Ghosts of the Battlefield Articles

Enola Gay: The Aircraft That Changed History

The Enola Gay, a B-29 bomber, dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. Preserved by the Smithsonian, it is now displayed at the Udvar-Hazy Center in Virginia.

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The Siege of Plei Me: The Prelude to the Battle of Ia Drang

The Plei Me Special Forces Camp, built in October 1963, was located 40 kilometers (25 miles) south of Pleiku and less than 32 kilometers (20 miles) from the Cambodian border in Vietnam’s Central Highlands.

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MACV-SOG's Covert Operations in Laos: The Beginning of Cross-Border Reconnaissance (1965)

On October 18, 1965, MACV-SOG executed its first cross-border mission against Target D-1, a suspected truck terminus on Laotian Route 165, approximately 15 miles (24 km) inside Laos.

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Operation Starlite: The first purely US military offensive action in the Vietnam War

Also known as The Battle of Van Tuong, this operation marked a pivotal moment in the conflict, demonstrating American military strategy, firepower, and the challenges faced in fighting the Viet Cong.

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The Viet Cong Hotel Bombing: A Night of Tragedy in Qui Nhon

At approximately 8:05 PM February 10, 1965, a coordinated assault by Viet Cong operatives turned a routine night into a catastrophic event.

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Douglas AC-47 Spooky: The Birth of the Modern Gunship

The AC-47 was developed from the Douglas C-47 Skytrain, a military transport aircraft derived from the DC-3 commercial airliner.

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The Norden Bombsight: Was It One of World War II's Greatest Propaganda Tools?

The Norden bombsight, though not the technological marvel it was portrayed to be, played a significant role in World War II by boosting American morale and symbolizing innovation.