You’ve probably heard of John Smith before. He was a British colonizer turned Pocahontas’ love interest in the Disney animated movie. Or – in historical context – John Smith helped found Jamestown and Pocahontas saved him from execution. But, did you know there’s another John Smith in American history?

Yep, we’re talking about the OG: Chief John Smith, a Chippewa Indian who lived to be 137 years old! 

You would think living to be 137 is the most interesting thing about Chief John Smith. But you would be mistaken! Let’s look back at five unbelievable facts about Chief John Smith!

1. Chief John Smith Had A Lot of Different Nicknames

The Chief’s nicknames centered around his old age and his wrinkly skin. He was known as “White Wolf.” But, the Chippewa people also called him “Grandpa John” and the “Old Indian.” Other nicknames included “Gaa-binagwiiyaas” and “Ga-Be-Nah-Gewn-Wonce.” When translated, this means (respectively) “which the flesh peels off” and  “wrinkled meat”. Harsh!

2. Chief John Smith Had 8 Wives and 1 Adopted Son

Mean nicknames and leathery skin didn’t stop John Smith from being a true ladies man. During his 137 long years, he apparently had eight wives. He only ever had one child: An adopted son named Tom Smith. Tom was an instrumental part of John’s life until the end. He continuously vouched for his father’s age when others disbelieved.

3. John Survived Getting Hit By a Train

Tom Smith claimed that his father was very active in the years before his death. Tom described an incident in 1920 where John was hit by a train while crossing the railroad tracks. While this type of accident usually has a fatal ending for the victim, John survived. And it only took him 3 weeks to fully recover from his injuries! Right up until his death, John participated in everyday life. When visitors came to his home, he would tell stories and chat.

4. Smith’s Age Has Been Up For Debate

Chief John’s age has been highly controversial. Many people have gotten into serious debates about if this was factual, and if it’s even possible! The Federal Commissioner of Indian Enrollment argued that “it was disease and not age that made him look the way he did.” They also stated that, according to records, John was only 88 years old. Since Native Americans didn’t have records of birthdays, the government used key, historical events to identify their age. 

John repeatedly claimed that he was 7-10 years old when the “stars fell.” This was assumed to be the Leonid meteor shower on November 13, 1833. This would mean he was born in the mid-1820s. This makes him closer to 100 years old when he died, not 137.

5. Chief John Smith Died of Pneumonia 

In 1922, John Smith got sick with pneumonia. Due to his old age and weaker immune system, he died shortly after becoming sick on February 6, 1922. Smith was buried in a Catholic church cemetery in Cass Lake, Minnesota. He had resided in the woods by Cass Lake, Minnesota throughout his life. Even though his birth year was still unknown – and debated – his gravestone listed it as 1784.

The post Was Chief John Smith 137 Years Old? first appeared on History In Memes.

The Polish Army was not the only Allied power that got some help from the animal kingdom – so did the US government! The US military employed thousands of military working war dogs during World War Two. Additionally, Army, Marine Corps and Navy units unofficially adopted thousands of animals when they served in war-torn areas.

So, how did all these dogs end up fighting in World War 2? Keep scrolling to read about how these dogs became an incredible asset for the US military!

How Did These “War Dogs” End Up in WWII?

During their first six months involved in WWII, the US government realized the need for working dogs. There was a great fear of German and Japanese soldiers landing on US shores. So, huge numbers of sentry and guard dogs were needed for the big leagues! The military initially envisioned these dogs patrolling coastlines, protecting industrial facilities and guarding military bases from attack. But, there was just one problem: The US military had no dog program. They also could not wait to breed their own dogs.

Because of this, the Army launched the Dogs for Defense Program, which allowed patriotic citizens to donate their dogs for military service. They Initially accepted almost any breed. However, the Army soon narrowed down the list once they built training centers. Approximately 75% of dogs that ended up being recruited during the war were Doberman pinschers and 25% were German Shepherds. 

What Did War Dogs Do During WWII?

So, how many dogs did military forces adopt during WWII? It is estimated that 1,047 dogs were donated and trained for military service throughout the war. And photographic evidence from the National Archives shows that the practice was widespread. These war dogs successfully served in both the Pacific and European areas.

