The Soviet Union lasted a mere sixty-nine years (the Spitfire has been flying longer), but in that time produced some of the largest, fastest, toughest and most agile aircraft. Even now, 25 years after its collapse, almost all Russian and Ukrainian aircraft have their roots in the communist super state. Favoring clever robust design over…
Tag: Military History
Military History: 10 of the Most Insane Military Disguises That Worked
Modern militaries use relatively standard camouflage patterns and netting to try to hide themselves from prying forces, but not all camouflage and disguise is so boring. Some military disguises that actually worked were outlandish and ridiculous. 10. Israeli Commandos Fooled Sentries By Cross-Dressing In 1973, Israel launched Operation Spring of Youth as part of a…
Profiles in Courage: “He Was One Of Us”
Not sure if any of you caught this story last night on ABC News, but it was a good’un. It is stories like this that as a historian and veteran, I absolutely love to learn about, mostly because you won’t find it in any official history books. I did some digging and found this amazing…
World War I History: You Can Thank World War I Veterans For Making the Wristwatch Popular
After World War I, an entire generation of battle-hardened veterans came home sporting military-issued ‘trench watches,’ or wristwatches as we know them today. Essential for keeping track of time and much more practical than pocket watches for troops in the trenches or flying aircraft, ‘trench watches’ became a “newly endowed emblem of masculinity, modernity, and First…
Cold War Files: America’s “Secret War” and The Most Bombed Country in History
Christine Boyle’s store, Queen Design Lao, offers rings, necklaces and pendants to shoppers along Luang Prabang’s quaint peninsula. Most of the trinkets resemble normal jewelry, but the miniature cluster bombs on some chains in the friendly Aussie’s shop are less subtle. Known as “peace jewelry,” the necklaces sport metal harvested from unexploded bombs, a reminder…
Cold War Files: The Confusing Times of the Six Day War
During the Six Day War pitting Israel against its Arab neighbors in 1967, Americans were thrust into the crisis — even though they weren’t directly involved in the fighting. After Israel pre-emptively attacked Egyptian forces on June 5, 1967, much of the Arab world came to Cairo’s aid. Recently-declassified messages describe American fliers handling their own chaotic…
Military History: 10 Misconceptions About Famous Historical Wars and Armies
Wars and the armies that fight them are one of the most fascinating subjects to the human race. Conquest has shaped and reshaped the globe many times, and great wars will continue to alter the future course of humanity. However, while humanity loves to study and learn about wars, many of the most accepted facts…
Military History: The Amazing Legacy of Military Aviation Legend Chuck Meyers
Chuck Myers Was a ‘Fighter Mafia’ Legend He helped pioneer nimble air-superiority fighters, the A-10 Warthog and played a pivotol role in bringing back the battleship Charles E. “Chuck” Myers, a valued and colorful member of the military reform movement and “Fighter Mafia” co-conspirator, died on May 9 at the age of 91. He devoted…
Obscure Weapons: The 1898 Schwarzlose Pistol
A Pistol So Far Ahead of it’s Time Most Customers Rejected It Schwarzlose is a name that most will associate with the M1907 medium machine gun that the Austro-Hungarian army used in World War I. But there’s another Schwarzlose gun. In 1898, Andreas Wilhelm Schwarzlose completed a truly advanced pistol design that was well ahead…
Military History: 71st Anniversary of The Darby Legacy
Col. Darby, the original commander of the Army Rangers, will never be forgotten thanks to this bronze statue unveiled in his hometown. This past weekend marked the 71st anniversary of the death of Col. William O. Darby, the original commander of the U.S. Army Rangers. On Saturday, April 30, Darby’s life was commemorated in Fort…