10 American Aircraft That Flopped in British service! Beast of an article: 11K words by an absolute dreamteam of writers hushkit.substack.com/p/10-america...

12 Nov 1943 // Minesweeper BYMS 2072 was captured by German motor launch R.210 at Leros in the Aegean in the early hours of 12 Nov after mistaking the German vessel for a British one. She had been damaged by aerial bombing on the previous evening, with four crewmen killed. [1/4]

Very much looking forward to Jeffrey Kluger's new book on the Gemini program. Kluger's Lost Moon, written with Jim Lovell, is incredible, so hearing his take on Gene Cernan's nightmare spacewalk on Gemini 9 certainly makes the excitement grow. @stmartinspress.bsky.social time.com/7330699/nasa...

This January I’m launching an online course for people passionate about History. This isn’t a historian telling you things, it’s designed to turn you from a vociferous reader into someone who is starting to think like a historian themselves… Sign up details: introtohistory.eventbrite.com

12 Nov 1704 (O.S.) // 70-gun HMS Elizabeth, escorting a convoy from Cork to England with 54-gun HMS Chatham, sighted several ships south of the Scilly Isles. It was a French squadron, but the captain of the Elizabeth, William Crosse, insisted that the strangers were Dutch. [1/4]

This week’s podcast is on a naval accident off Folkestone in 1878… podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/m... #navalhistory #podcast

As it is #TyphoonTuesday, why not have a bit more of Moe and Jackie messing about with their 439 Squadron RCAF mates in April 1944. Here we have Jackie applying the "Mortimer Snerd Special" to Moe and Moe awarding Jackie, as Mussolini, the "Debert Cross". See alt text for original captions.

Military historians: do any of you know anything about American equipment stationed at the Fulda Gap in the mid-eighties? Or who would know? Thank you. @crusaderproject.bsky.social @rgpoulussen.bsky.social @jamiemctrusty.bsky.social

Delighted to see the SS Richard Montgomery surfacing on Blue Sky, and you might be wondering why people were so nervous about salvaging its cargo. The data points we have are... not encouraging.

11 Nov 1816 // 20-gun HMS Tay, sailing across the Gulf of Mexico from Havana to Campeche, ran aground and was wrecked on Scorpion Reef (Arrecife Alacranes) off the north coast of Yucatán, Mexico. All on board were able to reach a nearby island in rafts and the ship’s boats. [1/5]

11 Nov 1917 // Destroyer HMS Staunch was torpedoed and sunk by U-boat UC.38 while in a well-protected anchorage with other ships at Deir el Belah, south of Gaza. Struck by one torpedo amidships, the destroyer broke in two and sank in about fifteen minutes with 8 men lost. [1/2]

11 Nov 1917 // Coastal monitor HMS M.15 was torpedoed and sunk by U-boat UC.38, which succeeded in infiltrating the well-protected anchorage at Deir el Belah south of Gaza where M.15 was at anchor following shore bombardment operations directed against Turkish forces. [1/2]

11 Nov 1931 // Minesweeper HMS Petersfield was wrecked with no loss of life after running aground on Tung Yung (Dongyin) island while sailing from Shanghai to Fuzhou carrying Admiral Sir William Kelly, CinC China Station, and his wife and daughter. The wreck was big news in the British press. [1/7]

A Memory Owed, will premiere worldwide Saturday, 15th November at 8pm GMT on YouTube. Starring James Bolam and Rumi Sutton, A Memory Owed is a powerful short film about loss, healing and remembrance. It is wizard! #History #WW2 @nmtdambusters.bsky.social

The Vickers Warwick, which first flew in Aug 1939, was intended to be a twin-engined ‘heavy’ bomber. However, following performance issues and protracted development the type wasn’t required by Bomber Command. Instead, Warwicks served with Transport and Coastal Commands. 📷 Destination’s Journey 🧵1/9

Time for this blog’s annual outing - busting some equine myths of the First World War.

