Military Aviation History

See the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4NdqeV0o4U The Rhodesian Bush War (1965-1980) pitted outnumbered Rhodesian forces against ZANLA/ZIPRA insurgents amid UDI sanctions, using innovative Fireforce tactics and air power with Hunters, Canberras, and Lynx in strikes like Operation Dingo (1976 camp destruction) and Uric (1979 base assaults). Tenacious defense delayed rebels until Lanca...

See the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2Erj6dlR2Q Why the F-14D Could Have Been the Ultimate Fighter The Grumman F-14 Tomcat was one of the most iconic fighter aircraft of the Cold War—renowned for its variable-geometry wings, twin engines, and long-range AIM-54 Phoenix missiles. But what if the platform had been allowed to fully mature? This documentary explores the full evolution o...

Made possible by our members—this is what keeps the channel independent and ongoing ✔ Merch & Members ► https://peacemaker.net.au From Cold War necessity to Top Gun legend, the Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter became one of the most agile and influential lightweight fighters ever built. Originally designed as a low-cost export fighter to counter the spread of Soviet MiGs, the F-5 proved itself far mor...

See the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDdlkD7QfM8 Made possible by our members—this is what keeps the channel independent and ongoing ✔ Merch & Members ► https://peacemaker.net.au Was the A-5 Vigilante one of the most advanced, and most overlooked, aircraft ever to serve with the US Navy? Introduced in the early 1960s as a Mach 2 carrier-based nuclear bomber, the Vigilante pushed the...

See the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eMl93Oo65c From its rather unreliable debut in Vietnam to a much more reliable missile in Desert Storm, the AIM-7 Sparrow has been critical in the evolution of radar-guided air-to-air combat. Out of U.S. Navy experiments in the late 1940s, the Sparrow became an important weapon in beyond-visual-range warfare for decades, arming Phantoms, Tomcats...

See the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OY1nRMQ0m18 For nearly 70 years, the AIM-9 Sidewinder has been the West's most iconic air-to-air missile — from its humble 1940s origins at China Lake to its latest AIM-9X incarnation with helmet-cueing and thrust-vectoring agility. This documentary charts its evolution through Cold War dogfights, the Falklands, the Gulf War, and beyond — reveali...

Find the video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5UP97oIZF0 The Battle of Milne Bay (from August 25 through to September 7, 1942), was the defence of the eastern New Guinea by Australian and US forces against a Japanese invasion. It would become the first time that Japanese forces had been defeated on land, shattering the myth at the time of Japanese invincibility. The Royal Australian Air For...

Find the video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dA5e1pIzgQ In the 1960s, a small, unique, and capable ground attack aircraft was designed by British Aircraft Corporation. This aircraft, the BAC 167 Strikemaster, would go on to serve with a number of countries across the world.

Find the video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nk4AcUM2lt0 The Convair B-36 Peacemaker remains one of the most extraordinary aircraft ever built—an enormous six-piston, four-jet-engine bomber designed to strike deep into enemy territory long before aerial refuelling or advanced missiles made such missions more feasible. It was the largest mass-produced piston-engine aircraft in history, and f...

The only heavy bomber flown by the RAAF against Japanese forces, the B-24 Liberator, played a significant role in victory in the Pacific. See the video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MS7IgABDCrI

Australia joining the B-21 Raider program was considered, by some, to be the right strategic move—but ultimately policy makers walked away from the long-range bomber option. Was that the right decision? In this video, we break down the strategic, financial, and operational arguments behind Australia's decision not to pursue the B-21, and what it means for the future of long-range strike in the Ind...

Find the video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOaneGWOCic The Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider is the United States' first new bomber in over three decades—a next-generation, long-range stealth aircraft designed to penetrate advanced air defenses and strike global targets with precision. In this documentary, we explore the B-21's origins, lineage, development, and the strategic implications of w...

