World War II | War History

The Douglas SBD Dauntless Changed the Course of the Second World War In a Single Day

Crewman standing in front of a number of Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers

Throughout the course of the Second World War, the US Navy and Marine Corps flew the Douglas SBD Dauntless, a naval scout aircraft and dive…

The US Army Air Forces Accidentally Dropped Bombs on Boise City, Oklahoma

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress in flight

Accidents happen. Some, however, are far worse than others, such as mistakingly attacking one’s own country during a practice aerial bombing mission. As ridiculous as…

Operation Tonga: 150 British Paratroopers Took the Merville Gun Battery Before D-Day

Four paratroopers standing in front of an aircraft

Then the largest seaborne invasion in history, the D-Day landings were planned down to the last detail. One of the most important parts of this…

USS Missouri (BB-63): American Battleship and Site of the Japanese Surrender

Crowd gathered beside a docked USS Missouri (BB-63)

The USS Missouri (BB-63) was a bit late to the party. Completed in January 1944, she was the last US battleship to enter the action…

Tony Rolt Escaped from POW Camps Seven Times Before Becoming a Successful Racing Driver

Tony Rolt driving a race car around a track

It’s safe to say Tony Rolt’s life after the Second World War was just as impressive as his time overseas. Rolt is best known for…

Bren Light Machine Gun: The British Weapon That Featured Heavily in North Africa

Todd Neikirk
British soldier aiming a Bren light machine gun

The early 20th century featured both massive wars and rapid advances in technology. Among the most prominent and effective weapons to emerge during this time…

MG-42: The German Machine Gun That Mowed Down Enemies On the Battlefield

Todd Neikirk
German soldier lying beside an MG-42

The Second World War was fought with a number of new technologies and weapons. In a conflict this intense, each nation was desperate to get…

The Tragic Fate of the USS Grenadier (SS-210) and Her Crew

Memorial for the USS Grenadier (SS-210)

For over 70 years, nobody knew the fate of the USS Grenadier (SS-210). Struck by a Japanese aircraft, the submarine sank to the bottom of…

S-Mine: Nicknamed ‘Bouncing Betty,’ It Struck Fear Into Allied Soldiers

Samantha Franco
Soldier searching for landmines

The S-mine, originally named the Schrapnellmine, was a German bounding mine used extensively by Wehrmacht troops throughout the Second World War. When detonated, it thrust…

Mitchell Paige: The MoH Recipient Who Took On 2,700 Japanese Soldiers on Guadalcanal

US Marines crossing Lunga River + Military portrait of Mitchell Paige

World War II produced a number of heroes, particularly within the US military. A total of 473 service members were presented with the Medal of…

USS Nevada (BB-36): The Battleship That Survived Pearl Harbor and An Atomic Bomb

USS Nevada (BB-36) at sea

The USS Nevada (BB-36) was the first of a class of two 27,500-ton battleships launched in 1914, rendering all first-generation vessels obsolete. She had a remarkable…

Lionel Crabb: The Mystery Behind the Missing British Frogman

Rosemary Giles
Soviet cruiser Ordzhonikidze at sea + Lionel Crabb wearing a suit

During the Second World War, there were a variety of special units created to deal with threats from enemies both at home and overseas. One…