“Last to Die,” 75 Years Ago: Last American Killed in Combat in World War II
August 18 marks the 75th anniversary of the death of the last American service member killed in combat in World War II.
A Closer Look at the F-8E Crusader
A closer look at the F-8E Crusader, the last U.S. fighter plane with guns as its primary armament.
Warplanes of a Different Stripe
A tragic 1943 friendly fire incident in Sicily prompted development of aircraft identification markings that saved countless lives on D-Day
Northrop’s Radical Flying Wing Bomber of the 1940s
Jack Northrop dreamed big with his futuristic flying wing, but the radical bomber proved too great a technological leap for his company to bridge in the late 1940s.
First Female Ace: Lydia Litvyak
Soviet Air Forces Sr. Lt. Lydia Vladimirovna Litvyak, known as the “White Lily of Stalingrad," was history’s first female fighter ace.
Sitting Ducks Over Normandy: A C-47 Pilot Remembers D-Day
A C-47 pilot gives his son a firsthand look at the dangerous missions he flew in flak-filled skies on D-Day and beyond.
The Forgotten Story of Midway’s Marine Defenders
Outnumbered and outgunned, the Marine pilots of VMF-221 paid a heavy price for their heroic efforts to stem the Japanese onslaught on Midway Atoll.
Lindbergh’s Path to Glory and Everlasting Fame
Before he gained a worldwide reputation as "Lucky Lindy," Charles A. Lindbergh developed a solid repertoire of aviation skills.
Dragon Lady Down: Crazy Night Landing in a U-2 Spyplane
Republic of China Air Force Major “Mike” Hua pulled off a nighttime dead-stick landing in an early U-2
60-Year-Old U-2 Spyplane Still Seeks Out the Enemy
Sixty years after its introduction, Lockheed’s U-2 spyplane continues to serve as America’s eyes in the sky over distant battlefields.
How the B-25 Became the Ultimate Strafer of World War II
Armed to the teeth with machine guns and a 75mm cannon, B-25s played a key role in World War II as low-level bombers and strafers.
How Civil War Weather Forecasting Changed Future Conflicts
Surgeons kept temperature, pressure, wind speed, and humidity records—but they didn't know what to do with the data
Giving the Machine Gun Wings
On April 1, 1915, Roland Garros took off in a Morane-Saulnier L from an airfield in northern France, planning to play an April Fool’s Day trick on the Germans.
How the German Air Force Rebuilt After World War II
In the aftermath of WWII, Germany turned to former Luftwaffe officers to rebuild its air force under NATO and help counter the Soviet threat.
Perfect Trap: The Godfather of Naval Aviation
Remarkable career of naval aviation pioneer Frederick “Trap” Trapnell encompassed biplanes, airships, WWII fighters, research planes and early carrier jets.
