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Classic Hollywood Actors Who Served During World War I

Post author By trameditor
Post date November 20, 2023
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While it was still a relatively new phenomenon, Hollywood studios were cranking out film after film during the 1920s and ’30s. As a result, many of the Silver Screen’s earliest actors had served in World War I. The following is a list of the most famous, and their legacies continue to endure a century later.

Bill “Bojangles” Robinson

Kicking off our list of actors who served in World War I is Bill “Bojangles” Robinson. Prior to the conflict, he’d served with the US Army as a rifleman in the Spanish-American War, during which he was accidentally shot by a second lieutenant cleaning his gun.

When the First World War broke out, Robinson was already a major star on the vaudeville circuit, having been one of the first performers to break the medium’s “two-colored rule,” which banned solo acts by African-Americans. Despite his fame, he volunteered to perform free of charge for the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) as part of the War Department’s Liberty Theatres at training camps. His efforts afforded him a commendation in 1918.

Randolph Scott

Randolph Scott was born into a wealthy family on January 23, 1898. His father was the first licensed certified public accountant in North Carolina, while his mother was from a well-to-do family.

In 1917, following the US entering World War I, the future actor enlisted in the North Carolina National Guard. He trained as an artillery observer, and, in May 1918, entered active duty with the 2nd Trench Mortar Battalion at Fort Monroe, Virginia. He was subsequently deployed to France, where he fought alongside the IV Corps in Toul and Thiaucourt-Regniéville.

Following the signing of the Armistice, Scott and the 2nd Trench Mortar Battalion took part in the Allied occupation of Germany, after which he enrolled in Officer Candidate School (OCS). He subseqeuntly received a commission as a second lieutenant of the Field Artillery Branch and returned to the US, where he reported to Camp Mills, New York and was honorably discharged.

Scott later credited his time in the US military with aiding in the success of his acting career – in particular, his ability to properly use mock firearms and ride on horseback. After appearing in stage productions, he broke into the film scene in the 1930s. From then on, he became one of the most bankable Western stars in Hollywood, in part because his six-foot, two-inch stature and intense features leant themselves to the strong, silent type.

Bela Lugosi

Bela Lugosi was born Béla Ferenc Dezső Blaskó on October 20, 1882 in Lugos, Hungary. Following some time spent performing in stage shows, the actor volunteered with the 43rd Royal Hungarian Infantry Regiment and served during World War I.

Serving with the Austro-Hungarian Army between 1914-16, he was stationed along the Eastern Front, where he rose to the rank of lieutenant. He and his fellow servicemen frequently engaged with the Russians, and he suffered various injuries during combat. The first occurred while fighting in Rohatyn, while the second later led to him receiving the Wound Medal. He was discharged a year later for “mental collapse,” having served 16 months.

Spencer Tracy

Spencer Tracy was born in 1900 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. A hyperactive child who had difficulties in school, he found himself obsessed with films and acting – so much so that this influenced his later career path.

Unlike some other actors on this list, Tracy didn’t see action during World War I. As he was still relatively young when the conflict broke out, he wasn’t of age to be deployed. That didn’t mean, however, that he didn’t try to do his part, albeit “for a chance to go and see some excitement.”

Humphrey Bogart

Humphrey Bogart was born to a very wealthy family in New York City on December 25, 1899. He was a terrible student with discipline issues, so had little choice but to enlist in the US Navy in the spring of 1918. The future actor spent the latter years of World War I as a coxswain. He’s said to have been a model sailor, who spent time after the conflict ferrying troops back to the US. He subsequently left the service in June 1919 as a boatswain’s mate third class.

When the Second World War broke out, Bogart attempted to re-enlist, but was denied due to his age (he was in his early 40s at the time). Still determined to do his part, he volunteered with the US Coast Guard Temporary Reserve and patroled the California coastline in his yacht, the Santana.

Buster Keaton

Buster Keaton was born into a vaudeville family in Piqua, Kansas on October 4, 1895. By the time he was three years old, he was already performing alongside them, an experience which later afforded him the reputation for being the silent film era’s brightest.

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World War 1

From the Scythians to Russia: The Use of Scorched Earth Tactics in War

Post author By trameditor
Post date November 20, 2023
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Scorched earth tactics have been used nearly as long as armies have conducted military campaigns. While the practice is less common in modern times, it has seen recent use, most notably during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here’s its history and some of its most notable uses, including during World War II and in Vietnam.

Ancient use of scorched earth tactics

Before one can discuss the use of scorched earth policies, it must be understood what such tactics entail. In general, a scorched earth policy is a strategy which aims to destroy anything that may be of use to the enemy, whether that be natural resources, military equipment – even local citizens. While the latter was banned under the 1977 Geneva Convention, the destruction of resources remains a key strategy for some warring nations.

The Scythians were the first to use the scorched earth tactic. Nomadic herders from what is now Kazakhstan, Russia and Ukraine, they did battle against the Persians and Darius the Great. To gain the upper hand, they moved in secret, destroying the Persians’ food and poisoning their wells. Before their opponents could figure out what happened, they would retreat back into the forest.

