An American Pilot’s Improbable Adventure in Occupied France
Joel McPherson's life changed the day he jumped out of his crippled P-47 and parachuted into a foreign land.
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
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.
Freeda Hartzell: That Other ‘Champion Rifle Shot of the World’
Among those to follow in Annie Oakley's footsteps was trick-shooting prodigy Freeda Hartzell.
Death and Honor on Bloody Island
This onetime sandbar in the Mississippi River off St. Louis was the scene of duels between "gentlemen."
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.
America’s Worst Wildfire: The Big Burn of 1910
In the summer of 1910, the largest wildfire in U.S. history ravaged the drought-stricken northern Rockies, burning millions of acres of forest and killing scores of people
Why a Piece of North Carolina is Forever British
When the Battle of the Atlantic neared America's East Coast, a small group of British sailors came to help, with tragic results.
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.
How a Red Army Officer-Turned-Nazi Recruit Made America His Home
Jakob Reimer mastered dodging the past—and passing as an ordinary U.S. citizen.
Memories of Childhood in an American Internment Camp
An 84-year-old man looks back at life inside Minidoka War Relocation Center.
The 10th Mountain Division’s Deadly Uphill Battle in Italy
In 1945, the newly fielded U.S. 10th Mountain Division battled the enemy and the elements in Italy's Northern Apennines.
When Marilyn Monroe Interrupted Her Honeymoon to Go to Korea
In 1954 Marilyn Monroe left her honeymoon with Yankees slugger Joe DiMaggio to entertain the troops in Korea. She later said it was the first time she “felt like a star.”
How a U-Boat Captain’s Criticism of the Nazi Regime Sealed His Fate at the Hands of a Firing Squad
The Navy was considered a place of political independence—but that didn't keep Nazi ideologues and spies from joining its ranks