Working dogs were used as scouts, messengers and attack dogs. They were trained not to bark, alerting soldiers of Japanese presence through special signals. The trained dogs could also detect a human scent up to one-half mile away.

Dogs were also adopted by smaller units at the platoon and company level. Sometimes divisions even had official dog mascots. Though dog mascots were not expected to perform military functions, their role was crucial in keeping troops fighting. Regardless of how official it was, service members adopting animals proved to be a widespread practice. The dogs also a huge morale booster!

What Did The Dogs Do After the War Ended?

In 1945, the military retrained these dogs back to civilian life. All but four dogs were able to be retrained and re-homed. Though it was common to adopt cats, birds, goats and mules, dogs were by far the most popular choice among service members. 

Throughout World War Two, dogs played a crucial part in the US military. Military working dogs served in a variety of roles, both on the home front and in frontline combat. Numerous stories of dogs’ heroism solidified their use for future generations. Of the 1,047 dogs that served, 25 died during their service.

To this day, the US military still uses dogs to fight in wars. Take a look at their intense training:

The post Good Boys: The War Dogs of World War 2 first appeared on History In Memes.

Some things in life you need to see to believe. As World War 2 veteran and Staff Sergeant Leslie Edwards found out, a F-22 Raptor screaming over your head is one of those things.

A lot has changed since the planes of WWII ruled over the skies. Modern technology has changed the way aerial combat is fought. 

Let’s take a deeper look at the F-22 Raptor and how far fighter planes have come since WWII!

US Fighters of WW2

During WWII, the P51 Mustang was the US’s most dominant fighter plane. It performed incredibly and was said to have a 19-to-1 kill to losses ratio. In fact, the Senate War Investigating Committee even named it the most aerodynamically perfect pursuit plane during its existence.

With nearly 5,000 destroyed German planes to its credit, it has taken down more than any other US or Allied fighter. The P51 retired in 1951, making way for the next generation of aircraft. 

Tuskegee Airmen

SSgt. Edwards was part of a unit of African American military pilots called the Tuskegee Airmen. They were the first African Americans to complete training and join the Army Air Corps successfully. 

This remarkable group destroyed hundreds of German aircraft and ground support vehicles. They returned home with 96 distinguished flying crosses, 14 bronze stars, 744 air medals and at least 60 purple hearts.

The F-22 Raptor

When it comes to air superiority, the F-22 Raptor is unmatched. This fifth generation piece of art combines stealth, speed and situational awareness to dominate the air. It’s capable of both air-to-air combat and air-to-ground combat, making it one of the most versatile fighters in the world.

Capabilities of the F-22 Raptor

The F-22 can reach speeds up to Mach 1.8 and even Mach 2 with the afterburners. It can fly at 65,000 feet of elevation and can carry A LOT of weapons. 

The Raptor can outmaneuver any current or projected aircraft with its advanced thrust vectoring, aerodynamic design, and high thrust-to-weight ratio. Its supercruise capability allows it to travel at supersonic speeds without using afterburners. This permits the aircraft to maintain its pace over a tremendous range. 

The Cost of an F-22 Raptor

As you can imagine, these things don’t come cheap. The Raptor is one of the most expensive jets in the world with a price tag of roughly $120 million! The operating cost alone is enough to make your head spin at an estimated $68,362 per hour. 

However, even for those willing to spend the coin, the F-22 Raptor is not for sale. This aircraft is packed with classified technology! And in 1998, congress voted for an amendment that forbids it from being sold or exported to foreign countries.

Beyond the F-22 Raptor

If you want to dominate the air, a continued focus must be on future aircraft development. In 2020, the Air Force stated that it would look to begin retiring the F-22 Raptor to focus on its Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program. 

The budget space freed up in this move will allow the air force to focus on developing the warfighters of our future. 

Conclusion

Air dominance is a race of progress. The aircraft that soared over battlefields in WW2 vastly differ from the modern fighter jets that rule the skies today. And nobody can see that more clearly than the veterans that flew them!

The post WW2 Pilot First Time Seeing F-22 Raptor first appeared on History In Memes.

Babe Ruth is undoubtedly one of the most famous baseball players in history. With an impressive record at both pitching and batting, Babe Ruth takes the saying, “Jack of all trades, master of none” and flips it on its head. Ruth was, in fact, the jack of all trades and master of all. No matter what position he was in, he excelled at. 

