On April 1945, the Luftwaffe, desperate to resupply trapped German forces in Berlin, created operations using gliders to fly supplies. These were one-way missions for unfortunate pilots. Dire Situation At this point, Berlin’s resupply situation was dire, and the defenders needed regular resupply of ammunition and other supplies to maintain their defense until help arrived […] More
During an engagement in the Battle of Kursk in 1943, one Tiger tank singlehandedly took down 50 Soviet T-34s in an unforgettable battle. The Battle of Kursk The Battle of Kursk was supposedly a battle that would change Germany’s fortunes on the Eastern Front. Both sides threw everything at each other in a struggle, but […] More
Named after a deck of cards, “Extra Joker” was a B-24 assigned to the 451st Bomb Group based in Italy in the summer of 1944. Extra Joker and her crew flew plenty of sorties for two months until August 23, 1944. A Rule Change That morning, the 451st was assigned to bomb an industrial target […] More
In this video, we’re going to take a look at three Junkers designs, the Ju90, 290, and 390, and why they failed. Design Origins The story of the Junkers giant goes back to the Ju, which itself is an enlarged version of the Ju89 bomber. This was a mid-1939 contender for the so-called ‘Ural Bomber’ […] More
Soviet pilot pilot S. Kuzniecov was flying his Ilyushin Il-2 Sturmovik back from a mission when he was engaged with Messerschmidt fighters. A fierce dogfight ensued, and the pilot was shot down from the sky. As the Sturmovik went down, one of the German pilots decided to land, finish off the Soviet pilot, and maybe […] More
How good do you have to be for Adolf Hitler to put a bounty over your head? King of Hollywood At first glance, the connection between Adolf Hitler and Clark Gable might appear puzzling. Gable, a prominent actor known for his charismatic on-screen presence, portrayed characters with strong moral compasses that resonated with viewers – […] More
There’s no denying that the introduction of drones in modern combat has significantly altered the landscape of war. However, you’ll be surprised that no drone is as feared as the DI Mavic- this tiny commercial drone has managed to outshine even the most advanced drones in the world. It was also crucial to the mission […] More
From the Caliban Rising Channel, Phil Hawes discusses his thoughts on how significant the Mustang was on the ETO and whether its arrival revolutionized the air battle against the Luftwaffe. The P-51 Mustang The Mustang is considered one of the greatest fighters of its generation. This long-range fighter and fighter bomber dominated the skies during […] More
The F-4 Phantom II had gained a fearsome reputation as a highly capable multirole fighter aircraft. It was known for its speed, maneuverability, and advanced weapons systems, making it a formidable asset in the U.S. Air Force and Navy. However, an incident that happened on May 10, 1972, would expose vulnerabilities in the F-4’s design […] More
Vasily Emelianenko’s entire united Ilyushin Il-2 Sturmovik ground attack had just decimated an entire German-controlled airfield in Easter Ukraine. In retaliation, Storm Birds rained hell on the rows of Luftwaffe aircraft. Emelianenko’s engine was shot. He made a brief landing on the open terrain and ran into the woods before a German sniper could pick […] More
The Dornier Do 17 is an aircraft that was nicknamed after its looks, often called the Flying Pencil because of its slim fuselage and tail. It would eventually earn a reputation of being an excellent low-altitude, high-speed, strike aircraft, not quite something you’d immediately link with a twin-engine bomber of this period. First Appearance This […] More
What would happen if the deadliest fighter aircraft ever built went back in time to participate in the First World War? Generations Ahead With a thunderous roar, the F-22 would announce its presence above the trenches of war-torn Europe. And with the ability to supercruise without afterburners, the F-22’s supersonic boom would have left hundreds […] More
