How the British and Indian Army prepared their mules for service 🫡
#MuleMonday (click vid for full size)
How the British and Indian Army prepared their mules for service 🫡
#MuleMonday (click vid for full size)
To mark the 80th anniversary of the March 10, 1945 firebombing of Tokyo, a thread introducing one of the most remarkable primary sources I've come across in the archive:
Gen. Thomas Power's eye-witness report, recorded while circling over the firestorm for nearly two hours. 1/
Pick one
09.03.2026 17:01 — 👍 24 🔁 5 💬 12 📌 0
1445hrs 11 Dec 41 RTp (Regia Torpediniera - escort destroyer) Alcione is struck by a torpedo from HM/Sub Truant off Crete as she attempts to counter-attack the sub.
@rjhammond215.bsky.social @marcusfaulkner.bsky.social @axe99.bsky.social @ima-naval-history.bsky.social #maritimehistory #navalhistory
YT thumbnail; an image of the moon on the left and a missile being fired at it "Nuking the Moon: Project A119"
Our historical documentary series on the history of the Cold War continues with a video looking at some of the non-military plans for nuclear weapons that were thought up by either the United States or the Soviet Union during the Cold War
youtu.be/FDtBRr--B5I
Mirage IV
09.03.2026 16:23 — 👍 34 🔁 3 💬 3 📌 1
FREE TO VIEW 📚
Join my new nuclear book club, the Doomsday Library.
Vote for the books, get a video on the 1st of each month, and chat on the dedicated thread.
First up: THE CHRYSALIDS by John Wyndham.
YT thumbnail. An image of the Shah next to an image of a map of iran with an atom symbol superimposed "Iran Nuclear Program: The Cold War"
Are you, or is anybody you know, potentially interested in learning WHY Iran has a nuclear program in the first place? Are you curious as to how the developed it and if they had help in doing so?
Have i got the video for you... youtu.be/ZrNNeS31lNg
Only 1% of the 660,000 women serving in the Red Army fought in the tank forces, but even the stories of that 1% are not fully known. Here is just a small portion of the women who fought and died in #tanks in the Great Patriotic War. #history #WW2 #WWII #InternationalWomensDay
08.03.2026 14:59 — 👍 154 🔁 33 💬 3 📌 2
Two black and white photos of a soldier who has received a facial injury during World War I. In the first photo, his injuries are on display. In the second photo, he is wearing a facial prosthetic (mask) that covers his injuries.
Facial prosthesis, c.1917. THREAD for #InternationalWomensDay🧵
From the moment the first machine gun rang out over the Western Front, one thing was clear: mankind’s military technology had wildly surpassed its medical capabilities. Bodies were battered, gouged, hacked, and gassed. /1
A genuine image generated by and posted on the French health ministry’s Twitter account. Blue and red writing on a white background, reading “Coronavirus (COVID-19) DESINFOX Non, la cocaïne ne protège pas contre le COVID-19. La cocaïne est une drogue stimulante addictive. Son usage provoque de graves effets indésirables et nocifs pour la santé des personnes.
Six years ago today, in one of the most French bits of French news this account is aware of, the French health ministry issued a statement to the French people warning them that using cocaine would not protect them from Covid
08.03.2026 09:39 — 👍 84 🔁 17 💬 1 📌 3
The USS V-4 underway before she was renamed "Argonaut" in 1930. One of three US V-boats mounting six inch guns.
The USS Argonaut (formerly V-4, renamed 1930) was a unique minelaying submarine laid down in 1925 and commissioned in April, 1928. Built to the largest permissible size under the Washington Treaty, she carried two 6" guns, four bow-mounted 21" torpedo tubes and could carry 60 mines.
#NavalHistory
Set aside for a minute the stupidity of starting this whole war (we'll come back to it)
This strike on a school shows why war is serious business for serious people.
🧵
www.cnn.com/2026/03/06/m...
A monochrome ‘spot the mistake’ scene featuring a postman cycling along a lane besides a half timbered thatched cottage
An observation test for your inner 8-year-old.
Can you spot 12 deliberate mistakes?
From Treasure magazine, 1965
Official answers coming soon
(Even if you don’t reply, could you please ‘like’ or share this one?)
Ships sunk by submarines since World War Two, thread
1.
4th Dec 1971, Pakistani submarine PNS Hangor sunk India frigate INS Khukri with a torpedo
To say Jerrie Cobb led a life is an understatement.
When @maryhaverstick.bsky.social started working on a film project with Jerrie, the rabbit hole got deeper and darker.
Check out our chat with Mary about her incredible book, A Woman I Know.
youtu.be/pYHrbpVq6BE
#avgheek #booksky #histbookchat
This week’s feature follows the daring escape of a Blenheim pilot and his crew through enemy lines and the Belgian medical system during May 1940. Chaos, bravery, tragedy and death.
#Ww2 #history
jerijerod14.substack.com/p/shot-down-...
#OTD in 1944, the 8th Air Force flew Mission 250 to the heart of Berlin for the first time.
