planes | War History

The Destruction of Zeppelin L-15 IN WWI

The anti-aircraft guns worked well. The first zeppelin felled in defense of the United Kingdom succumbed shortly after the emplacement of the anti-aircraft guns. The…

The American Doolittle Raid And The Brutal Japanese Reprisals

Jay Hemmings

“they shot any man, woman, child, cow, hog, or just about anything that moved. Before burning the town they thoroughly looted it.” The Japanese attack…

The WW2 Fighter Ace Who Broke the Sound Barrier in Secret

Yeager almost didn’t survive his first few combat missions in which he flew a P-51 Mustang. Shortly after he got his first confirmed aerial kill,…

Warrior of Skies That Downed 352 Allied Aircraft, The Worlds Greatest Flying Ace

Despite his cavalier attitude and lack of discipline, Hartmann’s training officers realized that he was an immensely talented pilot, and tolerated his behavior. 352 confirmed…

Victoria Cross Hero’s WWI Airplane Propeller Found Under A Bed!

Ian Harvey

Von Richthofen also crashed in the incident but survived, allowing German propaganda to suggest he had shot down one of Britain’s most beloved fighter pilots.…

Flying Coffins! – The Top Ten Worst Aircraft of WWII

With a high speed of 596 mph and a climb rate of 11,810 ft per minute, the Komet was considered a technological marvel. Making a…

The Flying Rhino: The Mach 1.8 F/A-18 Super Hornet

Jay Hemmings

With a range of around 500 miles when fully loaded for a mission, the Super Hornet has an effective range that is just over 40%…

From Booze to Bombs: The Beer Carrying Spitfires of WWII

To prepare for a beer run, the fuel tanks attached to the pylons would be steam cleaned by ground crews. The tanks would then be…

Why WERE WWII Aircraft Painted With Camouflage Patterns?

One rather striking detail that is immediately noticeable about many WWII combat aircraft, regardless of which nation fielded them, is the fact that they were…

How Ingenuity, Skill & The Humble Sandbag Saved a Squadron of Hurricanes

None of the pilots of No. 46 had trained in carrier flight operations, and the Hurricanes lacked arrestor hooks. They would try anyway! Ingenuity and…

300 VS 2,000: The Magnificent Charge Of The British Heavy Brigade At Balaclava

Jay Hemmings

When Scarlett and his three hundred cavalrymen crashed into the midst of the Russians, it was like a tornado had hit them. The battle of…

The Axis Dakotas of WWII

Conan White

Near the end of the war, about 20 L2Ds were built with non-critical parts constructed from wood instead of metal due material shortages. 1935 to…