MSN Slideshow | War History

USS Ticonderoga (CV-14): The Aircraft Carrier That Served In Two Wars and Aided In the Apollo Missions

USS Ticonderoga (CVS-14) at sea

The USS Ticonderoga (CV/CVA/CVS-14) was an Essex-class aircraft carrier built by the US Navy during the Second World War. She was the fourth ship to…

How Did the Manhattan Project’s Scientists React to the World’s First Atomic Bomb Test?

Trinity Test mushroom cloud rising into the sky

On July 16, 1945, a military weapons test occurred that forever changed the annals of history – and warfare. Known as the Trinity Test, it…

USS Buckley (DE-51): The Destroyer Escort That Took Out a German U-boat With Hand-to-Hand Combat and Grenades

USS Buckley (DE-51) at sea

The USS Buckley (DE-51) was a destroyer escort and lead ship of her class that served with the US Navy between 1943-46. During her wartime…

Before Starring Alongside Andy Griffith, Don Knotts Served In the US Army Special Services

Don Knotts as Barney Fife in 'The Andy Griffith Show'

Before Don Knotts became a household name for his roles on television and film, he scored some of his first comedy gigs serving in the…

Leonard Matlovich Was the First Serviceman to Out Himself in Protest of the US Military’s Homophobic Regulations

Portrait of Leonard Matlovich

Outside of his service during the Vietnam War, US Air Force Tech. Sgt. Leonard Matlovich fought a very different kind of battle, one against the…

Japan’s Secret Weapon for the Invasion of British Malaya Was… Bicycles?

Man riding a bicycle while holding an umbrella

During World War II, Japan employed a seemingly innocuous ally: the bicycle. As the empire faced logistical challenges and scarce resources, these manually-driven vehicles played…

Comedian Rob Riggle Continued to Serve In the US Marine Corps, Even After Making It In Hollywood

Rosemary Giles
Rob Riggle speaking into a microphone on stage

Rob Riggle isn’t just a familiar face in the entertainment industry – he’s also a decorated military veteran. Prior to gracing our screens with his…

Facts About ‘Top Gun’ and Its Award-Winning Sequel

Ryan McLachlan
Tom Cruise as Lt. Pete "Maverick" Mitchell in 'Top Gun' + Tom Cruise as Capt. Pete "Maverick" Mitchell in 'Top Gun: Maverick'

Top Gun is a 1986 American action flick directed by Tony Scott. It follows Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Tom Cruise) and his co-pilot Nick “Goose” Bradshaw…

Alan Turing’s Efforts to Decode German Enigma During World War II

Alan Turing sitting in a chair outside

Alan Turing was a British mathematician and cryptanalyst who worked tirelessly with a team of codebreakers during the Second World War. Together, they cracked encrypted…

SOE Operative Nancy Wake’s Only Regret Was Not Taking Out More Enemy Soldiers During World War II

Portrait of Nancy Wake + Nancy Wake smiling

Amid the chaos and perilous landscapes of German-occupied France, one remarkable woman emerged as a symbol of unwavering courage and indomitable spirit during World War…

Desmond Doss Was the Only Conscientious Objector to Receive the Medal of Honor in World War II

Harry S. Truman placing the Medal of Honor around Desmond Doss' neck

US Army Medic Cpl. Desmond Doss was an extraordinary figure in the annals of military history who defied conventional norms and exemplified unwavering courage in…

Mont-Saint-Michel Was ‘Liberated’ By One Soldier and Two Reporters In World War II

View of Mont-Saint-Michel

During the Second World War, Mont-Saint-Michel was occupied by German soldiers, making it a highly-visited destination for the enemy. For four years, the French were…