Find the video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlFzkRYQBZo AWACS: The Eyes in the Sky – A History of Airborne Early Warning Aircraft From the earliest airborne radar tests in WWII to today's cutting-edge E-7 Wedgetail, this documentary traces the evolution of airborne early warning systems—platforms that have quietly revolutionized modern air combat. Often operating in the background, AWACS (...

Find the video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFU4NWL0ixk Australia's helicopter fleet is undergoing a striking reset—bringing in Apache, Black Hawk, Chinook, and Seahawk platforms that are, in some cases, older than the aircraft they replace. So why make that choice? Greg Furguson breaks down the strategic logic behind the ADF's move toward proven, interoperable systems aligned with the US...

See the video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0qhnTQ9sYk Become a member here https://peacemaker.fashion/ During World War II, two ace pilots emerged who were considered unmatched for their skill and combat record. They were Erich Hartmann - highest scoring ace of all time - and Hans-Joachim Marseille - the top ace in the North African campaign. A common debate is whether Marseille - despite...

see the video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uB9xhUTSu_M Become a member here https://peacemaker.fashion/  

See the video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jk4lbPPPaK4 Become a member here https://peacemaker.fashion/ We look at the history of the AC-130 gunship, from its humble beginnings as a C-130 Hercules transport in 1954 to becoming the ultimate aerial powerhouse in modern warfare. We look at how this aircraft evolved through WWII-inspired designs, Vietnam War innovations like the AC-47 Spooky,...

See the video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lo7Skkvs1ts Become a member here https://peacemaker.fashion/ July 25, 2025, marks 70 years since the U.S. Navy first ordered the prototype that would become the F-4 Phantom. Born from a Cold War demand for a high-performance, carrier-capable interceptor, the Phantom would evolve into one of the most iconic and versatile combat aircraft of the jet...

See the video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqFumSrkefg Become a member here https://peacemaker.fashion/ In the early 1970s, General Dynamics and the Israeli Air Force quietly collaborated on one of the most ambitious upgrade programs for the venerable F-4 Phantom. Born out of a need for a high-speed reconnaissance platform that could counter the growing threat of Soviet MiG-25 Foxbats, the...

Find the video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fz008M8lk8Y Become a member here https://peacemaker.fashion Following the U-2 spy plane came the development of the A-12 and SR-71 - for the CIA and USAF respectively. These aircraft would first see service over Vietnam, where their stealth tech and high performance capabilities would be pushed to their limits.

See the video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIbgW_VzEtM Become a member here https://peacemaker.fashion The Orion's increased range, speed and reliability enabled it to operate more widely with shorter response times than the Neptune. This was ideal for Australia to meet her obligations to monitor large expanses of the strategically important south-western Pacific and eastern Indian Ocean....

Find the video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOgyefB9IfM Membership here https://peacemaker.fashion/ The A-4 Skyhawk was one of the most recognisable fighter aircraft from the Vietnam era. A small, agile, carrier-ready design, it could fill a variety of roles. Although it has been largely forgotten, these aircraft once operated in Australian service. 

See the video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wm8g2UX-tMI Become a member here https://peacemaker.fashion/ The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet revolutionized RAAF operations from 1985-2021 with 75 locally assembled multirole fighters equipping Nos. 3, 75, and 77 Squadrons. Featuring digital fly-by-wire, glass cockpit, nine hardpoints, and upgrades like APG-73 radar, AIM-120/AMRAAM, and Nite H...

Find the video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9w0b9hBeaEY Become a member here https://peacemaker.fashion This is the audio version of the history of No. 12 Squadron RAAF, from its early pre-world war two days to it's current iteration. Check out the video (like above) on our YouTube channel. 

Find the video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XJeXhLto9c Become a member here https://peacemaker.fashion During the 1980s and early 1990s, the U.S. Air Force briefly explored an unconventional idea—transforming the lightweight, multirole F-16 Fighting Falcon into a dedicated close air support (CAS) aircraft to rival the A-10 Thunderbolt II. This video explores the origins, development, and...