planes | War History

The “Forgotten Blitz” In WW2 That Left Hundreds Dead And Thousands Homeless

During World War Two, Britain found itself facing the threat of air raids. German bomber planes would fly above cities and attempt to destroy factories contributing…

These Two Pilots Were Off-Duty When The Japanese Struck At Pearl Harbor – They Leaped Into Action And Fought Back

The nuances of military history are often lost to the passage of time, as are the men who could give first-hand accounts.  As much as…

How The Stringbag, an Outdated Biplane, Took Out the Gigantic Battleship Bismarck in the Second World War

The German battleship, Bismarck, was one of the biggest vessels ever built in the first half of the 20th century. A marvel of advanced engineering…

The Japanese Tried A Second Raid On Pearl Harbor – It Was Not A Success

Everyone knows about the first bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Less well known, however, was the second attack. And there was almost a third……

Air America – Run By The CIA, This Controversial Covert Airline Was Used Extensively During The Vietnam War

The United States has lots of airlines: American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, etc. One airline most people have not heard of is Air…

Richard Bong, USA’s Legendary Ace Of Aces, Died During A Test Flight

The names that line the pages of history are many in number – the lengthy lists of men and women who fought, who died, who…

After Pearl Harbor, A Japanese Pilot Crash-Landed On A Hawaiian Island And Tried to Occupy It

In 1941, a lone Japanese pilot tried to capture the Hawaiian island of Ni’ihau. The natives responded by holding a luau for him. Though part…

The Japanese Tried A Second Raid On Pearl Harbor – It Was Not A Success

Everyone knows about the first bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Less well known, however, was the second attack. And there was almost a third……

Against All The Odds – The First Mission To Bomb Japan After Pearl Harbor

Sometime, war is no different than your average street fight regardless of how crude that might seem. When a man is punched in the nose,…

John Glenn, Inspirational Astronaut And Senator Who Flew Combat Missions In Korea And World War Two

John Glenn, born July 18, 1921, was the oldest living former U.S. senator until his death on December 8. Before his 25-year career in the…

He Parachuted Out Of His Crippled B-24 Then Killed The Enemy Pilot With A Head Shot From A Pistol

The following story may or may not be true, but the US Army Air Force (USAAF) believes it is. It is about a man who…

The Largest Wingspan Of Any Aircraft In History – The Colossal H-4 Hercules

It is the biggest plane ever built – standing more than five stories tall, with a wingspan longer than a football field. Able to carry…