Flakpanzer Gepard: A Cold War-Era Anti-Aircraft Gun That Continues to See Use
In May 1955, nearly a decade after the end of the Second World War, West Germany joined NATO. Reacting to the decision, the Soviet Union…
John Wheeler and the Missing Papers That Nearly Sparked a Cold War Catastrophe
Even the most brilliant people on the planet can sometimes be a bit absent-minded. John Wheeler certainly fit this category. The theoretical physicist is credited…
Wilbert “Doug” Pearson Is the Only Pilot to Have Scored an Air-to-Space Kill
On September 13, 1985, the US Air Force made history. On this day, the first air-to-space missile was launched, successfully destroying an orbiting satellite. Powerful…
CIM-10 Bomarc: The First Operational Long-Range SAM Ever Developed
The United States was in a strange position following the end of the Second World War. Not only was this an era that saw rapid…
Operation Northwoods: America’s Proposed Cold War False Flag Operation
The Cold War was unlike any other time in US history. The Soviet Union had become a threat to democracy and the ideals Americans held…
The US Air Force Once Tried Landing Bombers On Tank Treads – It Didn’t End Well
Tanks are invaluable military assets, as are heavy bombers. Combining the two should be a winning combination… Right? As the US Air Force learned, the…
Highways Across the World Are Built for Warplanes to Land on Them
Typically, an aircraft landing on a highway would indicate a serious problem, perhaps a mechanical issue or medical emergency with one of the pilots… That…
The M1 Helmet Both Protected and Posed a Risk to Soldiers on the Front
Helmets were first introduced to American soldiers in 1917, as a way of protecting servicemen from suffering head trauma while fighting in Europe. One of the…
T-72: The Soviet-Era Tank That Continues to Serve the Russian Armed Forces
Written by Lis Edwards and Clare Fitzgerald. During the height of the Cold War, the Soviet Union was looking to develop a better tank, as…
Atomic Annie: The Cold War-Era Cannon Capable of Firing a Nuclear Warhead
Toward the start of the Cold War, the United States government looked into developing atomic weapons capable of launching an attack on the Soviet Union,…
The Secret Military Plans Switzerland Put In Place to Survive the Cold War
Switzerland has long been considered one of the most neutral countries in the world, having always endeavored to avoid war. That resistance to conflict, however,…
A Shark Wreaked Havoc on the US Navy’s Nuclear Submarine Fleet
There are a number of reasons why submarines have been taken out of commission while scouring the depths of the ocean. These include hitting sea…