Jalopnik: World War Ii

See An Amazing Russian Tank Replica Come Together

Tom Joslin — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST

Although the Russian tendency to think outside of the box can produce some rather amusing moments and odd automotive creations sometimes the result is one of pure genius. Those are the two words we would use to describe the build process of this impressive tank replica. More »

The secret behind Norway's massive Nazi coastal cannon

Mike Spinelli — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 16:30:00 EST

In 1942, Nazi engineers devised a plan to build a 1,500-ton supertank. The P1000 Rat, or "Land Cruiser," was to be the largest and fiercest industrial-age ground weapon the world had ever seen. In 1943, the project was cancelled. So how did its massive gun turret wind up on a coastal hilltop in Norway? More »

Mount Vesuvius caused more Allied bomber losses than a Nazi air raid

Peter Orosz — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 16:30:00 EST

The Italian Campaign of World War II happened to coincide with the last major eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Bad news for the 340th Bombardment Group of the US Army Air Forces, which happened to be based at Pompeii Airfield at the time of the eruption. Yeah. That Pompeii. More »

How a Chevrolet engine helped five men escape from the Nazis

Mike Spinelli — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EDT

In the winter of 1944, five Dutchmen dressed like college professors escaped from the Nazi-occupied Netherlands under the cover of darkness, in a small boat powered by a Chevrolet straight six and the fuel tank out of a Hispano-Suiza racecar. Here's how they did it. More »

Watch this B-24 Liberator bomb Budapest

Peter Orosz — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 10:45:00 EDT

Budapest is one of those cities that look very good from an aircraft window. The scenery is usually without burning oil refineries and anti-aircraft bursts, but not on this fine day in the mid-1940s. The plane is a Consolidated B–24 Liberator, Hungary is at war with America, and I’m so glad we’re friends now, guys. More »

Renault descendents press France to pay for stealing company

Justin Hyde — Fri, 13 May 2011 13:45:00 EDT

When the Germans left Paris in 1945, Louis Renault's Nazi-helping (and perhaps sabotaging) car company was seized by the French government — and never returned. Now seven of Renault's grandchildren want the government to surrender some cash. More »

Meet the man behind Chris Brown's P-51 Lamborghini

Justin Hyde — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 10:30:00 EDT

After stumbling across Chris Brown's Lamborghini Gallardo up done in a World War II fighter plane theme, a tipster pointed us to the man who came up with the idea and pulled off the detailed airbrush painting. More »

75th Anniversary Of The Plane That Changed Everything

Jason Paur — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 15:00:00 EST

Three-quarters of a century ago, a single iconic airplane made its first flight. Wired.com's Jason Paur explores the impact of the Douglas DC-3. - Ed. More »

How Allied Forces Used Tank Serial Numbers To Defeat The Germans

Ray Wert — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 16:15:00 EDT

During World War II, Allied forces readily admitted that German tanks were superior to their own. The big question for Allied forces, then, was how many tanks Germany was producing. Here's how they reverse-engineered serial numbers to find out. More »

Flying Jeeps! What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

Murilee Martin — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 15:00:00 EDT

While reading the story of the man responsible for the Blower Bentley, I stumbled across a passage recounting the use of one of the surviving cars for towing test-bed "flying Jeeps" aloft during World War II. Flying Jeeps? More »

How Detroit's Aircraft Production Dream Crashed and Burned

Dr. Daniel Uziel, The Future of Things — Tue, 04 May 2010 12:00:00 EDT

Once, Detroit's carmakers wanted to be the nation's aircraft kings. For a short time during World War II, they were. Then things fell apart. Dr. Daniel Uziel of The Future of Things explains what happened. —Ed. More »

Now That's How You Fix A Jeep

Sam Smith — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 16:30:00 EDT

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Joe: "It's broken." Joe II: "Yep." Joe: "Looks like we're going to have to flip it over." Joe II: "Yep." Joe: "War is hell, buddy." Joe II: "Yep." (via Vintage Military Trucks) More »

The Porsche With a 1,200 Horsepower, Mid-Mounted Mercedes-Benz Engine?

Murilee Martin — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 13:00:00 EST

You say you know your Porsche history? Vintage European vehicle spotter supreme Kim of Copenhagen has a tough one for you! Name the Porsche that came with a 1,200-horse Mercedes-Benz engine right from the factory? More »

81-Year-Old Builds Replica World War II Fighter, Flies Cross-Country

Ray Wert — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:30:00 EST

Jim O'Hara, a retired college professor, learned to fly 21 years ago. Six years later, he began construction of a two-thirds-scale P-38. He's now 81 years old and he and his wife made its maiden cross-country trip three weeks ago. More »

Ass-Kickin' Engine Of The Day: Chrysler IV-2220 V16

Murilee Martin — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 13:00:00 EDT

Our last AKEOTD was a Chrysler-built tank powerplant, and you'd think it would be impossible to surpass a five-bank, 30-cylinder monster… but the IV-2220 airplane engine does just that. It's the very first Chrysler Hemi!
More »

Ass-Kickin' Engine Of The Day: Chrysler A57 Multi-Bank

Murilee Martin — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 14:00:00 EST

Is there any piston engine that could possibly inspire as much awe as the ICBM-haulin' GMC Twin Six? What if we said we'd found a 5-bank, 30-cylinder Chrysler for you? Yes, five banks! More »

Wooden Tires Bring New Meaning To Term "Burnout"

Ben Wojdyla — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:00:00 EDT

Rations. Practically a dirty word in times of plenty, but when the U.S. of A. was gripped in a battle against the Axis powers, it was your patriotic duty to do without, or to innovate. Donald Gilmore, CEO of Upjohn Pharma, decided to do the latter. Facing the inconvenience of rubber rations for his 1940 Cadillac, Gilmore decided to experiment with wooden tires. While we can't imagine how much fun wooden tires would be from a traction perspective, you gotta think the actual fiery burnouts would be spectacularly cool. Full history, transcribed and with amusing observations from employees, below. More »

What's Your All-Time Favorite Military Land Vehicle?

Matt Hardigree — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 11:40:00 EST

The standard-issue olive green 1942 Pontiac Torpedo from this morning's DOTS and the Post-Apocalyptic vehicle poll got us thinking about the vehicles that serve so bravely in war. On one hand there are the classic Jeeps of WWII. Then there is the modern and much safer International Maxxpro. Those are trucks. What about tanks? In Alamein to Zem Zem, the poet Keith Douglas describes his experience in the African desert in an Mk. III Crusader

"To see these tanks crossing country at speed was a thrill which seemed inexhaustible — many times it encouraged us, and we were very proud of our Crusaders; though we often had cause to curse them."

All Aboard Amtrac!

Davey G. Johnson — Tue, 15 May 2007 18:00:00 EDT

Last night, we were considering the Loverman and thought about his old band, Tarawa. Now, Tarawa circa late 1943 is no place for a Loverman. In fact, it was more appropriate for his inverse, the Fighterman. And verily did the Fightermen arrive courtesy of the Japanese and American armed forces. And when it came time for the American soldiers to re-take the small island in a brutal battle of attrition, some came ashore in The LVT — also known as the Amtrac — an amphibious, tracked troop carrier able to carry 24 soldiers. And while the Amtracs didn't fare so well at Tarawa, they went on to play a role throughout the next two years of the war, seeing service in both the Pacific and European theatres. We want one with a howitzer. – Davey G. Johnson More »