Yo,
I am a career journalist, fascinated by history and art. I detail my research about World War II on this website. (Also: LinkedIn)
— The Gen —
Out of the Blue: The Unraveling of Operation Market-Garden
Operation Market-Garden, an ambitious British-led offensive in World War II, aimed to secure key bridges in the Netherlands, followed by a rapid advance into northern Germany. Instead, the operation collapsed and now stands as a testament to the failures of leadership and the complexities of warfare. This monograph is an effort to examine the operation using maps and data.
Battle for Normandy
The struggle for Normandy in World War II was one of the greatest land and tactical air campaigns in the history of humankind. In a near-relentless series of skirmishes and battles, Allied and German units carved out legendary reputations in battles scarred by courage, loss, and often, by a total lack of humanity.
Aces over Berlin
A fierce struggle was fought in the skies over western Europe from 1943 to early 1944 as the fledgling England-based US 8th Air Force sought to sweep the German Luftwaffe from the air. At the point of the spear were US fighter pilots who were learning on the job to best their experienced opponents. In this post, I talk about two gifted American fighter pilots who have been all but forgotten now.
Masters of the Air: The Historical Context
A critical review of the 2024 TV series, Masters of the Air, with data and infographics to fill gaps left by the show’s narrative and to help “place” the events portrayed within the wider context of the Second World War.
The Liberation of Paris
The liberation of Paris from Nazi Germany in 1944 was the culmination of Allied victory in Normandy and recompense for their struggles. But the city was also on the brink of destruction before it fell into Allied hands. For decades, details about the capture of the city in the English language were limited to the 1960s bestseller Is Paris Burning?
The Winter of Discontent
A German offensive into the Ardennes Forest in December 1944 gave the US Army its first major experience of winter combat. I examine this unique, confusing campaign (including an epic last stand by an isolated US Army intelligence and reconnaissance platoon at Lanzerath) using data and maps.
In 1943
With the Japanese conquest of Asia in World War II being nearly total, an obscure British Army officer became convinced that a motivated, guerrilla force operating behind enemy lines could destroy Japan’s reputation as masters of jungle warfare. He called his force Chindits, after a mythical lion from Buddhist lore.