One of the pilots was Dick Bushong of the 390th BG, and a couple of years ago, I asked him about the mission. I'm pleased to say that Dick is still with us and is approaching 103!
youtu.be/FXgytMQ0oSI
🚨 It's the 30th June 1944, so where to begin?! In this week's News of the War, the pages are full of reasons fror @andyaitch.bsky.social to get stuck in, and @merrynwalters.uk to chip in occasionally with, well, WW2 scoops, really.
EPSOM. OVERLORD. BAGRATION. UNCLE ROGER.
linktr.ee/NewsOfTheWar
It's March 5th, and you know it!
05.03.2026 14:37 — 👍 58 🔁 22 💬 5 📌 4
It's been 73 years since the Vozhd died in a pool of his own urine.
Check out our video here for a rundown of those events and the power struggle that followed.
In the meantime, I'm off to represent the entire Red Army at the buffet.
youtu.be/Jh5WjJ0LBlQ
The crew of Ten Horsepower became the most decorated in the Eighth Air Force. In addition to Medals of Honor being awarded to Mathies and Truemper, there were also 7 Purple Hearts. Joe Rex, who stayed at his radio despite his injuries, received the Silver Star, while Carl Moore received a DSC.
🧵9/9
A third approach was made, this time apparently intending to force land near the airfield. The B-17 crashed heavily, cartwheeled and broke up, killing Mathies and Truemper instantly. Remarkably, Nelson was discovered still alive in the wreckage, though he died soon afterwards.
🧵8/9
‘Valor at Polebrook’, by David Poole. This colour artwork depicts two B-17s in olive drab camouflage with grey undersides, both low over fields against a cloudy sky. The nearest aircraft, slightly lower than the one behind, has its wheels down. 📷 thisdayinaviation.com
In the meantime, another B-17 had taken off to help in any way possible, but was unable to talk directly to Ten Horsepower, instead relaying messages via the tower. A second attempted landing now also failed, but Truemper and Mathies refused a direct order to head out to sea and bale out.
🧵7/9
At this point, the airfield tower told the crew to bale out. Five did so, three breaking limbs in heavy landings. Truemper and Mathies, however, remained aboard. Though unsure if Nelson was even still alive, they refused to abandon him if there was a chance he could be saved.
🧵6/9
Overhead line drawing of Polebrook airfield in 1944, showing three main runways crossing each other to form a triangle in the centre, with numerous dispersal bays to the south and hangars to the north. 📷 American Air Museum UPL 41601
Surviving another fighter attack, which injured radio operator Joe Rex and caused further damage, Truemper eventually handed over control to Mathies to check the B-17’s position. Working together, the crew brought Ten Horsepower back to Polebrook, where a first landing attempt by Mathies failed
🧵5/9
Ball gunner Carl Moore, fighting increasing G-Forces, managed to reach the cockpit and push Bartley and Nelson away from the controls before heaving Ten Horsepower out of its dive. Truemper, as the only remaining officer on board, now moved into the copilots seat and set course for England.
🧵4/9
Bombardier Joseph Martin, hearing the explosions behind him and feeling the B-17 falling into a dive, entered the cockpit to find a scene of carnage. Not unreasonably, he concluded the aircraft was doomed and jettisoned the bombs and rang the bail out bell before jumping himself, becoming a POW
🧵3/9
Crew of ‘Ten Horsepower’ in front of a different B-17. Front row, left to right: 1/LT Clarence R. Nelson, aircraft commander; Flight Officer Ronald Bartley, co-pilot; 2/LT Walter E. Truemper, navigator; 2/LT Joseph Martin, bombardier. Back row, left to right: SSGT Archibald Mathies, flight engineer and top turret gunner; SGT Joseph Rex, radio operator/gunner; SGT Carl Moore, waist gunner; SGT Russell Robinson, ball turret gunner; SGT Thomas Sowell, waist gunner; SGT Magnus Hagbo, tail gunner. The photograph shows ten men in uniform trousers and leather flying jackets in front of a B-17 4-engined bomber. The four officers are taking a knee in the front rank, with the enlisted men standing behind. 📷 American Air Museum FRE 12605
Though Luftwaffe fighter opposition was initially light, it soon intensified. Around 20 minutes from the Initial Point, Ten Horsepower was caught by a frontal attack which sent 20mm shells into the cockpit. Copilot Ronald Bartley was decapitated, with pilot Clarence Nelson left unconscious.
🧵2/9
Walter Truemper in his full uniform for a portrait photograph, cap at a rakish angle. 📷 cmohs.org
Archibald Mathies posing for a portrait photograph. Uniformed but hatless, he has wavy blonde hair. 📷 cmohs.org
20th February 1944: Medal of Honor actions of navigator 2nd Lt Walter Truemper (R) and engineer/gunner Archibald Mathies (L). On board B-17G ‘Ten Horsepower’ of the 97th BG, they had left Polebrook at 9:40am, following a delay. The target that day was industrial facilities near Leipzig.
🧵1/9
