islands Campaign. What should have been a skirmish between equals turned out…

When Four Prisoners Escaped From Auschwitz In The Kommander’s Car

In 1942, four Polish prisoners at Auschwitz had had enough. They wanted to escape, but if they did (regardless of whether or not they succeeded),…

Vietnam: Ignored Heavy Damage To His Aircraft And Repeatedly Attacked Enemy FLAK With Bombs And Cannon Fire

In 1967, the US attacked an industrial facility in North Vietnam. During that siege, an American pilot saw his plane severely damaged from intense flak,…

After A Mid Air Collision – One Pilot Lands Two Planes AT ONCE!

In 1940, two planes collided in mid-air over Australia. Remarkably, there were no fatalities. Even more remarkably, the pilot responsible for saving the planes was…

Bay of Pigs – The ‘perfect failure’ of Cuba invasion

In 1961, the US government sponsored an invasion of Cuba to overthrow its prime minister, Fidel Castro. Though originally planned by the CIA under President…

How Climate Change Helped the Swedes March Across A Frozen Sea And Defeat The Danes

It all started in 1655 during the Second Northern War. Sweden was fighting against the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Russia, Brandenburg-Prussia, the Habsburg Monarchy, Denmark-Norway, and sometimes,…

William Avery “Billy” Bishop – The Kid Who Couldn’t Miss

Air Marshal William Avery “Billy” Bishop was a Canadian fighter pilot in WWI who crashed his plane during a practice run and was ordered to…

Awarded the Medal of Honor For Bravery Whilst His Country Locked up His Family in an Interment Camp

George “Joe” Taro Sakato is a second-generation-born American of Japanese descent, which was why his family had to relocate during WWII. Despite this, he joined…

One Man Demolition Squad Who Personally Destroyed, With Grenades, SIX Enemy Posts, And More!

Thomas Currie “Diver” Derrick wasn’t among the first to join the Australian military when WWII broke out in 1939. When he finally did join the…

Crazy French Count Blew Up German Factory With Baguettes Filled With Explosives

In 1938, 15-year-old Count Robert Jean-Marie de La Rochefoucauld went to pay Hitler a visit in Bavaria. The German Chancellor gave Rochefoucauld a friendly pat…

He Parachuted Out Of His Crippled B-24 Then Killed The Enemy Pilot With A Head Shot From A Pistol

The following story may or may not be true, but the US Army Air Force (USAAF) believes it is. It is about a man who…

Vietnam Green Beret Had 37 Separate Bullet, Bayonet, & Shrapnel Wounds & Still He Carried On Fighting

Master Sergeant Raul “Roy” Perez Benavidez was shot several times, suffered two grenade blasts, and got bayonetted while saving the lives of eight men. Despite…