MSN | War History

Six Famous Comedians Who Served in the US Military

Todd Neikirk
Bob Newhart + George Carlin

The very best stand-up comedians connect with the audience by talking about their experiences and finding humor in both the mundane and dangerous. As such,…

The Real-Life Inspiration for Top Gun’s ‘Viper’ Made a Cameo in the Movie

Todd Neikirk
Tom Skerritt as Mike "Viper" Metcalf in 'Top Gun'

Top Gun debuted in theaters in May 1986, and moviegoers had never seen anything like it. The film was sleek and cool, and portrayed the…

The World’s First Ever Gliderborne Attack Allowed Germany to Take Belgium

Soldier standing along the side of a dirt road

Between May 10-11, 1940, Belgium’s Fort Eben-Emael was captured by a relatively small group of Germans. It was supposed to be manned by 1,200 soldiers,…

131,553 Allied Pilots and Airmen Trained in the ‘Aerodrome of Democracy’

Eight RAF pilots standing together in their uniforms

At the outset of the Second World War, the United Kingdom was faced with many problems, one of which was how to train the aircrews…

The History of Chechnya’s Fierce Fighting Force

Todd Neikirk
Chechen fighters walking together

In February 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin sent the country’s Army to invade Ukraine. He believed he could make quick work of the invasion, but…

China Once Tried to Pass Off a ‘Top Gun’ Scene As Footage of Its Own Air Force

Tom Cruise as Lt. Pete "Maverick" Mitchell in 'Top Gun' + Chinese flag

The majority of military and war movie fans will likely agree that 1986’s Top Gun has some of the best aerial combat scenes ever captured…

The Powerful Speech Dwight D. Eisenhower Delivered to Allied Troops Invading Normandy

Dwight D. Eisenhower speaking with paratroopers

Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force, was among those who helped execute the Allied invasion of Normandy on June 6,…

Tsar Nicholas II Wouldn’t Approve the Russian Army’s New Uniform Until He Tested It Out Himself

Samantha Franco
Portrait of Tsar Nicholas II

Tsar Nicholas II saw himself as not only a member of the royal family, but as a soldier as well. He received a military education…

Marine Harold Schultz Helped Raise the Flag at Iwo Jima – He Wasn’t Recognized Until 2016

US Marines raising the American flag on Iwo Jima + Military portrait of Harold Schultz

The grainy black and white image of six US Marines raising the American flag at the summit of Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima is one…

Why Wasn’t the Second Antonov An-225 Finished?

Antonov An-225 Myria in flight, with the Buran space shuttle on its back

The Antonov An-225 Mriya is an incredibly rare aircraft, with only one ever put into service. There was the intention to build a second, and…

M142 HIMARS: The Artillery System Capable of Providing Combat Support in All Conditions

Marines loading an M142 HIMARS

The M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) has been getting a lot of press lately, due to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. The…

The Five Greatest Fighter Aircraft Ever Flown By the US Military

F-15E Strike Eagle in flight + F-86 Sabre in flight + Belly of an F-4E Phantom II in flight + F/A-18E/F Super Hornet in flight + F-22 Raptor in flight

Over the course of history, world powers have worked relentlessly to build the best fighter aircraft. American manufacturers, such as McDonnell Douglas, Lockheed Martin and…