Use of scorched earth tactics up until the 19th century

As society entered the medieval period, scorched earth tactics continued to grow in popularity. Viking chieftan Hastein used the policy during the Great Viking Invasion of England in 893, and its use continued with the Harrying of the North in 1069. During this, William the Conquerer quelled a rebellion in Northern England in the most brutal way imaginable. His men burnt down the majority of the villages, killed livestock and destroyed food stores.

The villagers who survived the initial attack resorted to cannibalism.

Artist's rendition of William the Conquerer

During the Hundred Years’ War, both the French and English made use of scorched earth tactics, as did Mircea the Elder against the Ottoman Empire in 1395. Prince Stephen III of Moldavia did the same during the Ottoman advance in 1475-76.

As society progressed into the early modern era, armies continued their use of the scorched earth strategy. The most famous use of it during this time was in Ireland during the Desmond Rebellions in the mid-to-late 1500s, when the majority of the province of Munster was destroyed.

This conflict was followed by others across Europe, including the Wallachian-Ottoman Wars and the Nine Years’ War.

Scorched earth tactics were also used outside of Europe. In India, the Chandellas used the strategy while under attack by Mahmud of Ghazni between 1019-22. Fast forward to the 17th century, when Shivaji Maharaj, founder of the Maratha Empire, also used the strategy. He did, however, have some ground rules. His forces were expected to burn down cities, but were ordered to not rape or injure civilians, nor disrespect any religious institutes.

Mararaj’s son, Sambhaji, continued these practices, making him widely despised among the enemy Mughals. In 1689, Sambhaji was captured by Muqarrab Khan, the leader of the Mughal Army. He and his soldiers were particularly angry with the three-day assault following the Battle of Burhanpur. Sambhaji was charged with casual torture, arson, looting and massacre and subsequently put to death.

The Napoleonic Wars and the American Civil War

The two most notable instances of scorched earth tactics being used in the 19th century occurred during the Napoleonic Wars and the American Civil War. Throughout the course of the Napoleonic Wars, those countries that were invaded often resorted to a scorched earth strategy, destroying food supplies to hinder the movement and success of the invading forces.

Artist's rendition of the Battle of Somosierra

One of the most famous examples of the scorched earth policy occurred during the American Civil War. Close to victory toward the end of 1864, Union Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman used such tactics to break the Confederacy’s will. Beginning in Atlanta on November 15, he and his soldiers spent a month burning down everything in sight, during an event known as the March to the Sea.

The only towns spared were Charleston, South Carolina and Savannah, Georgia.

Artist's rendition of Union soldiers destroying a railroad

Sherman estimated his campaign cost the South $100 million. He also made refugees of those living in the areas his men decimated. These individuals were given plots of land to replace their damaged properties. Sherman has long been reviled in the South, but his actions helped to break the Confederacy and win the war for the Union forces.

Scorched earth tactics during the World Wars

The use of scorched earth tactics primarily occurred on the Eastern Front during World War I, but they were also used on the Western Front. In the east, the Imperial Russian Army used them to create a destruction zone during their retreat from the Imperial German Army in 1915, destroying homes, railways and crops. To the west, the Germans made use of the strategy to shorten the line between the Somme and the Hindenburg Line.

While used in the Greco-Turkish and Second Sino-Japanese wars during the interwar period, the next major use of the scorched earth policy was in the Second World War. It first saw use during the Winter War, with Finnish soldiers using it to destroy the shelters and food being used by the Soviet forces. However, the tables turned in 1944 during the German retreat from Finland, with the Germans destroying large swaths of land in the northern part of the country.

The Germans also made use of scorched earth tactics in Norway in 1944.

Vietnam and the Persian Gulf

Scorched earth tactics during the Vietnam War are typically attributed to the use of Agent Orange by the American forces. The chemical, known for being a particularly powerful herbicide, was used as part of Operation Ranch Hand to destroy crops and the jungle foliage the Viet Cong used to hide.

It was paired with Agent Blue, which was also used to destroy crops used by the Viet Cong – in particular, rice fields.

US Air Force aircraft flying over burning oil wells

The Persian Gulf War also saw one of the most notable uses of the scorched earth strategy, with the Kuwaiti oil fires. During their retreat from Kuwait in 1991, the Iraqi forces set fire to between 605 and 732 oil wells in the country, to hinder the US-led coalition forces. The last of the fires was put out in November 1991, but not before the Kuwaiti economy lost $157.5 billion USD in oil and many soldiers suffered respiratory issues due to the poor air quality.

The 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine

Scorched earth tactics have become much rarer in the 21st century, but examples of their use were seen in Darfur, Libya and Sri Lanka. Most recently, Russia has been accused of using them during its invasion of Ukraine, with White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan saying in early April 2022:

“I think it’s actually just consistent with the way that Russia has conducted this war from the beginning. We’ve seen scorched earth warfare already, we’ve seen atrocities and war crimes and mass killings and horrifying and shocking images from towns like Bucha, and the rocket attack on Kramatorsk.”

