Written by Carrie and Shaun Tullier have a house with probably the best foundations on Guernsey, in the Channel Islands. It starts with a two-meter-thick slab of reinforced concrete, and below that is a series of over one-meter-wide supporting walls holding up that slab. With that for a base, their home has little chance of ever being … Continue reading “World War II-Era German Bunker Found Beneath Couple’s Home”
During World War II, military engineers weren’t afraid to challenge conventional thinking. While fighters like the F6F Hellcat and P-51 Mustang dominated the skies, another aircraft was quietly being tested that looked like it belonged in science fiction: the Vought V-173, better known as the “Flying Pancake.” With its nearly circular wing and squat profile, … Continue reading “The Navy’s Secret WW2 Weapon for Aircraft Carriers Was a ‘Flying Pancake’”
Renowned author Dr. Vivien “Viv” Newman will be speaking at The Tank Museum on October 29, 2025, as part of a half-term program celebrating women in warfare. Photo Credit: The Tank Museum / Provided Newman is an historian and writer specializing in social history and, in particular, women’s service during World War I. In her … Continue reading “The Tank Museum Shines a Light on Women at War”
Mardi Gras has a reputation for being unstoppable. Even people who’ve never set foot in New Orleans know the basics: parades, music, masks, and a city that seems to run on celebration. Photo Credit: Erika Goldring/ Getty Images But history has a way of interrupting even the most “untouchable” traditions. And on one Mardi Gras … Continue reading “Why Did New Orleans Cancel Mardi Gras? The WWII Mardi Gras Story”
A five-star hotel on the Channel Island of Guernsey has a unique story to tell that took place during its occupation by the German forces in World War II. Andrew Chantrell, general manager of the Old Government House (the OGH) sat down with Geoff Moore to explain how this hotel became a Soldiers’ Home – … Continue reading “Five-Star Hotel in Guernsey was Once for German Soldiers”
Modern military power is measured by stealth and precision, but in 1914, Imperial Russia bet its future on a machine that looked like a steampunk nightmare. The Tsar Tank, a massive iron tricycle, promised to end the stalemate of the Great War. Instead, it became one of the most expensive and immobile “toys” in military … Continue reading “The “Star Wars” Droid of 1915: Why Russia’s Giant Tsar Tank Failed Before It Fought”
A series of holiday beaches in Devon, in the United Kingdom, were once vital training grounds that contributed to the success of D-Day. This is popular excursion destination in the west country, that plays host to surfers, beachgoers and sun worshipers alike, told a very different story during World War II. North Devon Maritime Museum. … Continue reading “Devon’s Wartime History and Its Role in D-Day”
In 1932, Australia aimed machine guns at “swarms” of emus—and learned a truth that modern drone warfare keeps repeating: cheap, fast, scattered targets can make powerful tools look clumsy. Photo Credit: Wazee Digital/ Wikimedia Commons If you ever wanted proof that war is sometimes less “glory” and more “please make this problem go away,” Australia’s … Continue reading “The Great Emu War: Australia’s 1932 Lesson for Drone-Swarm Warfare”
Two German-built tanks will be attending the world’s biggest display of historic moving armour this coming June. Nicknamed the Nashorn “Phoenix” after restoration was delayed by a devastating fire, a World War II-era German “Tank Hunter” will be running for the first time in the United Kingdom at TANKFEST 2026. Photo Credit: Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-279-0950-09 … Continue reading “The First Guests Have Been Announced for TANKFEST 2026”
Modern military logistics rely on massive cargo planes like the C-17 to transport armor, but in 1942, the Soviet Union attempted something far more daring. Long before Hollywood began dropping tanks out of airplanes with parachutes, Soviet engineer Oleg Antonov decided to simply give the tank wings. The result was the Antonov A-40, known as … Continue reading “The Tank That Flew (Once): The Audacious Failure of the Soviet Antonov A-40”