VC: Despite Being Shot And With His Plane On Fire, This Pilot Refused To Bail Out Without Taking Down A German Fighter
On a bright sunny morning in August 1940, No. 249 Squadron, Royal Air Force, was patrolling near Southampton, in southern England. There was hardly any…
Devastating Missile Power – The Archers Of The Ancient Roman Army
Although the armies of Rome were famous for their hard-hitting legionaries, they also used a range of other troops. Cavalry, slingers, and light infantry all…
The US Special Forces Major who fought in the SS
Some men choose sides, others choose battles, and others fight regardless of the side or battle. One such man not only fought for three different…
The Gallipoli Campaign, 1915 – A Bloody And Terrible Ground Invasion
In November 1914, Turkey entered the First World War on the side of the Central Powers. It was a disappointment for Britain and France, who…
Eight Of The Worst Leaders In Military History
There are few figures more inspiring than a great commander and few disasters worse than putting the wrong man in charge. Publius Quintilius Varus A…
Day of Infamy: The Lessons and Legacy of Pearl Harbor
On December 7, 1941, aircraft from the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) streaked over Pearl Harbor, bombing and torpedoing the American fleet at anchor. Nearly 2,400…
The Plane That Flew Itself – After The Pilot Ejected, This F-106A Flew for Miles Before Landing Gently in a Field
In 1970, a plane got fed up with its pilot so it hatched an audacious plan. First, get rid of the pilot. Second: land. Third:…
“He gave his life” – Moniteau County, Mo., soldier killed during Battle of Leyte in World War II
War History online proudly presents this Guest Piece from Jeremy P. Ämick, who is a military historian and writes on behalf of the Silver Star…
Ultimately, Napoleon Did Not Achieve His Ambitions – Here Are Eight Reasons Why He Failed
Napoleon Bonaparte was one of the greatest commanders in military history. Under his command, French forces crossed the length of Europe, leveling empires and bringing…
The Commando Raids On The Norwegian Coast That Tied Up 30,000 German Soldiers
In 1941, Britain raided Nazi-occupied Norway, making use of a new and still untested force – British Commandos. The aim was to boost British morale and…
The Vultee Vengeance – The Allied WWII Dive Bomber Developed To Rival The German Stuka
When people talk about aircraft used in WWII, most remember the German Stuka dive-bomber used to great effect very early in the war, but both…
The Crews Gave So Much – Powerful Pictures of the American WW2 Plane, the B-17 “Flying Fortress” Bomber
The Boeing B-17 “Flying Fortress” bomber’s first flight was on 28th July 1935. In total, 12,731 units were built between 1936-1945! The nickname “Flying Fortress” was…