Modern | War History

Norman Lear Flew 52 Combat Missions with the US Army Air Forces During WWII

Norman Lear wearing a suit and hat

Norman Lear was one of the most important individuals in the history of the small screen. Active in the industry since the mid-20th century, he…

A Faux Paris Was Built to Fool German Bombers During World War I

Aerial view of Paris at sunset + Map showing the streets of faux Paris

When Paris was the target of German bombers during the First World War, officials immediately began to devise ways to stop future air raids from…

10 Surviving Buildings From Germany’s Era of Power

Aerial views of the Olympiastadion

The long-term effects of war are felt by all sides. This is even more evident in the case of the two World Wars, given the…

Vietnam Jungle: The Dangerous Snakes, Animals and Traps US Troops Encountered During the Vietnam War

American soldiers walking through the Vietnam jungle

The experience of war has always been intertwined with the environment. Weather, landmarks, climate and ecology all play a role in the outcome of a…

Project Fantasia: When America Planned to Use Glow-In-the-Dark Foxes Against Japan

Map of Japan + Fox looking back + Fox walking

When the United States entered the Second World War following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, it seemed as though the country had a “no…

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…

Billy Waugh Couldn’t Walk Away From the US Military, Not Even After Being Shot In the Head

Billy Waugh sitting on a couch

Billy Waugh had a long military career, during which he honorably served. His commitment earned him many awards, including the Silver Star, four Bronze Stars,…

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…

Stanley Kubrick’s ‘Paths of Glory’ Was Loosely Based on a Real-Life Tragedy

Todd Neikirk
Kirk Douglas as Col. Dax in 'Paths of Glory'

War movies have always been one of the most popular genres of film and, for many years, they unambiguously portrayed their conflicts as noble. Renowned…

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…

Mars Bluff Incident: The US Air Force Accidentally Dropped a Nuclear Bomb on South Carolina

Todd Neikirk
Boeing B-47 Stratojets parked on a runway

Starting in the late 1940s and running through to the end of the Cold War, an arms race occurred between the United States and the…

Ronald Reagan’s Star Wars Program Featured Space Lasers for Nuclear Defense

Rosemary Giles
Ronald Reagan sitting at a table with other men while holding a yellow bumper sticker that reads, "SDI could ruin a nuclear bomb's whole day"

By the 1980s, the threat of nuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union was a very real possibility. US President Ronald Reagan…