In particular, people have pointed toward the destruction of Ukrainian bridges by Russian forces, as a way to halt the transport of resources, supplies and troops. There has been widespread outrage and condemnation of Putin’s actions, with many countries levying sanctions against Russia and its oligarchs. Time will tell what the final result of the invasion will be.

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World War 1

Marie Marvingtf: The WWI and WWII Pilot And Nurse Who Lived An Incredible Life

Post author By trameditor
Post date November 20, 2023
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Marie Marvingt was so renowned for her courage that in 1903, she was nicknamed “the fiancee of danger.’ She was many other things as well. In her 88 years, the French woman served as a wartime pilot, took on the role of a military nurse, and competed as an athlete and a mountain climber. She left an indelible mark on both her country and the world at large. Here are some of the major accomplishments that Marie Marvingt accomplished during her life.

She excelled at athletics from a very young age

Marie Marvingt stands beside her airplane during the Femina Cup

Marie Marvingt was born in Aurillac in France in 1875. Her father Felix was a champion billiards player and swimmer and he shared his love of athletics with his daughter. She was a natural at a number of different endeavors. By the age of 4, she could swim 4 kilometers and she canoed 400 kilometers at the age of 14.

In 1910, Marvingt became the first woman to climb most of the peaks of the Swiss and French Alps. In 1908, she attempted to participate in the Tour de France but was refused. She ran the course anyway, well behind the male riders, and completed the difficult course. Only 36 of the 114 men who participated in the race finished.

Marvingt took to the skies as soon as she could

In addition to all of the sports she excelled at, Marie was also interested in aviation. She first flew on a hot air balloon in 1901 and first piloted one in 1907. In 1914, she became the first woman to fly across the English Channel in a balloon.

Activities during the First and Second World War

Marie Marvingt and Hubert Lathem sit in an airplane

When World War I broke out, Marvingt was eager to serve her country. She disguised herself as a man and joined the French Infantry, but was discovered and sent home. In 1915, though, she was able to volunteer as a pilot during bombing missions over Germany. She was awarded the Croix de guerre for her actions. During the conflict, she also served as a nurse and a war correspondent on the front lines in Italy.

Marvingt also helped in a number of ways during World War II. She served as a Red Cross Nurse where she has achieved the rank of corporal. Marie also fought in the resistance and for her efforts was given a medal with a star. In addition, Marvingt opened and ran a home for aviators injured in the war.

Marvingt was passionate about Air Ambulances

Marie Marvingt accomplished an incredible amount during her lifetime, but the thing she is arguably most known for was her passion for air ambulances. She first introduced the idea to the French government in 1910. She had a backer in Louis Béchereau, an engineer from Deperdussin. Marie was able to raise money to purchase a prototype, but Deperdussin went bankrupt prior to fabrication.

Marvingt did not give up on the idea, however. She created the Challenge Capitaine-Écheman in 1931. The challenge awarded prizes for transforming civilian airplanes into air ambulances. In 1934, Marvingt became the first-ever air nurse when Morroco established an air ambulance corps. For her efforts, she received the Médaille de la Paix du Maroc (Medal of Peace of Morocco).

Marie Marvingt left behind an incredible legacy

Marie Marvingt arrives in Washington DC to speak to the American Legion in 1947

While she always had plenty of interests, Marvingt focused on the air ambulance corps for the remainder of her life. When World War II began, Marie had support from some important figures in the French military, including Ferdinand Foch and Joseph Joffre. More than 500 women joined a corps of air nurses. All of these ladies had at least 10 hours of flying experience and some were also parachutists.

Posthumously, Marie Marvingt has received too many awards to list. There are a number of streets and schools named after her in her native France. A postage stamp was made in Marvingt’s honor in 2004. And the Soroptomist Club of Aurillac, an organization that provides women and girls with access to education, gives an award in her honor each year.

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World War 1

British Tank Crew Survived Being Stuck in No Man’s Land for Three Days

Post author By trameditor
Post date November 20, 2023
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The Third Battle of Ypres – better known as the Battle of Passchendaele – is famous for the difficult conditions the British had to contend with when fighting against the German forces in Belgium. Weeks of unrelenting rain turned the battlefield into a muddy swamp, meaning both tanks and servicemen alike had difficulty making advances.

The poor terrain greatly impacted the effectiveness of one tank crew, who found themselves stuck in the middle of No Man’s Land for three days during the fighting.

The Fray Bentos tank crew

The Fray Bentos was a British Mark IV tank, captained by Donald Richardson of Nottingham. Richardson was working at his family’s grocery store when the war broke out in 1914 and immediately enlisted with his local regiment, the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment – AKA the Sherwood Foresters. He was shipped to the Western Front the following year.

When the British began incorporating tanks into their war arsenal, Richardson was promoted to captain and given command of his own tank crew. He named the Mark IV “Fray Bentos,” after the canned meat his family sold at their store.

