World War II

We look at a few of the spies of World War II who helped their countries win – and sometimes LOSE – battles, and ultimately, the war.

On June 2, 1943, the 99th Pursuit Squadron of the Tuskegee Airmen, flew its first combat mission during World War II, when it strafed the island of Pantelleria off the coast of Italy.  By the war’s end, the 99th, which became known as the “Red Tails” by the distinctive tail markings on its planes, had […]

In a few days is the 76th anniversary of D-Day. There were so many compelling stories that happened on that first “day of days” that one could have gone in literally hundreds of directions to pick one to commemorate the landings: Major John Howard’s airborne assault of “Pegasus Bridge” over the Orne River in the […]

Operation Dynamo, the evacuation of Dunkirk, began nearly 80 years ago today. In May of 1940, British, French, and Belgian troops were trapped by the German army in western France. Blitzkrieg, or “lightning war” had proven terribly effective. With the Allied armies nearing total collapse as the Germans neared the French coastline, the British launched […]

We’ve been focusing on Memorial Day in the past week, writing about some of the heroes of past conflicts who despite all odds persevered and made it through the horrors of war and were awarded the Nation’s highest award. Today on Memorial Day, we remember a hero who was awarded the Medal of Honor for […]

Editor’s note: Enjoy this excerpt from SOFREP author Kevin Wilson’s book, Sully’s Squad. The book will be published on May 25, 2020. The main characters of Sully’s Squad are rooted locally to upstate New York and the novel is partially based and dedicated to a local war hero. Sully’s Squad is not only a WWII […]

After the U.S. troops had been driven out of Burma by the Japanese in 1943 during World War II, the Americans decided that they needed a “Long Range Penetration” mission behind Japanese lines. The plan was to disrupt and destroy the enemy’s supply lines and communications while attacking the enemy behind their forces while also […]

In the spring of 1942, things weren’t going well for the Allies, especially for the Americans in the Pacific. After the crippling sneak attack at Pearl Harbor, the Japanese invaded Wake Island, the Philippines, Burma, Malaya, and the Dutch East Indies, and had American and Filipino forces bottled up at Corregidor.  The Japanese were ready […]

Major General John Frost is best remembered as the battalion commander of a British airborne infantry battalion during Operation Market Garden. Frost’s battalion was part of the famous “Bridge Too Far” operation. His unit was able to capture one side of the famous and final Arnhem bridge and hold it for several days before being […]

By early 1945, the Japanese Empire was shrinking daily and the war had reached its home shores. Less than three and half years after Pearl Harbor, American industrial might was on full display. And it was never more apparent than during the Battle of Okinawa.  The once-proud Japanese Imperial Navy that Americans feared would threaten […]

James Maurice Gavin, born 113 years ago of yesterday, would rise to become the youngest Major General to command a division in World War II. He led the 82nd Airborne during the D-Day invasion, Operation Market-Garden and the Battle of the Bulge. He was known “The Jumping General” or “Jumpin’ Jim,” as he would jump […]

During World War II, many of the best operatives of the British Special Operations Executive (SOE), and the American Office of Strategic Services (OSS), were women. They worked undercover, putting their lives at risk in occupied France, and running agent networks, conducting sabotage, and training the French Maquis.  Many lost their lives or went sent […]