However, despite his exploits on the baseball field, his reputation was mired for the partying and womanizing he did off the field. Despite the controversy, Babe Ruth lived and interesting and accomplished life.

Here are 10 facts about the famous baseball player!

1. His birthday was in dispute. 

Babe Ruth always believed his birthday was February 7, 1895, but historians now agree it was February 6. 

2. Ruth started partying at a young age. 

Ruth had a troubled childhood. Because of this, his knack for partying started early. Before he was eeven eight years olf, Ruth had already chewed tobacco and drank whiskey for the first time.

3. The origin of his nickname “Babe” is still unknown. 

Babe Ruth earned his nickname while playing for the Baltimore Orioles. No one knows precisely when or how he got the nickname. However, it stuck for good by the time he left the team.  

4. Babe Ruth debuted as a pitcher before he was a batter. 

Ruth started his professional baseball career as a pitcher. He pitched in 127 games before he began batting. 

5. Known for batting, Babe Ruth is still one of the best left-handed pitchers of the time. 

Despite his fame as a batter, Babe Ruth was also one of the best left-handed pitchers in early baseball. He had the lowest ERA of 2.19 and the highest winning average of .659 among left-handed pitchers. 

6.The Red Sox have never been the same without him. 

Ruth was the Red Sox’s most valuable player. During the six seasons he played with them, the Red Sox won three World Series titles. However, they have only won four in the 107 seasons since then. 

7. His career almost ended over a pitching dispute. 

Ruth almost quit the Red Sox when the manager refused to let him bat. After threatening legal action against him, Ruth returned to the team as a pitcher. 

8. Ruth went just as hard off the field. 

Due to his tendency to party, some of his teammates remarked: “I don’t room with Ruth; I room with his suitcase.” This was due to his being out at all hours of the night partying. 

9. Babe Ruth hit one of the longest-ever home run on record. 

While playing in Detroit, he hit one of the longest-ever home run on July 18, 1921. It is estimated the ball traveled around 575 feet. Ruth also holds the record for the top three longest home runs. 

10. His record for most home runs in a single season is still undefeated. 

During the 1927 season, Ruth set the single-season home run record – 60 home runs. That record has never been beaten but was tied in 1961. 

The Legacy of Babe Ruth in Baseball and Beyond 

Even though Ruth’s reputation off the field may have cost him opportunities later in life, he is undoubtedly a fantastic player. His ability to set records in any position he played has made him legendary in professional baseball. His resilience and skill on the field without the enhancement of steroids or other drugs make him truly remarkable in the sport. 

The post 10 Facts About Babe Ruth’s Career first appeared on History In Memes.

Living in the shadow of a famous relative is often hard for people to do. When so many compare your life to your relatives, it can be hard to carve out your own life and career. And this was certainly the case for the son of former US President John F. Kennedy –  John F. Kennedy Jr.

Despite being part of the famous Kennedy clan, John F. Kennedy Jr. despised being compared to his father and wanted to make a name for himself. Even after pushing through law school and two bar exam failures, JFK Jr. had a hard time staying out of the spotlight. 

Whether he was trying to build an acting career, volunteer, or make his own political magazine, he often drew the ire of his other family members. But despite not getting along with his family, JFK Jr. suffered a series of tragedies that seemed to make the Kennedy family curse true. 

JFK Jr. Was the Target of Three Kidnapping Plots 

After the death of her husband and several family members, Jackie Kennedy decided to move her family to her husband’s native Greece. Jackie was convinced that there was a plot to kill Kennedy family members, and she wanted to get out of dodge. Relocating to the remote island of Skorpios, she thought her family was safe. But, she was wrong. 

In 1972, Greek authorities and the FBI discovered a plot by eight Greek men to kidnap JFK Jr. for ransom. Because her husband was one of the wealthiest men in Greece, it was thought they could make out with an easy payday. The FBI did not reveal the other two plots to the public until after JFK Jr’s death. Released FBI documents detail how a very drunk man made a 911 call claiming he and seven other people were planning JFK Jr’s kidnapping in 1985. Though little information is known about this plot, it was not considered as severe as the next one.