Can of Fray Bentos corned beef, the brand Donald Richardson named his Mark IV tank after. (Photo Credit: Liebig’s Extract of Meat Co Ltd / Imperial War Museum)

The Mark IV tank first entered service in May 1917 and quickly became the most prolific tank of the First World War. It was the first to be produced and used en masse, and allowed the British forces to make great headway against the Germans in a number of battles. This was thanks to its armaments, which included two Ordnance QF 6-pounder guns and four Lewis .303-inch machine guns, on top of the personal weapons of its crew.

The other men to make up the Fray Bentos tank crew were Lt. George Hill, Sgt. Robert Missen, Lance Cpl. Hans Braedy and gunners William Morrey, Frederick Arthurs, Ernest Hayton, James Binley and Percy Budd.

Trapped in No Man’s Land at Passchendaele

The Battle of Passchendaele broke out on July 31, 1917, when the British and French launched an offensive against the Germans in the area around Ypres, in Belgium. The fighting continued until November 10 of that year, and while it eventually ended in a British victory, the battle was an incredibly arduous one.

Allied troops standing near the Yser Canal

At 4:00 AM on August 22, 1917, the Fray Bentos crew set off across No Man’s Land in support of an attack by the British 61st Division, near St. Julien. Capt. Richardson opted to walk beside the Mark IV during the advance, during which the tank came under German machine gun fire from Somme Farm. The crew took out the position with their own guns.

As they continued their advance toward the objective, Gallipoli, the Fray Bentos once again came under German machine gun fire. Richardson was injured during the attack, suffering bullet wounds to his leg, and quickly made his way inside the tank. Hill suffered a wound to his neck and was blown off his seat, at which time the tank hit a soft spot of mud and fell sideways into the ditch. In the three weeks leading up to the advance, the area had suffered relentless rain storms.

Missen and Braedy exited the Fray Bentos to retrieve its unditching equipment, but came under fire from the Germans. The men in the tank returned fire. Braedy was killed during the skirmish and his body sank into the mud. It was never found.

By 7:00 AM, the attack had stalled ahead of the tank and the British infantry began falling back to their trenches. This left the Fray Bentos crew alone in No Man’s Land. The Germans approached the tank, and while largely held off by its Lewis guns managed to engage its crew in close combat. Before long, most of the men had been wounded.

Orchestrating an escape

Over the next three days and two nights, the crew of the Fray Bentos fought off the Germans from their position in No Man’s Land. They also had to contend with fire from British snipers, who believed the men to be German soldiers attempting to steal the stuck Mark IV. Missen volunteered to crawl back to the trenches, and the snipers soon stopped firing at the tank and its crew.

To survive, Richardson and his men drained the tank’s radiator and drank filthy ground water. After the third day, he decided it was time they made an attempt back to the British lines and instructed his crew to dismantle the tank’s cannons and gather their weapons and maps. At 9:00 PM on August 24, they began the slow and painful journey back, forced to crawl due to risk of enemy fire.

The seven men eventually made it back to the British side, where they encountered the 9th Battalion, also known as the Black Watch. After surrendering their machine guns, they made their way to the aid station, where they were treated for their wounds.

Rewarded for their actions and bravery

The Fray Bentos crew was rewarded for their actions during the Battle of Passchendaele. Richardson was mentioned in dispatches and received the Military Cross. He rejoined the fighting with a new tank – the Fray Bentos II – and served until the end of the war.

Missen and Morrey were awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for their bravery, while the other surviving gunners were presented with the Military Medal. All but one of them lived through to the end of the war, with Budd dying on August 25, 1918.

When fighting ceased, the men of the Fray Bentos were the most decorated tank crew of the war.

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Aircraft

The Titanium Used to Construct the SR-71 Blackbird Came from the Soviet Union

Post author By trameditor
Post date November 20, 2023
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SR-71B Blackbird aerial reconnaissance aircraft photographed over snow capped mountains in 1995.

Aviation technology rapidly advanced during the 20th century, but as the aircraft advanced, so too did the machines and technology designed to detect them. In the early 1960s, Lockheed set out to make a sleek and fast reconnaissance aircraft, made out of the best material there was: titanium. The issue, however, was that most titanium came from the Soviet Union.

A special aircraft requires special materials

The SR-71 Blackbird project was run through Lockheed’s Skunk Works. The aircraft was intended to be an update on the A-12, the company’s previous reconnaissance plane. The lead engineer on both projects was Clarence “Kelly” Johnson.

Developers working on the project were under intense pressure and tight deadlines from the US government. During his 1964 presidential campaign, Republican candidate Barry Goldwater slammed President Lyndon B. Johnson for allowing the United States to fall behind the USSR when it came to military technology.

A Lockheed engineer working on an SR-71 Blackbird

The SR-71 was designed to be bigger than the A-12, so it could carry more fuel and allow for the installation of a dual-cockpit. At the same time, the updated aircraft needed to be faster than its predecessor. The project was challenging for the engineers at Lockheed, with Johnson recalling a number of years later, “Everything had to be invented. Everything.”

