The Civil War Photographer that Time Forgot: Alexander Gardner
When people remember famous Civil War photographers, they think of one name in particular; and “Alexander Gardner” is not it. However, a significant number of…
Maynard Smith: Awarded the Medal of Honor And Then Demoted in WW2
It is perhaps a tale that Veterans of the United States Air Force are more familiar with, the story of “Airman Snuffy.” Given a choice…
Fog Of War – Often, the Allies Couldn’t Tell if Bombing Campaigns Were Working
Destructive bombing raids against Germany were a vital part of World War Two. They let the Allies lash out against the Nazi war machine long…
21-Year-Old Bomber Pilot Who Died Saving His Comrades in WWII
On the night of May 30, 1942, Britain launched its largest bombing raid so far in World War Two. Of the 1,047 bombers that flew,…
Two Childhood Friends Helped Found an Elite WW2 Unit Then Died on the Same Day, Hundreds of Miles Apart
Founded in 1940 during the difficult days of the Second World War, the Small Scale Raiding Force was an elite British naval unit. The predecessor…
A Terrible Mistake – Why The USSR Ignored Britain’s Warnings of Impending Invasion
On June 22, 1941, Germany invaded the USSR. It was a move that came as a shock to the Soviets, but less so to the…
Harry Errington: The Only London Fireman to Earn a George Cross for Service in the Blitz
The bombing campaigns of WWII put a massive strain on firefighters. In both Britain and Germany, campaigns of deliberate destruction set cities alight. Not just…
Bill Slim and WWII’s Forgotten Army – One Of The Most Successful Commanders Of The War
One of the greatest military commanders of WWII is usually forgotten in stories of the war. Bill Slim, the British general commanding troops in Burma,…
The First Thousand-Bomber Raid – Changing the WWII Air War
From the start of the Second World War, Britain’s Royal Air Force (RAF) committed themselves to a particular bombing strategy. They believed that, with heavy…
Hugh Seagrim, Who Fought WW2 from Behind Japanese Lines
In the small Karen village of Mewado, Burma, two men stood smoking cigarettes. The owner of the cigarettes, Captain Inoue, was an officer in the…
Japanese-American Soldiers, The Nisei: The Purple Heart Battalion
When Japan bombed Pearl Harbor in 1941, Japanese-Americans became enemy aliens and were sent to internment camps. One responded in a most spectacular way. Daniel…
Medal of Honor – One American’s Daring Escape from German Soldiers In WW2
Typically, the actions for which a man earns the Medal of Honor are the most exciting and frightening of his military career. For Russell Dunham,…