Today in military history: German airship Hindenburg crashes
On May 6, 1937, the German airship Hindenburg burst into flames while attempting to moor after a trans-Atlantic flight. Billed as the largest airship ever built — nearly the size…
This Civil War soldier survived the worst maritime disaster in U.S. history
John Harrison Simpson was just 16 when he enlisted in the 3rd Tennessee Cavalry (Federal), Company I in 1863. Lying about his age to enlist, Simpson was joined by his…
5 of the most unlucky events in the history of warfare
Battle planners can draw out every detail of every movement of every plan of every strategy they can conceive and still lose. There are just some events in history that…
That time a pilot survived an ejection at Mach 3
Supersonic ejections are dangerous — and the faster the flight the worse it is.
They’re so dangerous that pilots are trained to ride out a failing plane for as long as possible, lowering their speed and altitude to more manageable lev…
Is COVID-19 over yet? 4 horrible events that went faster than the pandemic
Here we are, on quarantine day X-teenth, wondering when the world will once again open. Some states have already announced that certain businesses are open with restrictions, but for the overwhelming majority of the United States, we’re still opera…
You can soon sail on the Titanic II, here’s how that could end in disaster
Long ago, ancient Greeks told the tale of the titan, Atlas, who once tried to defy Zeus. He failed spectacularly and, for his hubris, was doomed to carry the sky for eternity as punishment. Later, Atlas tried to defy the gods once more by attempting…