The British Raid on Taranto Harbor

In November 1940, the British Royal Navy carried out a surprise attack on the Italian fleet in Taranto Harbor using carrier aircraft. It was a model for the Japanese air strike on Pearl Harbor a year later.

British recon photo showing results of Taranto raid photo from WikiCommons

Making Some Stone Tools

When I was a kid I lived in Rapid City SD and had Lakota friends on the Pine Ridge Reservation. I learned the basics of arrowpoint-making (along with a bunch of other kids) from a guy who seemed to take a liking to the young wasichu.

So I thought I’d give it a try again now that I am cooped up here (until I can finally get those needles in the arm), and have obtained some suitable stone and chipped away at it for the past several days.

A few photos. Sorry—it’s hard to knap flint with two hands and still work a camera.  😉

The Chauchat Light Machine Gun

The Chauchat light machine gun bears the reputation as being quite possibly the worst weapon fielded during the First World War.

Chauchat light machine gun, on display at the National World War One Museum in Kansas City

How George Washington Helped Start the French and Indian War

By 1753, the French and British rivalry in North America had reached a breaking point, and both sides prepared for conflict. The spark that set it off was struck by a young Virginia militia officer named George Washington. Yes, THAT George Washington.

The death of Jumonville photo from WikiCommons