Lockheed engineers came up with a solution

The SR-71 Blackbird was meant to be blazingly fast, capable of traveling up to 2,000 MPH and holding this speed for hours at a time. The issue was that this created atmospheric friction that could melt the airframe, as its edges exceeded 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

The material quickly proved to be difficult to work with, as it was incredibly sensitive and brittle. The engineers at Skunk Works would break the alloy while working on it with cadmium-plated steel tools. As a result, new tools needed to be built out of titanium. The machinists on the line also had to be trained on how to best work with the material.

Titanium wasn’t readily obtainable

Along with the material being difficult to work with, titanium was also hard to find. The US didn’t have the ore necessary to produce it. The biggest producer of the material was the Soviet Union. At the time, both countries were in the midst of the Cold War, and the US government didn’t want to give the Soviets any hints as to what they were up to.

Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird landing on a runway

Col. Rich Graham, an SR-71 pilot and former wing commander, explained to the BBC:

“The airplane is [92 percent] titanium inside and out. Back when they were building the airplane the United States didn’t have the ore supplies – an ore called rutile ore. It’s a very sandy soil and it’s only found in very few parts of the world. The major supplier of the ore was the USSR. Working through Third World countries and bogus operations, they were able to get the rutile ore shipped to the United States to build the SR-71.”

The SR-71 Blackbird proved itself during the Yom Kippur War

The US was very interested in the Yom Kippur War, a conflict between Israel and a coalition of Arab states – and the SR-71 Blackbird was the perfect reconnaissance tool to see what was happening. Pilots were deployed on missions ranging from between three and four hours, with some taking as long as 11 hours to complete, and they were tasked with gaining information about the positions of both sides.

Col. Rich Graham told the BBC:

“The President wanted to find out whether the Arabs and the Israelis had really moved back from the front line like they said they did. We went over there, took the imagery, came back and showed photographic proof they were both lying about where their forces were. He called both countries and said, ‘Get them back, I’ve got proof you’re not where you’re supposed to be.’ That’s what ended the Yom Kippur War.”

The legacy of the SR-71 Blackbird

The SR-71 Blackbird was operational from 1966 through to 1998, although NASA continued to use the aircraft for an additional year. During its service, it was continuously the fastest aircraft of its time. In addition to the Yom Kippur War, the SR-71 was also utilized during the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, the 1986 US raid on Libya and helped reveal Iranian Silkworm missile batteries.

John Glenn waving while wearing his spacesuit

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Aircraft

The History of the US Navy’s TOPGUN School

Post author By trameditor
Post date November 20, 2023
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The popular Tom Cruise movie Top Gun debuted in theaters in 1986, and features Cruise and his co-stars attending the US Navy’s TOPGUN school – officially known as the Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor program. It was an immediate hit, and the service capitalized on this success. It sent recruiters to cinemas across the United States, hoping to convince young people to enlist.

Here is the history of the Navy’s elite TOPGUN school.

The US Navy evaluated its aviators after Operation Rolling Thunder

From 1965-68, in the midst of the Vietnam War, the US ran Operation Rolling Thunder. The bombing mission faced severe resistance from North Vietnamese troops flying Soviet-built MiG jets and using surface-to-air weapons. The effective air defense mounted by the North Vietnamese forced the US to end the operation in 1968, with it widely considered to be a failure.

F-5 Skoshi Tiger dropping bombs mid-flight

A year after, the Navy published the Ault Report, following an investigation led by Capt. Frank Ault. It concluded that the Navy’s failures during the operation were due to pilots not being properly trained in air combat maneuvers. The US Air Force concluded its own issues were caused by technological problems.

The Ault Report recommended the Navy open a school to better train its pilots.

The TOPGUN school opened in 1969

The TOPGUN school, then known as the Navy Fighter Weapons School, officially opened in March 1969. The Navy found it was important to have the best pilots acting as instructors, and named Dan Pedersen as its first head instructor. Pedersen, who served in Vietnam, was adept at flying a number of military aircraft, including the Douglas F4D Skyray and the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II.

The aim was “to train aircrew in all aspects of aerial combat to be carried out with the utmost professionalism.” According to an exhibit onboard the USS Midway (CV-41) Museum, “the four-week course started with a team of instructors covering US and Soviet aircraft types, weapons systems, and fighter training tactics in a 50-foot-long metal trailer at [Naval Air Station] Miramar.”

The TOPGUN course is grueling

The TOPGUN school was, at first, run on a shoestring budget. Its first headquarters was a stolen Airstream trailer. The students were given what was considered a Master’s level education on everything they needed to know about both their own aircraft and those flown by the enemy.

Couple standing outside their vehicle and Air Stream trailer

There was also little downtime for students and instructors. Pederson later explained:

“We actually worked seven days a week probably, starting at 4:30 in the morning. On Fridays, I let the youngest guys who lived in La Jolla out early, so they could party — that’s what young guys are supposed to do — but most of us never got home during the week. I spent many nights sleeping in my car.”

Results came fast

Once the Navy aviators were trained, they returned to Vietnam, and it didn’t take long for the methods taught in class to bear fruit. Prior to the program, the Navy kill-to-loss ratio against the North Vietnamese MiGs had been around 2:1. After the program, this number rose from 12:1.

