Topic

Wars, Conflict & Heroes

A collection of 85 issues

The Canadian Mountain Named After a Tyrant: Why 'Mount Stalin' Lasted Until 1987

From 1944 to 1987, a peak in British Columbia was named Mount Stalin to honor a WWII ally. This article explores why the name was given and why, despite the Cold War and knowledge of his tyranny, bureaucratic inertia and the mountain's remoteness caused the name to persist for decades.

5,000 Meters Deep: The Cold War's Lost Thermonuclear Bomb in the Philippine Sea

In 1965, a US Navy A-4E Skyhawk carrying a B43 thermonuclear bomb rolled off the USS Ticonderoga and sank in the Philippine Sea. The pilot, plane, and bomb were never recovered and now rest 16,000 feet deep, a secret held from the public until 1989.

The Dictator on the CIA's Payroll: Manuel Noriega's Betrayal and the US Invasion of Panama

Manuel Noriega, the Panamanian dictator captured in a US invasion, was a long-time CIA asset. For years, he received up to $200,000 annually from the US for intelligence while simultaneously collaborating with drug cartels. This tangled web of convenience and crime ultimately led to his downfall.

The Man Who Lived the Escape but Wasn't 'Heroic Enough' for the Movie

WWII POW Peter Butterworth helped orchestrate the famous 'Wooden Horse' escape from Stalag Luft III. When auditioning for the 1950 film adaptation, he was rejected for a part because the casting director felt he didn't look 'heroic or athletic enough' for the role.

The Shocking Secret of Panko: How a WWII Military Invention Created Japan's Crispiest Crumb

Panko, the famously crispy Japanese breadcrumb, has a shocking origin. It's made from special crustless bread baked by passing electricity directly through the dough—a technique invented by the Japanese army during WWII to covertly bake bread for soldiers in the field using tank batteries.

The Day the Sky Fell: When China's Air Force Bombed the Forbidden City

In July 1917, the fledgling Chinese Air Force bombed the Forbidden City to crush a coup restoring 11-year-old Emperor Puyi. The raid, using a Caudron biplane, caused minimal damage but effectively ended the last attempt to reinstate the Qing Dynasty.

Miracle at Cabanatuan: The Forgotten WWII Rescue Mission That Succeeded Against All Odds

In January 1945, US Army Rangers and Filipino guerrillas executed a daring raid 30 miles behind enemy lines to rescue over 500 POWs from the Cabanatuan camp. A fighter plane's brilliant diversion ensured the mission's stunning success, making it one of history's greatest rescues.

From a Fiery Box to Freedom: The Incredible True Story of Clarissa Davis

In 1854, an enslaved woman named Clarissa Davis orchestrated a daring escape from Virginia. Disguised as a man and aided by an ally, she spent 75 days in hiding before being nailed into a box and shipped to freedom aboard a steamship, enduring a fiery ordeal to reunite with her family.