Facial prosthesis, c.1917. THREAD for #RemembranceSunday🧵 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

"Quick, Sergei - read the check list for the tail falling off whilst I try and stick this thing down." [Splash] "Before landing-" "Oh." [raises the collective]

Me: OK, so I’ve sold off my Lego collection, not going to buy any more sets, they’re just too expensive now. Lego Group: Hey, how about we release a TNG Enterprise set with minifigs of the crew? Me: Damn you, Lego Group. damn you to HELL!

I ❤️ Panthers

8 Nov 1916 // Destroyer HMS Zulu was on her way from Dover to Dunkirk when she struck a mine off Gravelines which exploded under her stern. Three men died in the explosion. The ship was taken in tow towards Dunkirk, first by French trawler Capricorne and then by destroyer Capitaine Mehl. [1/2]

8th November 1942: Victoria Cross action of Frederick Peters, on board the sloop HMS Walney. In Operation RESERVIST, Walney and her sister ship HMS Hartland were to secure the Vichy French port of Oran as part of Operation TORCH, the Allied invasion of North Africa. 📷 IWM A 5322 🧵1/11

Very nice and clear shot of a 21 S.A.A.F. Squadron Martin Baltimore light bomber undergoing briefing, most likely in North Africa in 1943. Facebook, South Africans in World War 2. Details in ALT @rafhistory.bsky.social @rafmuseum.bsky.social @airminded.org @smoorebofb1940.bsky.social

Olga Lisikova, only woman in Soviet Air Force to pilot-in-command a C-47. 1934 joined aviation school, flew Po-2 & R-5s. Grad 1937, pilot 4 Aeroflot Moscow-Leningrad. #WWII Winter War evacuated wounded soldiers from front while pregnant w 1st child d. #OTD 7 Sep 2011 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olga_Li...

My review of the new documentary about Eileen Collins, Spacewoman, is available now for our fab Patreon supporters. Needless to say, I really like it. Join the fun here: www.patreon.com/posts/superb...

Apparently Blue Sky has some sort of filth filter applied by default, so if you're not seeing this post maybe check your settings.

This week’s free to read is comparing the three Axis navies… Is the Kriegsmarine the poor relation? open.substack.com/pub/jerijero... #history #ww2 #navalhistory

6th Nov 1935. First flight of the prototype Hawker Hurricane at Brooklands. The fighter became a key part of the RAF and Dominion/Empire air forces, serving on all fronts, in some cases until the end of the war. 14,500 aircraft were built. 📷 Airfix / Roy Cross 🧵1/10

6th November 1942. First flight of the Heinkel 219 night fighter. Though heavily armed, and overall a very capable aircraft with many advanced features, the ‘Uhu’ was also underpowered for its (considerable) weight and suffered from persistent technical issues. 📷 Revell-Germany 🧵1/6

#OTD in 1942 anti-tank rifleman private Kondratenko pulled off a unique stunt on the battlefield. He managed to climb into an abandoned German tank under fire and drive it off the battlefield, earning the Order of the Patriotic War 1st Class. #tanks #history #ww2 #WWII

5 Nov 1915 // Armed boarding steamer HMS Tara (ex London & North Western Railway ferry TSS Hibernia) was torpedoed and sunk by U.35 in Sollum Bay, Egypt. 12 men lost their lives in the attack. The 92 survivors escaped in her boats, which were towed inshore by the U-boat. [1/2]

"I swear I believe Armageddon is near," said Reagan. Bonus episode on Reagan and his belief in Armageddon. £3 a month for all bonus episodes. Cancel anytime.

Following the sinking of HMS Jervis Bay, the tanker MV San Demetrio, carrying highly flammable aviation fuel, was hit by shells from Admiral Scheer and set alight. Captain White, fearing a devastating explosion, ordered his crew to abandon ship. 📷©️National Maritime Museum, Greenwich 🧵1/7

5th November 1940: Victoria Cross action of Edward Fegen, Captain of the Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS Jervis Bay. The ship was the sole escort of convoy HX84 of 37 ships bound for Britain from Canada, two RCN destroyers having turned back in mid-Atlantic. 📷memorialsinportsmouth.co.uk 🧵1/13

A rather dramatic image of the last moments of Douglas A-20G 43-9502 after being hit by flak over Rouen on August 4th 1944. The pilot, Thomas G. Walsh, lost his life, while his two gunners survived and became POWs. #avgeek #aviation #history #ww2 #flying

