How B-52 Bombers shot down enemy fighter jets in Vietnam
The air war over Vietnam saw some incredible dog fights, but it still may surprise you to learn that the mighty B-52 heavy bomber successfully shot down not one but…
These WWII bombers were converted into gunships
The idea of putting weapons on aircraft to strike ground targets is not a new one. Although the concept has culminated in the deadly AC-130 gunship today, it was employed…
How the Allies used math to save bomber crews during WWII
When retelling stories of war, our focus tends to fall where the action was. Tales of battlefield bravery have been around for as long as there has been language and battlefields, but securing victory over a powerful foe requires more than the stren…
Today in military history: The B-52 BUFF makes its first test flight
The B-52 Stratofortress, also known as the Big Ugly Fat F*cker, or BUFF, first flew all the way back on April 15, 1952. Yeah, that’s right. Today, the B-52 is…
That one time Eisenhower lost a B-17 bomber in a bet
The liberation of Sfax, Tunisia on April 10, 1943 was a joyous occasion for nearly everyone involved. The Allies gained an important Mediterranean port, the Tunisians in the city were liberated, and British Lt. Gen. Bernard Montgomery won a B-17 bo…
The ‘Idiot’s Loop’ was a mid-air backflip done by nuclear bombers
The biggest problem facing bomber pilots during the Cold War was the fact that they were dropping massive nuclear bombs, bombs that could easily engulf their planes in a ball…
Why American bombers in WWII wore bright colors, stripes and polka dots
It’s difficult to imagine being a bomber pilot in World War II, especially these days, with the technological innovations that are an inherent part of being a U.S. military pilot….
This WWII program was more expensive than the Manhattan Project
The Manhattan Project, America’s nuclear bomb program, was one of the most expensive research and development undertakings of WWII. In total, the program cost about $2 billion, or nearly $30…
The Navy’s first World War II ace shot down five bombers on a single mission
Lieutenant Edward “Butch” O’Hare’s Grumman F4F Wildcat fighter carried about 30-40 seconds worth of ammunition. He was one of two Wildcats held in reserve as the rest of his squadron…
These 7 old warhorses of the sky just refuse to retire
There’s an old saying: “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
That definitely seems to be the philosophy used by many countries around the world in retaining large numbers of older aircraft as the mainstays of their air forces.
Fi…