In 1994, the FBI interviewed an informant claiming a powerful group of Columbian men were planning on kidnapping JFK Jr. for ransom. At the time, he lived in New York City, and the informant stated that the kidnappers knew he rode his bike and did not have bodyguards. These facts were true and could only have been known by people planning a kidnapping. The FBI took this threat seriously and considered the suspects armed and dangerous. Due to the heavily redacted report, what happened to the plotters is not known. 

JFK Jr. Died in an Untimely Airplane Accident 

On top of being a lawyer, writer, and actor, JFK Jr. also had his private pilot’s license. Late in the evening of July 16, 1999, JFK Jr., his wife Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, and her sister were flying from New Jersey to Martha’s Vineyard. Though Kennedy had about 300 hours of flight experience, he had little experience flying at night, especially in the poor visibility he was flying in that night. 

Because of the bad visibility, Kennedy would have to rely on his instruments only, which is something he was not qualified to do. One of his flight instructors even asked him if he could ride along to ensure he was fine, but Kennedy turned him down. After he checked out of the airport tower in New Jersey, that was the last anyone saw them alive. 

After several days of searching, Navy divers recovered the plane and their bodies a few miles from Martha’s Vineyard in 120 feet of water. The ensuing investigation found that Kennedy’s plane tumbled from 2,200 feet to 1,200 feet in 14 seconds, which was not a safe rate of descent. Ultimately, it was ruled that the plane crashed due to pilot error. 

JFK Jr.’s Short-Lived Life

JFK Jr., by all accounts, lived a very full life. From serving as a prosecutor to starting his magazine, to even being voted the sexiest man alive in the 80s, Kennedy tried to make a name for himself. However, the specter of his father’s presidency and the Kennedy family curse haunted him until the day he died. Surviving three kidnapping plots and dying in a tragic plane accident show that the Kennedy family curse is indeed still going strong.

The post The Tragic Life of John F. Kennedy Jr. first appeared on History In Memes.

Over 1 million people around the world finish running a marathon each year. That is close to 0.01% of the global population. So, that is 0.01% of people willingly sign themselves up to train and endure running a 26.2 mile long race. That’s some crazy sh*t right there! And about one-third of marathon runners are women. 34.82% to be exact. But, this wasn’t always the case. When Kathrine Switzer was running the Boston Marathon in 1967, women were not accepted in the world of running with open arms. 

Here’s the brave story of what happened when Kathrine ran the Boston Marathon in 1967.

Who Is Kathrine Switzer?

Kathrine Switzer was born on January 5, 1947, in Amberg, Germany. In 1949, her family moved to Virginia. She played a lot of sports and ran a mile every day. Finding empowerment and enjoyment from running, she began her track career at Lynchburg College. After transferring to Syracuse University, Kathrine began running longer distances to train with the men’s cross-country team. Kathrine’s aspirations didn’t stop there. She had dreams of running the Boston Marathon. At the time, no woman had officially completed the marathon race.

Leading the Way for Kathrine

The year prior, Bobbi Gibb was the first woman to run and finish the Boston Marathon. But, she wasn’t officially entered as a runner in the race due to being disqualified because she was a female. But that didn’t stop her from running the 26.2 miles. Bobbi hid in a bush near the marathon start line, wore a hoodie to cover her identity and raced alongside the other marathoners. She completed the race, but unfortunately, her time was not recorded down. 

This story didn’t deter Kathrine. She entered the race using her initials, “K.V. Switzer.” This kept her gender unknown on the entry form, and her bib was registered. After paying a $2 entry fee, K.V.Switzer was ready to race against over 600 runners!

K.V. Switzer Races The Boston Marathon

The Boston Marathon took place on April 19,1967, in less than ideal weather conditions. It was cold, wet, and snowy. But, that didn’t dampen Kathrine’s excitement. As fellow, male runners were getting hyped at the start line, they were the least bit fazed by Kathrine’s presence. Quite the opposite – they were beyond supportive! 

The race began and everything was going smootly. However, a press truck pulled up a few miles into the race. The photographers realized Kathrine was a female and began shouting at her:

“What are you doing in the race? What are you trying to prove?”

As odd as the interaction was, Kathrine continued on. Next, a bus full of the race officials pulled up. The Boston Marathon’s co-director, Jock Semple, hopped onto the course. And no, he wasn’t looking to run the remaining miles. He raced toward Kathrine to stop her from running! He was grabbing at her bib, yelling:

“Get the hell out of my race and give me those numbers!”