NEW EPISODE pod.fo/e/349aed

3 Nov 1940 // Armed merchant cruiser HMS Laurentic was torpedoed and sunk by U.99, with 49 lives lost, off County Donegal. She was assisting SS Casanare, sinking after being torpedoed by U.99. HMS Patroclus also assisted, and was also sunk by U.99 early next day. #RoyalNavy #WW2 #NavalHistory

3rd November 1943. Victoria Cross action of Flt/Lt William ‘Bill’ Reid, then aged 22. Pilot of a 61 Squadron Lancaster tasked with bombing Düsseldorf, Reid’s aircraft was attacked by a Bf 110 night fighter soon after crossing the Dutch coast. 📷 acesflyinghigh.wordpress.com 🧵1/13

💫What’s this, a scoop, for #NewsoftheWar? Yes! (Almost.) It’s commonly said, Desert Island Discs was conceived in Nov 1941 and first recorded on Jan 27th, 1942. GUESS WHAT. But in this week's #NOTW we discovered something. @andyaitch.bsky.social @merrynwalters.uk 🧵🖇️ to audios below😍

New episode of the @holocaustpod.bsky.social. And a timely one about attempts to evade responsibility for complicity! bsky.app/profile/holo...

On the 11th of November 1944 The Sphere magazine printed it first photos from the Walcheren campaign, its front page is of the men of the 4th (Borders) Battalion The Kings Own Scottish Borderers (Peter Whites Bat) moving down Molenstraat on November 1st, a few hours after landing.

1st November 1943. Near the Azores, the destroyer USS Borie, part of an American hunter-killer group, forced U-405 to surface after a depth charge attack. Illuminated by a searchlight, the U-Boat’s deck gun was knocked overboard by a 4-inch shell. 📷 National Archives via usni.org 🧵1/9

Today's favourite #warart WITH THE 8TH HUSSARS IN GERMANY : THE CREW OF A SCOUT-CAR KEEPING WATCH ON A WOODLAND ROAD IWM ART LD 5437 Watercolour, Ardizzone, Edward Jeffrey Irving 1945 Details in ALT

31st October, 1944: the Aarhus raid. Following an urgent request from the Danish resistance, 24 Mosquitoes of the RAF’s 140 Wing bombed university buildings housing the Gestapo headquarters for the Jutland area. This was to prove the most successful in a series of similar attacks. 📷 IWM C 4756 🧵1/5

31st Oct 1944. East of the Ryukyu Islands, a Japanese Kawanishi H8K2 seaplane was attacked by a U.S. Navy PB4Y-1 of VPB-117, flown by Lt H.G. Box. Flying low in an attempt to escape, it was ultimately shot down by Box’s gunners. 📷 NHHC 80-G-272598 🧵1/2

Reminded of this anniversary by Dan. The Aarhus raid was filmed from a camera plane piloted by Flight Lieutenant Hanafin DFC. I think the target is glimpsed at about 12 seconds. A running figure in the street is seen at around 15 seconds. Full film: IWM OPF 199 / www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...

In space no one can hear you scream.

#OTD in 1940 Hunt II class escort destroyer HMS Oakley was launched. She transferred to the Polish navy in April 1941 and commissioned as ORP Kujawiak, 17 June 1941. Just under a year later she was mined off Malta, 16 June 1942 at the end of Operation HARPOON. 13 Polish sailors died. #navalhistory

My new Substack two-part article is out! Part 1 is free & part 2 can be unlocked by becoming a paid subscriber! Why did the Luftwaffe look down on the Hurricane - and what were the repercussions? Part 1: spitfirefilly.substack.com/p/a-nice-aer... Part 2: spitfirefilly.substack.com/p/a-nice-aer...

BATTLE OF BRITAIN 85: 30th-31st October 1940. The 30th was a day of low cloud and drizzle, with an inevitable reduction in the pace of Luftwaffe operations. Between 11:30am and 12:45pm, three waves of Bf 109s crossed into Kent. 📷 IWM CH 1404 🧵1/10