Armed Forces
Beware of Female Spies
During World War I, the U.S. Navy created a sign to warn its personnel of the threat posed by "inquisitive women".By World War II, the sign was considered an odd curiosity, but it inspired a number of news photos of women reading the sign with interest.
source: Temple University Library
Shreveport Times - Mar 26, 1939
The Missoulian - Apr 2, 1939
Posted By: Alex - Mon Dec 02, 2019 -
Comments (2)
Category: War, Armed Forces, Spies and Intelligence Services
The Stay-Alert Game
Briefly experimented with in 1969 as a way to motivate U.S. troops in Vietnam to stay alert, fight better, and avoid casualties. The idea was that combat would be turned into a game. Each platoon was awarded points for enemy troops killed, weapons captured, and rice caches discovered. But they lost points if they suffered any battle casualties. The winning platoon would receive two or three days off at a rest center.Troops hated the stay-alert game, so it was quickly mothballed.
Appleton Post-Crescent - May 5, 1969
Posted By: Alex - Mon Sep 17, 2018 -
Comments (0)
Category: Games, Military, War, Armed Forces, 1960s
Fearless Fagan
The reality:Hollywood version:
Wikipedia article on the film.
The LIFE magazine article.
Posted By: Paul - Sun May 13, 2018 -
Comments (0)
Category: Animals, Eccentrics, Movies, Pets, 1950s, Armed Forces
The Eager Beaver Truck
Article here.
Posted By: Paul - Wed Jun 21, 2017 -
Comments (1)
Category: Technology, 1950s, Armed Forces, Trucks
Follies of the Madmen #293
Death-dealing war instrument of mass destruction compared to treasured hymn.
Original ad here.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Sep 26, 2016 -
Comments (6)
Category: Death, War, Armed Forces, Weapons, Advertising, 1970s
Flying Wings
In some alternate timeline, the skies are full of flying wing-type airplanes.
Posted By: Paul - Fri Jul 22, 2016 -
Comments (6)
Category: Inventions, Air Travel and Airlines, 1940s, Armed Forces
Escape Training
Just in case ISIS captures you on your next Middle Eastern vacation.
Posted By: Paul - Wed May 11, 2016 -
Comments (7)
Category: PSA’s, War, Armed Forces, 1950s
Army puts price tags on equipment
Back in 1951, the U.S. Army was told it needed to cut costs, so it initiated the "cost-consciousness" program. This involved putting price tags on all the equipment, so that the soldiers could see how much everything cost. The theory was that this would make them use the equipment more "wisely and well."After the program was implemented, one Army Reserve staffer said, "It looks just like a department store here."
There were claims that the program saved the Army millions of dollars. So I wonder what caused it to be shelved?
The News-Herald (Franklin, Pennsylvania) - Dec 14, 1951
The Spokesman-Review - Feb 27, 1952
Posted By: Alex - Thu Nov 12, 2015 -
Comments (14)
Category: Military, 1950s, Armed Forces
Dear 53310761
You might wonder what the hell this song is about, until you hear a certain name mentioned past the halfway mark. Even then, you have to know your pop music history to figure it out.
Posted By: Paul - Wed Jun 17, 2015 -
Comments (5)
Category: Celebrities, Music, 1950s, Armed Forces
Exacto, Its Not Just A Knife Anymore
The Exacto bullet tracks moving targets. The military has been testing it since February.
Posted By: patty - Tue May 05, 2015 -
Comments (3)
Category: Design and Designers, Destruction, Armed Forces, Weapons
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| Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over thirty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. He has recently begun blogging on many curious topics with three fellow writers at The Inferior 4+1. Contact Us |