US Navy personnel directing aircraft on the runway

The Navy took notice of the success. TOPGUN did not have to remain in a stolen Airstream; the school soon had increased funding that allowed for additional aircraft, staffing and infrastructure. In 1996, it was moved to Naval Air Station Fallon, Nevada, where it merged with the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center – now known as the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center.

The program is still in place today, over 50 years since its inception, showing the continued value it gives to the service.

Top Gun lets the public in on the story

Author Ehud Yonay wrote an article, titled Top Guns, for a 1983 issue of California Magazine. The piece focused on the TOPGUN school and the large number of ace fighter pilots living in San Diego. The decision was made to produce a movie based on the article, and filmmakers reached out to the Navy for help.

Tom Cruise as Pete "Maverick" Mitchell in 'Top Gun'

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Aircraft

Here’s Why the Russian Sukhoi Su-27 Has Withstood the Test of Time

Post author By trameditor
Post date November 20, 2023
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The Sukhoi Su-27, nicknamed the “Flanker” by NATO, is a Soviet-made aircraft that has withstood the test of time and continues to perform in almost all aerial warfare operations. The Su-27 was designed in 1969 in direct response to the development of the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle fighter jet, combining sophisticated avionics and high maneuverability.

With constant redesigning, adaptation and modifications, the Su-27 became one of the finest air-superiority platforms of the 20th century and is still in service today.

Early production of the Sukhoi Su-27

When chief designer Mikhail Simonov began work on the Sukhoi Su-27 in 1969, it failed to perform. By 1977, Simonov was close to having the entire project scrapped, with plans to start over. Due to these issues, the aircraft didn’t reach operation regiments until eight years later, and didn’t appear in strength until 1990.

By the time the aircraft was deployed, the Su-27 had become the large long-range interceptor it is today, powered by two turbofan engines. It was designed to be aerodynamically similar to the MiG-29 fighter, with a service ceiling of over 18,000 meters and flight range of more than 1,800 miles. It can also fly at more than twice the speed of sound.

High-Low Mix Air Combat Theory

During combat, the Soviet Union exercised the High-Low Mix Air Combat Theory, which allowed their numerically inferior aircraft to be capable against those that were numerically superior. By using a large number of lower performance aircraft alongside a smaller number of high-end jets, the USSR became a powerful force in the sky.

The performance of the Sukhoi Su-27 allowed it to go beyond its intended use as a long-range superiority fighter and be employed as an escort fighter for the Tupolev Tu-160, Tupolev Tu-22M and Tupolev Tu-95. Its success in the Soviet Air Forces is reflected in its continued use by Russia today.

Pugachev’s Cobra

Considering the size of the Sukhoi Su-27, the aircraft was extremely agile, with super maneuverability. This was proven at the 1989 Paris Air Show, where pilot Viktor Pugachev completed an impressive and dramatic aerobatic maneuver named “Pugachev’s Cobra”

The maneuver is executed when an aircraft, flying at a low-to-moderate speed, raises its nose into a vertical position, acting as an airbrake, rapidly decelerates and drops back to its normal flight position. It remains at a relatively constant altitude throughout the move using potent engine thrust.

Continued upgrades to the Sukhoi Su-27

Stealth is king for military aircraft. The Sukhoi Su-27 is not particularly stealthy and definitely struggles against jets that are – or have – robust anti-aircraft capabilities. However, the Su-27 has received considerable upgrades that make it a worthy opponent against militaries that lack robust air defences.

Some of the more notable upgrades can be found in the Su-27M variant, which was delivered to the Russian Air Force in 2003. It boasts an improved fuselage for extra weapon payload, N001 radar, improved avionics and a glass cockpit with tricolor multi-function displays.

Actively flying within former Warsaw Pact countries, the Middle East, Latin America and Africa, it doesn’t look like the Su-27 will be retired from service anytime soon.

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Aircraft

Was Ball Turret Gunner the Worst Position to Hold During World War II?

Post author By trameditor
Post date November 20, 2023
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There were plenty of positions during World War II that put a serviceman’s life at risk. Arguably one of the worst was being the ball turret gunner. Small, tight, difficult to escape from and with minimal visibility, the ball turret was the definition of danger. Designed in the 1930s, it was equipped on many US aircraft during the conflict. Eventually, it was abandoned in future aircraft designs, leaving the immense dangers it posed behind.

Which aircraft equipped the ball turret?

Ball turret installed at the bottom of an aircraft

The ball turret was initially developed by two separate companies, Emerson Electric and the Sperry Corporation. Development of the latter’s design was soon halted, with Sperry’s design being preferred.

The ventral ball turret was a hydraulically-operated, altazimuth mount addition to the two main aircraft that housed it: the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and Consolidated B-24 Liberator. The implement was also equipped by the PB4Y-1 Liberators operated by the US Navy, as well as the B-24’s successor, the Consolidated B-32 Dominator.

Ball turret specs

Despite being rather small at only four feet across, the ball turret still packed a punch. There was actually a reason for its compact design, as it reduced drag while in the air. They were surrounded by armored plates, which kept them protected during mid-air enemy action. On the flip side, their position underneath meant they were vulnerable, should the aircraft be shot down.

