France became a member of NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, in 1949. Members agreed to come to each other's aid if any member was attacked by a country outside the alliance. While initially a political union, during the Korean War NATO became a fully integrated Military structure. However, France became unhappy with the dominance of the USA and possible failures of NATO plans to hold ...
The War in the Pacific had been a long time beginning. As far back as the early 1930s, Japan had followed an increasingly Imperialist policy, aiming to expand its territories and influence in an attempt to gain access to the raw materials that the Japanese homeland lacked, for example, the Dutch East-Indies was known to be rich in oil reserves. Australia, The Netherlands Britain and the USA had ...
Nice little story to go with this issue's watch which is based on the Gallet Commander, an expensive and unusual watch for the period. Lieutenant James Richard Hoel and his fellow Aircrew from 322nd Bombardment group arrived in Britain and undertook low-level flight training to avoid German Radar, In ...
As the West German Luftwaffe became more central to the NATO defence forces in Europe they were increasingly the first to be supplied with the most up to date aircraft. The Lockheed F104 Starfighter had a poor reputation, more than 915 were delivered and 292 crashed with 116 pilots losing their life, the West German nicknamed them "Widow-maker" or "Flying coffin" It was learned ...
Towards the end of the World War II, the US company Waltham was charged with developing the successor to the highly acclaimed A11 military watch that had been produced by Elgin, Waltham and Bulova. Although the A11 was very successful there was a need to update the pattern and improve legibility, especially in reduced lighting conditions. By 1947 pre-production models of the A17 were being made, ...