Kathrine tried to get away from Jock’s grip as her coach yelled at the co-director that she was a trained athlete. Luckily, her American football-player boyfriend, Tom Miller, was running alongside her at the time. Miller shoulder-checked Jock, which blocked him from removing Kathrine’s numbers from her sweatshirt. Talk about a good defense line!

As rattled and distressed as Kathrine was about the back-to-back attacks, it didn’t show in her performance. She continued on and finished the marathon. Her finishing time was around 4 hours and 20 minutes. Thus, she became the first woman in history to officially receive a bib and complete the Boston Marathon.

What Did Kathrine Switzer Have to Say After the Marathon?

When recalling those attempts to stop her from racing, Kathrine admitted:

“I was so afraid. I’m so full of confidence now but at that moment, I had just turned 20. As a girl, I wasn’t trying to prove anything. I had proved to Arnie [her coach] that I could do the distance and the reward was to go to Boston.” 

She also recalled:

“Back then, there was no New York, Chicago or London Marathon. And outside the Olympics, for runners, Boston was the ‘big baby’ and a special thing. I wanted to be a part.”

Despite what the press or race officials believed, Kathrine wasn’t trying to make her entry in the marathon as a political statement. 

So that begs the question: Why did she put everything on the line to race then? It was a combination of her love and ability to race long-distance, mixed with already running 31 miles during training. But, ultimately, it was the desire to prove to her coach that she, along with other female runners, could run a marathon.

When Did The Boston Marathon Accept Female Runners?

In 1972, the Boston Marathon officially began accepting female runners. Kathrine ran the Boston Marathon again. This time, she completed it in 2 hours, 51 minutes, and 37 seconds, A personal best!

Kathrine went on to become an icon in the world of women’s running. She wrote a memoir titled “Marathon Woman,” along with other books. She also contributed to the Runner’s World magazine, providing commentary for the Olympics, and received many honors for her contributions.

Her love for running didn’t simmer as she continued to race, winning the 1974 New York Marathon and running in the Boston Marathon, 50 years after her initial race, at the age of 70!

The post Kathrine Switzer: Boston Marathon Legend first appeared on History In Memes.

When people first think of the Twin Towers, the first thing that comes to mind is the tragedy of 9/11. But before that infamous day, the Twin Towers were among the tallest buildings in the world. And at one point, the World Trade Center was even considered the world’s tallest TV station.

The North Tower, completed first in December 1970, stood at an impressive 1,368 feet. Meanwhile, its twin South Tower, completed in July 1971, stood at 1,362 feet.

Not long after being completed in 1971, the Word Trade Center was soon dwarfed by the Sears Tower in Chicago. Standing at an eye-watering 1,451 feet, the Sears Tower became even taller than the World Trade Center. 

But with a simple addition, the Word Trade Center was soon able to reclaim the title of “World’s Tallest Building.”

The North Tower: The Tallest TV Station in the World

Until its destruction on 9/11, the North Tower had the distinction of being the tallest building in the world at 1,728 feet. But how did the North Tower gain several hundred feet on its twin tower? The answer to that is simple: an antenna. 

Building the twin towers was very expensive. Along with the huge insurance policy that cost billions of dollars, the building’s upkeep, insurance, and rent were costly for its owners. To help offset the cost, they got the idea of turning the North Tower into the country’s largest television station.

In 1979, the owners decided to mount a television antenna on the North Tower. Often working in cranes and baskets almost two thousand feet above the streets of Manhattan, the crews were known as “cloud piercers.” This is because they were so high up they would often be standing far above the cloud covers. 

When completed, the tower provided television coverage for all of New York state. 

The Man Behind the Famous Photo of the World’s Tallest TV Station

Peter Kaplan was a famous photographer who was both a photographer and stuntman. Growing up in New York, Peter was fond of taking pictures from high places, even from a young age. But once he grew up, he took that love of photography to new heights – literally. 

After becoming famous for climbing the Statue of Liberty and snapping several, now world-renowned, photos, Peter Kaplan cemented his fame as both a photographer and daredevil. Clambering up places like the Empire State Building, St. Louis Arch, and Golden Gate Bridge, Peter made it his lifelong passion for showing the world what it looked like from its highest places. 

