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Features

Charlie Brown’s War

Charles M. Schulz found out firsthand what it was like to fight in a war. His melancholy cartoon boy and friends never forgot. By Melissa Amateis Marsh

Shark Hunt

U-boats preyed at will on helpless ships. Then the Allies started hunting them. The Battle of the Atlantic was on–six years of it. By Brian John Murphy

Web Extra: From Our Articles Archive

Sharks in American Waters

It wasn’t the US Navy or Coast Guard that controlled America’s Atlantic waters in early 1942. It was the U-boats of Nazi Germany.

Fire from the Mountain

GIs knew they would face fiery opposition when they invaded Italy. They had no idea that would include an erupting Mount Vesuvius. By David A. Norris

Ghost Blimp

It was odd enough for a US Navy dirigible to crash down in a California coastal town. But where was the crew? The question remains unanswered. By Chuck Lyons

Web Extra: Footage

Bomber Blimps

US Navy footage shows blimps taking off to fly a patrol for enemy submarines along the California coast.

Departments

Kilroy Was Here

A note from our publisher: “It’s Always There”

V-Mail

Letters from our readers

Home Front

FDR’s Soggy Spinach

Pinup

Marie McDonald

Flashbacks

Print ads from the war years

I Was There

Hillbilly Fighter Mechanic

Landings

Jersey’s Airport Built for War

Web Extra: Link

Website of the Millville Army Airfield Museum

 

War Stories

Readers’ memories of the war

Books and Media

Our take on the latest releases

Theater of War

The Great Escape

Web Extra: Footage

The Great Escape Original Trailer

78 RPM

‘Happy Holiday’

Web Extra: Footage

‘Happy Holiday’

Bing Crosby and Marjorie Reynolds (lip-synching to a vocal track by Martha Mears) sing the theme song for 1942’s Irving Berlin movie musical Holiday Inn. Here’s the soundtrack.

WWII Events

A calendar of present-day happenings

GIs

Two Purple Hearts