It was equipped with two Browning AN/M2 .50-caliber machine guns, a Sperry optical gunsight and two ammunition cans with 250 rounds each. The turret also rotated 360-degrees, allowing the gunner to locate targets and stay on them, regardless of their position. Given the cramped nature of the ball turret, the Brownings’ handles were difficult to maneuver, so a pulley system was developed to allow for easier operation.

Ball turret designs varied, depending on the aircraft. The B-17’s conventional landing gear meant the implement featured a non-retractable mount, while the B-24’s tricycle landing gear required the installation of a vertically retractable mount. This kept the ball turret from hitting the ground during unstable takeoffs and landings.

Best airmen for the job

Illustration of a gunner within a ball turret

Aerial gunners were trained in US Army Air Corps schools that popped up across the United States in 1941. At their height, the schools were pumping out 3,500 graduates a week, producing approximately 300,000 by the end of the Second World War.

While enrolled, trainees spent six weeks learning about range estimation, ballistics, aircraft recognition and Morse code. It was an intense position, meaning they had to be prepared to make quick and often life-saving decisions. To ensure they could shoot targets in the air, recruits first underwent shooting practice on the ground, before advancing to tester aircraft.

Taking on the enemy in a cramped ball turret

To climb inside the ball turret, gunners had to enter through a door located in the floor of the aircraft, positioning the ball so its guns were pointed toward the ground. They then placed their feet on the heel rests inside and lowered themselves. To fit, they assumed a fetal-like position, with their knees bent close to their body and their backs and heads up against the rear wall. Some had to maintain this position on missions of up to 10 hours, a rather uncomfortable prospect.

The gunner held two joysticks in either hand, one to pivot the turret ball and the other to trigger the firing mechanism for the Browning machine guns. Foot pedals on the floor controlled the gunsight between their legs and operated an intercom, which served as the only form of communication between them and the rest of the crew.

Problem with parachutes

The small size of the ball turret didn’t allow for additional equipment to be housed within. As a result, the parachute needed in the event the aircraft was gunned down was placed just outside of the turret door.

Unfortunately, this wasn’t a very good place for it, as the gunner needed to open the turret door, enter the fuselage and strap themselves in – all before the aircraft crashed. To negate the danger, some gunners wore a chest parachute, but this typically wasn’t the norm.

Dangers of landing

Rudolf Portong standing with a Royal Air Force (RAF) crewman near an aircraft's ball turret

Another problem with ball turrets was they never fully retracted into the aircraft. This meant that, not only where they easy to spot and a potential target for enemy aircraft, they also exposed gunners to potentially fatal situations.

When not in full operation, the turrets still stuck out of the bottom. This made it difficult for the aircraft to land safely. It was critical the ball turret gunner assume a particular position for belly landings – otherwise, the sphere would hit the ground far before the landing gear and pose a threat to their safety. As well, when landing on water, the turret was the first part to become completely submerged; while the implement was meant to be waterproof, this wasn’t the case.

ERCO developed a second-generation ball turret

Toward the end of the Second World War, ERCO’s ball turret became the preferred implement for two bombers operated by the US Navy, the Consolidated PB4Y-1 Liberator and PB4Y-2 Privateer. Unlike previous iterations, this ball turret served two purposes during low-level attacks on Japanese targets: fire suppression and strafing for anti-submarine warfare, as well as defense against bow attacks.

Similar to earlier ball turrets, the ERCO version’s machine guns were operated by handles. They used the standard Navy Mk 9 reflector sight, allowing for adequate aiming capabilities.

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Aircraft

Junkers Ju 87Bs Utilized Psychological Warfare Against Allied Ground Troops

Post author By trameditor
Post date November 20, 2023
No Comments on Junkers Ju 87Bs Utilized Psychological Warfare Against Allied Ground Troops

The Germans during the Second World War hoped to take over the world, and they didn’t just plan to do so by using military force. They also aimed to accomplish their goal by striking terror into their opponents. A prime example of this is the Junkers Ju 87B dive bomber and its wailing death siren.

Construction of the Junkers Ju 87

The development of the Junkers Ju 87 began in the early 1930s under the watch of aerospace engineer Hermann Pohlmann, who hoped to simplify the aircraft. One of the most important elements of its design was the replacement of a retractable undercarriage with a fixed, spatted one. This helped make the plane more streamlined.

Ernst Udet, an air ace from World War I and general in the German Luftwaffe, was a big proponent of the Ju 87 and regularly pushed the practice of dive-bombing. He participated in test flights of the aircraft, and by 1936 it was ready to see action.

Involvement in the Spanish Civil War

The Junkers Ju 87, nicknamed the Stuka (short for Sturzkampfflugzeug), first saw action during the Spanish Civil War. The Germans wanted to aid the Nationalists by supplying them with Ju 87s, but desired to do so in secret, as they hoped to keep the development of their newest aircraft under wraps.