For the photo showing the antenna on the North Tower, Peter went up not once, not twice, but 12 separate times to get all the shots he needed. Talk about dedication!

Other Artists Who Have Scaled the World Trade Center

The “cloud piercers” and photographer Peter Kaplan weren’t the only ones to bravely make their way high up the World Trade Center.

August 7, 1974: High-wire walker Philippe Petit traversed a 131-foot-long cable between the Twin Towers and walked back and forth several time, 1,350 feet in the air. Even more impressive, he performed the act without a net.

July 22, 1975: Atop the North Tower, Owen Quinn performed the first ever (although unauthorized) parachute jump at the World Trade Center from the top of the North Tower. Follow Owen, four other people have parachuted off the Twin Towers between 1980 and 1999.

May 26, 1977: Toymaker and mountain climber George Willig scaled the entirety of the South Tower’s facade. The act was so impressive that he earned the nickname “the human fly.”

Looking Back at the World’s Tallest TV Station

The story behind the World Trade Center antenna photo is amazing. Not only was the guy that took it dangling almost 2,000 feet in the air, but he also had to do it a dozen times to get the shot he finally wanted. Not only that, but the photographer was well known for taking great shots of places most people would never dream of going. 

Because of how good his work was, Peter Kaplan’s photos have been preserved in places like the Smithsonian, New York Museum of Modern Art, as well as postage stamps in 13 different countries. 

The post The World’s Tallest TV Station first appeared on History In Memes.

Imagine: You’re face-to-face with a leopard viciously trying to kill you. We know, this sounds like your worst dream – or more like a nightmare – you’re hoping you wake up from. But, this is something that actually happened to taxidermist Carl Akeley – and he lived to tell the tale.

Unless you’re a pro fighter like Mayweather, there’s no shot of fighting off such a primal animal who is dead-set on killing you. But for Akeley, his encounter with a leopard was not him staring death in the face, but rather, getting into a little scuffle with a bully. No big deal!

So, who is this man who’s able to fight a leopard? Here are five facts about certified badass Carl Akeley and his strange ride to becoming obsessed with taxidermy.

1. Carl Was a Major Advocate For Taxidermy 

Carl Akeley was many things – a naturalist, inventor, conservationist. But was more notably known as a taxidermist. So much so, he’s actually known as the father of modern taxidermy. After viewing an exhibit when he was younger, Carl became fascinated with taxidermy and believed it was an art form. Carl believed it’s important to show people what animals look like in the wild, in their natural habitat. He didn’t “hide his methods, he shared them with museums in hopes of having the animal skins placed on a perfectly molded recreation of the animal’s body, thus melding the artificial and the real to make something educational. His biggest goal was to build a large-scale diorama of Africa with the game that could be found on the plains.”

2. Carl Akeley First Attempted Taxidermy At 12 Years Old

Killing and stuffing animals may not be everybody’s dream job, but it sure was Carl’s! His first attempt at taxidermy was at 12 years old when his friend’s pet canary died. Carl – being the good friend he was – offered to stuff the bird. Stuffing the inside of the bird, as well as sewing glass beads into the eye sockets, Carl fixed and preserved the animal. His attempt fueled his passion for taxidermy further, which led to years of educating and immersing himself in the subject matter. When he turned 19 years old, he was offered an apprenticeship at the Ward’s Natural Science Establishment, which started his journey of museum work all around New York.

3. Near-Death Encounters With Wild Animals

Leopards weren’t the only animals out for Carl’s blood – he has a long list of crazy scary encounters with wild animals. While on Mount Kenya, a bull elephant charged and almost crushed him. Another time he was tag-teamed by three charging rhinos, who just missed hitting him. And thank god for that –  he didn’t have any weapons on him! After successfully shooting a silverback gorilla, the limp, lifeless body came tumbling towards Carl and nearly knocked him off a cliff. Carl’s even shot hyenas, warthogs, and almost got an ostrich.

