A variant of the US Army Air Forces’ first fighter jet scored the first American jet-versus-jet kill during a dogfight against enemy MiG-15s
The Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star—later redesignated as the F-80—became the first operational jet fighter fielded by the United States Army Air Forces. Although German aircraft…
From poisonous snakes to deadly traps, it seemed like everything in the jungles of Vietnam was trying to kill American troops
Service in the Vietnam War forced American troops to confront far more than combat alone. Alongside enemy attacks and sudden firefights, soldiers struggled against unforgiving…
These warriors dominated the battlefield and gained a reputation as some of the most feared in all military history
Across the ages, conflict has arisen from countless causes, drawing people from all walks of life into the chaos of war—whether through belief, loyalty, survival,…
Three Italians snuck out of a POW camp to climb the second-highest mountain in Africa during World War II
For most prisoners of war, the fear of being captured during an escape—and the harsh punishment that would likely follow—makes the idea of fleeing seem…
Two F-15 Eagle pilots dropped a bomb on a helicopter, scoring a risky air-to-air kill in Iraq
During the air phase of the Gulf War, Coalition aircraft carried out an extensive bombing campaign against Iraqi military and strategic targets. From January 17…
After he was shot down in enemy territory, Brigadier General James Risner survived being held in the brutal “Hanoi Hilton” POW camp for over 7 years
James Robinson “Robbie” Risner was a highly skilled U.S. military pilot, a double recipient of the Air Force Cross, and a hero of both the…
Cpl. Bryan Budd was awarded the Victoria Cross after giving his life to protect wounded soldiers from a Taliban ambush
The Victoria Cross stands as the United Kingdom’s most prestigious military decoration, awarded only to those who demonstrate exceptional valor in combat. Tragically, many recipients…
Nobody knew why the USS San Diego (ACR-6) sank during World War I until researchers made a breakthrough over 100 years later
Shortly before noon on July 19, 1918, tragedy struck the armored cruiser USS San Diego (ACR-6)—originally commissioned as USS California (ACR-6). A sudden, powerful explosion…
Airman First Class John Levitow was awarded the Medal of Honor for saving the crew of an AC-47 despite being struck by more than 40 pieces of shrapnel
John Levitow’s story illustrates that heroism is measured by courage and action rather than position. Raised in humble surroundings, he might never have imagined that…
The sabot round is strong enough to pierce a tank and so deadly that it can liquify its targets
A sabot round destroys armored targets through sheer kinetic force instead of explosive power. The projectile consists of a narrow, extremely dense penetrator surrounded by…
50 years after World War II, a disturbing symbol was discovered in this forest
Hidden within a quiet pine forest near Zernikow in northeastern Germany lies what appears, at ground level, to be an unremarkable stretch of woodland. Surrounded…
Over 60 years after she was lost in the Battle of the Coral Sea, the USS Lexington (CV-2) was discovered nearly 3,000 meters beneath the ocean surface
The USS Lexington (CV-2) was one of the most significant early losses suffered by the U.S. Navy during World War II. As an important part…