The Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star was the only American jet fighter that saw action in WWII during secret missions over Italy
The Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star—later redesignated the F-80—holds the distinction of being the first jet fighter to enter combat service with the United States Army…
Widespread misconceptions about the Civil War many people still believe today
The American Civil War stands as one of the most consequential chapters in U.S. history, yet over time it has become entwined with myths that…
The sinking of the HMT Rohna is often overlooked in history books, but it was the deadliest naval incident involving American forces during WWII
Although the December 7, 1941, Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor claimed 1,177 lives aboard the USS Arizona (BB‑39), it’s important to note that the battleship was…
Using boxes, suitcases, and even coffins, Irena Sendler helped smuggle 2,500 children from the Warsaw Ghetto during the Holocaust, saving them from certain death
True courage in wartime is not confined to soldiers on the front lines. Countless civilians risked their lives through acts of quiet defiance and selfless…
Operation Bodenplatte, the German air force’s last chance to make a meaningful strike on the Allies, failed miserably because of inexperienced pilot and poor strategic planning
At the height of the Battle of the Bulge, Germany set Operation Bodenplatte into motion—an ambitious strike designed to cripple Allied control of the skies…
On their way home for Christmas after a peacekeeping mission in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, 236 members of the Screaming Eagles lost their lives in an aviation disaster
On December 12, 1985, tragedy struck the 101st Airborne Division when Arrow Air Flight 1285 crashed moments after takeoff from Gander International Airport in Newfoundland.…
The U.S. Air Force raised suspicion when a highly advanced jet crash-landed in Sequoia National Forest during the Cold War
In July 1986, an F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter crashed in California’s Sequoia National Forest, prompting a rapid and highly classified recovery effort by the U.S.…
The USS Northampton (CC-1) and USS Wright (CC-2) were converted into emergency floating command stations, or ‘Doomsday Ships’, during the Cold War
Amid the rising Cold War tensions of the 1960s, U.S. officials grew increasingly concerned that a surprise nuclear strike could wipe out national leadership and…
Despite 200-300 enemy casualties, zero American casualties were reported following the Battle of Khasham, the first confrontation between U.S. and Russian forces since the Cold War era
At the beginning of Operation Inherent Resolve, coalition troops were thrust into a fierce and unforeseen clash near the Syrian town of Khasham. A sizeable…
While they were battling the enemy in Vietnam, soldiers were also up against snakes, aggressive insects, and even tigers
Vietnam’s unforgiving landscape proved every bit as formidable as the enemy. American troops contended not only with ambushes and constant gunfire but with an environment…
The world’s abandoned military bases that are slowly fading into obscurity
Once bustling hubs of defense and strategy, many military bases eventually fade into obscurity as wars end and new technologies render their missions obsolete. These…
During the Vietnam War, Operation Ranch Hand had an equally devastating effect on American soldiers and the enemy
From 1962 to 1971, the U.S. military carried out Operation Ranch Hand under directives first approved by President John F. Kennedy. The campaign was designed…