4. Carl Killed A Leopard With His Bare Hands

The ostrich attempt is where the infamous story of the leopard begins. During his first trip to Africa, Carl was face-to-face with a leopard. While out hunting for ostrich, there was a sound in the tall grass nearby. Figuring it was a hyena or maybe a warthog, Carl did a very foolish thing and shot blindly at the hidden animal. Hearing the animal’s shriek, Carl knew it was no hyena and most certainly was not a warthog. The 80-pound leopard lunged for Carl, sinking her teeth into his forearm. He jammed his arm down her throat while clutching her throat with his other hand in an attempt to strangle and subdue her. 

While discussing the near death incident, Carl explained:

“I couldn’t do it except little by little. When I got enough grip on her throat to loosen her hold just a little she would catch my arm again an inch or two lower down. In this way, I drew the full length of the arm through her mouth inch by inch… [There was] only the sound of the crushing of tense muscles and the choking, snarling grunts of the beast… I felt her relax, a sort of letting go, although she was still struggling. At the same time I felt myself weakening similarly, and then it became a question as to which would give up first.”

– Carl Akeley

Carl was successful, making it out of the fight with his life and with the prize of the killed leopard. That crazy experience didn’t stop him from going back. Carl made a total of five trips to Africa to observe, study, and bring back animals.

5. Carl Akeley Died While In The Field

Spending years and multiple trips to Africa studying animals, Carl also began inventing tools that would help other taxidermists. He invented the “Akeley cement gun,” which mounted animals, as well as the “Akeley camera,” also known as the “Pancake camera”, which helped taxidermists film animals in the wild. It also was impressive mechanically for its ability to be  easily mounted, rotated and reloaded.

Carl Akeley died from a fever he contracted while in Congo in 1926. He died a few miles away from where he had previously observed gorillas during a trip to Congo in 1921.

The post 5 Facts About Taxidermist and Leopard-Fighter Carl Akeley first appeared on History In Memes.

Like myself, you probably have heard or seen the famous photograph of “Lunch atop a Skyscraper.” Although a well-known photograph, have you ever wondered how it was captured – and who by? 

Charles Clyde Ebbets was the mastermind behind the piece, and his story is actually just as breathtaking as the picture. Here’s a bit about his incredible life!

Humble Beginnings

Charles Clyde Ebbets was born in Gadsen, Alabama, on August 18, 1905. He received his first camera at the young age of 8, using it to casually take pictures similar to myself at that age with a disposable. With each picture he took, he fell more and more in love with his hobby, mastering it further each time. By the 1920s, Ebbets’ family was financially struggling alongside so many other Americans. This prompted Ebbets to quit high school in his sophomore year. 

Ebbets started his career during the 1920s in St. Petersburg, Florida, as a still photographer. He traveled all around the southeastern United States, diving into many adventures. During this time, he picked up a lot of activities, from learning how to fly a plane, wrestling, and even racing cars. Ebbets’ fearless lifestyle began to leak into his photography. He started to shoot aerial pictures and action shots, a genre never seen before. 

The Rise to 700 Feet

In the 1930s, Ebbets’ cutting edge art peaked the interest of many. His growing name earned him a huge contract in 1932: Photographing the construction of the Rockefeller Center. He was hired as the photographic director, with the main goal of convincing viewers to lease out the building. Times were tough. The start of construction began a few years into the Great Depression, and no one was throwing bills around willy nilly.  Ebbets needed to capture the audience – and he did not disappoint.

Within the first year, his work appeared on multiple front pages. One of his masterpieces was “The Photographer” (seen below). However, his most famous was “Lunch atop a Skyscraper” This photo featured 11 ironworkers having bagged lunches on top of a huge metal beam. The image represented your average everyday worker caught in the chaos of the growing times. It is known as one of the most iconic representations of 20th century American photography. His daring aerial shots shocked Americans and led the building to a successful launch a few years after the end of the Great Depression.  

A Florida Staycation

In 1935, Charlie moved to South Florida, where he became one of the first official Associated Press photographers for that region. That same year, he was recruited to document the destruction of the Florida Keys from a category 5 hurricane. A few years later, in 1938, he founded the Miami Press Photographers’ Association and served as their first president. 

Similar to the opportunity in the Florida Keys, Ebbets was later hired to capture the opening of the Everglades National Park. It was here that he was able to develop award-winning shots of both the wildlife of the park along with the native Seminole Indian tribe. Many of these photos are still admired, depicting the beauty of the Seminoles and the growth of the region. 

