Cockpit USA

On This Day: The Battle of Stalingrad

To mark the 60th anniversary of

1942

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History.com: Chaplain G.I.

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History.com: Rockie Blunt

Of the History.com documentaries we have featured on the Cockpit USA blog, this one about Army Infantryman Rockie Blunt is up there among the most moving. A self confessed lone soldier, Blunt carried out one of the most morally difficult tasks during his time within the army as he battled across Europe and into Hitler’s Third Reich. His time during the war, sights he witnessed and experiences combined effectively changed his beliefs and life forever. Hear and see his story…

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History.com: Jimmie Kayana

Born in Oregon in 1920 to Japanese immigrants, Army Medic Jimmie Kayana fulfilled his ambition of becoming a military man when he enlisted in the U.S. army in 1941. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Kayana was alienated within the army and his family was sent to an internment camp but undeterred, he valiantly joined America’s first all-Japanese Regiment in 1941. This very moving short documentary courtesy of History.com tugged at Cockpit USA’s heartstrings as it illustrates the dramatic twists and turns Kayana’s military life took along with the unceasing pride he felt to be fighting for the U.S. side, a side he regarded truly as his own.

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History.com: Hitler’s Military Blunders

The entire world breathed a sigh of relief when Hitler and his blood stained dictatorship was defeated. Brought to its end by the proud, combined efforts of the USA, Great Britain, the Soviet Union and many other forces along with the unending bravery of their armies and citizens, it was a victory for the future when Nazi Germany and its allies were brought to a stop. However, also in play were Hitler’s own error riddled and bungled operations, from his confusing chain of command arrangement to his paranoia and ego driven leadership, these aspects all played significant roles in unraveling his radical plans to change the world order. Take a look at this fascinating History.com video which delves into the hows and whys of Hitler’s slip ups.

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History.com: Trench Warfare

While it may be most known for its huge role in battle in WWI, trench warfare was first established during the American Civil War. With improvements in weapon technology resulting in greater accuracy of rifles and cannons, soldiers no longer needed to be on the ground level to fight at their best. Along with their guns, men carried shovels digging miles of elaborate trenches in which they sheltered, lived and fought from. We at Cockpit USA recently came across this short film from History.com on the evolution of trenches - check it out for an interesting look at the changing texture of warfare.

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History.com: Jack Yusen

Being faced with disaster is always a catastrophe. Being faced with disaster while at sea is an entirely different beast. Navy Seaman 1st Class Jack Yusen had been enlisted in the forces for only a year when he was confronted with the calamity of his ship sinking off the coast of the Philippines. While over 500 lives were lost on that harrowing day, Yusen escaped by the skin of his teeth and lived to tell his tale in this captivating short video taken for History.com. Be sure to check it out - we at Cockpit USA have!

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History.com: Attack On Pearl Harbor

Be it by way of the Hollywood blockbusting movie, lessons at school or personal interest, we are all familiar with the attack on Pearl Harbor. This week we at Cockpit USA have selected a penetrating and insightful video documentary instalment of that fateful day from the History.com archives featuring President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s address to the nation and actual footage from the fallout of the Japanese attack on the U.S. Naval Base. As President Roosevelt put it himself, the 7th December 1941 certainly was and still is ‘a date which will live in infamy.’

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History.com: Battle of Guam

July 21st 1944 saw U.S. forces invade the island of Guam in a bid to reclaim from the Japanese what had been American territory. Take a look at this visually captivating video of the action of the day courtesy of History.com. It is with awe that Cockpit USA witnessed the bravery of the soldiers and the shock fact at the end is worth waiting for!

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History.com: D-Day Deception

Last week, Cockpit USA posted about the anniversary of D-Day and the Normandy Landings. This short documentary courtesy of History.com looks in greater depths at the trickery the Allied forces undertook in order to confuse the German military. With commentary from experts including Bevin Alexander, the author of How Wars Are Won and Richard A. Gabriel of the Department of War Studies and footage of the fake army paraphernalia used to deceive the Nazi’s, this video analysing “Operation Fortitude” is sure to make your jaw drop! It certainly made ours hit the ground!

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