Category: Weapons and Technology
Mustang vs. Corsair – Inside the U.S. Navy’s 1944 Match-Up Between the Two Fighters
“In late January and early February 1944, the U.S. Navy conducted a comparison of both airplanes at the Naval Air Station, Patuxent River, Maryland.” By Marc Liebman U.S. ARMY AIR Force pilots who flew the…
Napalm, Tanks and Death Rays — History’s First Attempts at Modern-Day Weaponry
“A number of innovators throughout history who developed early versions of some of today’s more revolutionary fighting machines.” JAN ZIZKA, a 15th century Czech military leader who led a rebellion against the powerful Catholic Church,…
Dogfighting — A Primer on Fighter Combat in World War Two
“Once the fight begins, the outcome is determined by a pilot’s experience in the air, his tactics and the airplane itself.” By Marc Liebman MOST comparisons of aircraft focus on a numerical evaluation, i.e. which…
The F4U Corsair – A Brief History of America’s Legendary Gull-Winged Fighter
“By 1944, the Corsair was being deployed in the Pacific in ever-increasing numbers. Japanese pilots quickly learned to fear it.” By Marc Liebman BETWEEN Grumman and Vought Aircraft, the United States produced two of the…
Floyd Smith – Meet the Maverick Inventor Behind the U.S. Military’s Parachutes of WW2
“By 1942, Smith’s company became the largest producer of nylon parachutes in the world, producing 300 parachutes each day for the U.S. military.” By Aaron Bennett MILITARY AVIATION buffs might not know the name Floyd…
HMS Victorious – Meet the British Aircraft Carrier That Joined the U.S. Navy in WW2
“Without extra carriers, the U.S. Navy would have to stop or postpone offensive operations in the Pacific in 1943. Finding more would be crucial if the Allies hoped to hold on to the initiative in…