A Nation at War

WWII began in 1939, and, like most citizens, Charles’ life changed drastically. His photography shifted from nature to documenting the military operations of the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Institute. He was able to show off activities on the base, such as training, visiting political figures, and confidential images of the terrain. After the war ended in 1945, he and local publicist Ben Jacobs founded the City of Miami News Bureau. During his 17-year career there, he saw the bureau change names to the Miami Metropolitan News Bureau, growing from three employees to a full 24. 

Ebbets’ amazing pictures of Miami further expanded his name and became a huge part of South Florida tourism. Many wanted to visit the area just to see the beauty of the images in person. In the following decades, his photographs were featured in famous publications like Miami Daily News, The New York Times, and even National Geographic. 

The Final Photos

Ebbets left his job in 1962 but could never leave his love for photography. He continued to do freelance work up until his death in 1978, at the age of 72. His work can still be viewed online, in galleries, old magazines, newspaper copies, and even on old postcards. He truly was a legendary man who was ableto capture destruction, beauty, and the atmosphere of the times. 

The post Charles C. Ebetts: The Mind Behind “Lunch atop a Skyscraper” first appeared on History In Memes.

Dogs are known as man’s best friend. But in the years of WWII, Smoky the Dog was more than Corporal Bill Wynne’s best friend – he was his heroic fellow soldier!

How Did Smoky the Dog Become Smoky the Soldier?

The 8-month-old Yorkshire Terrier Smoky, later nicknamed “Yorkie Doodle Dandy,” was abandoned in a New Guinea foxhole in 1944. She definitely could fit into small spaces – including a soldier’s pack. This little pup weighed in at 4 pounds, 7 inches tall – how cute!

Corporal Bill Wynne bought Smoky for a whopping $6. And he sure got his money’s worth – not only did the Corporal get a best friend, he got a soldier that would save so many lives during World War II combat. 

How Smoky the Dog Survived Combat and Enemy Attacks

Smoky learned over 200 hand signals and commands to survive and alert her team of incoming enemy attacks. She was involved in 12 air-sea rescue and photo reconnaissance missions, survived 150 air raids, and to top it all off, she survived a typhoon. There was nothing this little pup couldn’t handle!

Her most infamous mission was in February 1945. The US Army was in the Lingayen Gulf. Fearful of a repeated attack from the Japanese, Wynne desperately needed to send communications from his team’s spot back to the headquarters base. But, there was no way to get back to base without exposing themselves to attack, Wynne found a 70-inch pipe that traveled back to headquarters. Wynne sent Smoky through, which was littered with leaking sand from above. At some points, Smoky only had 4 inches of headway! Being that little has its perks!

They tied a string with their communications on it and nervously sent Smoky on her way through the pipe. Smoky was successful with her efforts. She not only spared her team exposure to bullets, bombs, and enemy attacks, but saved them from a three-day adventure that she resolved in minutes. The soldiers also gave Smoky the best reward of all: A large steak dinner as a thank you!

From The Battlefield To Therapy

Smoky’s legacy goes far beyond her war efforts. She also became known as the “world’s first therapy dog.” She entertained members of Wynne’s team with a number of learned tricks, as well as visiting injured veterans in hospitals to brighten up their days. Smoky also became the first dog to be awarded the honor of the Animals in War & Peace Distinguished Service medal, which is the highest honor an animal can be awarded. The president of Animals in War & Peace, Robin Hutton, commented on awarding Smoky such an esteemed honor:

“We don’t think of the animal sacrifice in war, but what they have done is truly stunning,” she explained. “The soldiers they serve with become their ‘pack,’ so they do these fierce feats because they want to please and out of love and devotion they have for their handler. They prove themselves time and time again.” 

– Animals in War & Peace President Robin Hutton on honoring Smoky

Honoring Smoky’s Legacy

Unfortunately, Smoky died on February 21st in 1957. Corporal Wynne buried his best friend in a World War II .30 caliber ammo box in Rocky River Reservation in Cleveland. She was later moved to the “Smoky and Dogs of All Wars” memorial in 2005. The memorial honors Smoky’s legacy of being a loyal, dedicated war dog and first therapy dog. Learn more about the heroic, wonder dog Smoky with this brief video!

The post Smoky the Dog: A WWII Hero first appeared on History In Memes.