The involvement of Germany in the war was beneficial to those working on the Ju 87. While carrying out missions, they realized the initial bomb load was too high and the number was subsequently decreased. The spats from the undercarriage would also sink into muddy airfield surfaces and, as a result, were temporarily removed.

Most important for the Germans, however, was that the conflict acted as a sort of dress rehearsal for World War II. The air and ground crews were able to get real-world experience during the fighting. After the war, the Ju 87s were returned to Germany.

The Junkers Ju 87B’s featured Jericho Trumpets

Like any aircraft, the Junkers Ju 87 was constantly being updated, and the best-remembered model is the “B” variant. This was the first mass-produced version of the aircraft. It featured a much larger engine and was able to fly at a higher speed.

After a number of successful tests, the Ju 87B went into mass production, with Germany producing 60 each month. To put this into perspective, at the onset of WWII the Luftwaffe had 336 Ju 87B-1s in its fleet.

In addition to the larger engine, the 87B was given another feature: propeller-driven sirens the Germans referred to as “Jericho Trumpets.” They were attached to one of two different areas, either the front edge of the fixed main gear fairing or the wing’s leading edge, forward of the landing gear.

While they didn’t serve a combat purpose, they were use to conduct psychological warfare. The idea was that soldiers on the ground would hear the sirens go off and know that death was imminent. How the Jericho Trumpet worked was that when the Ju 87 went into a dive, a rush of air would move through the siren, producing a high-pitched wail.

While initially attributed to General Udet, other sources suggest the idea came from the German Führer. Regardless of their origin, the sirens had the desired effect. French General Edouard Ruby is reported as saying that artillerymen would stop firing and dive to the ground, and that infantrymen “cowered in the trenches, dazed by the crash of bombs and the shriek of the dive bombers.”

While effective as psychological weapons, the Jericho Trumpets reduced the speed of the Ju 87Bs by between 10-20 MPH and, as such, weren’t installed on later units. Instead, some of the bombs dropped from the aircraft were equipped with whistles that produced a similar sound.

Issues during World War II and the Junkers Ju 87’s legacy

WWII started out well for the Junkers Ju 87, as it achieved the first aerial kill of the conflict over Poland in 1939. Air battles were uncommon for the aircraft, however, as pilots were tasked with bombing Allied ships. They played important roles during the battles of France and Dunkirk, among other high-profile engagements.

The underside of a Junkers Ju 87 in flight

The tide began to turn against the Ju 87 during the Battle of Britain. The skirmish proved the aircraft could be taken out by well-organized opposition. They again had trouble during the Battle of Kursk, where the Allies managed to achieve air superiority. This advantage continued for the Allies until the end of the war.

After doing a study on the effectiveness of the Ju 87, Germany decided to severely cut production of the aircraft. They were eventually determined to be obsolete and replaced by the Focke-Wulf Fw 190.

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Aircraft

Tom Cruise Created Intense Flight Training Program for ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Co-Stars

Post author By trameditor
Post date November 20, 2023
No Comments on Tom Cruise Created Intense Flight Training Program for ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Co-Stars

Top Gun: Maverick has only just been released in movie theaters, but that doesn’t mean reviews haven’t begun to role in. The sequel to the 1986 film has been met with primarily positive reviews, with many, including US Navy aviators, applauding the production’s dedication to the authenticity of life as a pilot in the service.

To accomplish this degree of authenticity, filmmakers enlisted the help of real-life naval pilots to fly aircraft in the movie. Tom Cruise, who reprises his role of Capt. Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, also had his co-stars take an intensive flight training program, which saw them get in the cockpit of the Navy’s fastest planes.

Before starting work on Top Gun: Maverick, Cruise and producer Jerry Bruckheimer (Black Hawk Down, Con Air) agreed that they wanted to deliver quality aerial footage of TOPGUN aircraft in action. To do this, Cruise teamed up with aerial coordinator Kevin LaRosa Jr. to develop a program that would have the film’s actors not only get to know the aircraft being featured, but allow them to get used to the G-forces.

Speaking with Variety, LaRosa shared that the training began with the Cessna 172 and continued from there. “We started with the Cessna 172 and we took them through basic flying,” he said. “This allowed them to see what it was like to take off, land and know where to look and put their hands.” The aircraft also allowed the actors to get a feel for how a small G-force feels like.

Once they were comfortable in the Cessna 172, the training moved to the Extra 300. Once they had built up a tolerance to the G-force, the actors were moved to the L-39, which “allowed them to experience a fighter trainer jet.” After this, the production “had aviators,” according to LaRosa.

F/A-18 Hornet landing on the deck of the USS Nimitz (CVN-68)

According to reports, actors Monica Barbaro, Miles Teller, Glen Powell and Lewis Pullman, who portray aviators Lt. Natasha “Phoenix” Trace, Lt. Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw, Lt. Jake “Hangman” Seresin and Lt. Robert “Bob” Floyd, respectively, were among those who underwent the training program.

Speaking with The New York Daily News, Powell spoke about Cruise’s dedication to authenticity:

Miles Teller as Lt. Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw in 'Top Gun: Maverick'

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