After the liberation of France, women accused of “horizontal collaboration” faced harsh punishments
When France was liberated in 1944, foreign press agencies captured the aftermath through photographs. Among these were images of thousands of French women having their…
The Northrop YF-23 almost beat the F-22 Raptor as the replacement for the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle
Northrop, later merged into Northrop Grumman, built a strong reputation as one of North America’s leading military aircraft manufacturers, known for advanced and unconventional designs.…
Academy Award-winning actor George Kennedy’s portrayal of Gen. George Patton was so good because he served under him at the Battle of the Bulge
George Kennedy’s authoritative on-screen presence was shaped not only by his performance skills but also by years of genuine military service. Before becoming widely known…
After their submarine ran out of fuel 100 miles from shore, the crew of the USS R-14 (SS-91) turned her into a sailboat
In May 1921, the USS R-14 (SS-91)—a World War I–era submarine—was left in a dangerous predicament when contaminated seawater spoiled her fuel supply, stranding it…
How did an RAF engineer with no flight experience end up taking off in an English Electric Lightning?
Acts of heroism within the Royal Air Force are not limited to pilots in the air. Ground engineer Walter Holden was responsible for the upkeep…
Lee Van Cleef got famous for playing villains in classic Western movies, but he was actually a WWII hero
Before Lee Van Cleef became an iconic presence in Hollywood Westerns, recognized for his piercing stare and commanding demeanor, he had already experienced the realities…
Germany planned to invade Switzerland during World War II, but never went through with it because of this
During World War II, Switzerland maintained a strict policy of neutrality, avoiding direct involvement even as much of Europe was engulfed in war. Swiss leaders,…
During World War II, the British tried to build an aircraft carrier out of ice
The Battle of the Atlantic was the longest continuous military campaign of World War II, spanning years of intense naval warfare across the Atlantic Ocean. Throughout…
Stage actress Pauline Cushman became a valuable spy for the Union during the American Civil War
While Pauline Cushman did not attain significant success as an actress, she became known for her work as a Union spy during the Civil War.…
The M50 Ontos, nicknamed the “Thing,” was used by the US Marine Corps in Vietnam, but ultimately failed because its armor was too thin
In the early 1950s, the United States military began exploring the idea of a lightweight tank destroyer that could be delivered by air to the…
Nobody knew that Bea Arthur served with the US Marine Corps during World War II until after her death
Years before establishing herself as a television star, Bea Arthur followed a path far removed from the entertainment industry. One lesser-known chapter of her life…
Even after the Armistice was signed, the soldiers on the front lines of World War I continued to fight
The conclusion of World War I was considerably more complicated than it is often presented in simplified historical accounts. For the Allied powers, victory over…