Kapil Kajal

Kapil is a journalist with nearly a decade of experience. Reported across a wide range of beats with a particular focus on air warfare and military affairs, his work is shaped by a deep interest in twentieth‑century conflict, from both World Wars through the Cold War and Vietnam, as well as the ways these histories inform contemporary security and technology.
419 Articles

Aces: Jean Chaput – The Sixteen Victory Fighter Champion Of France

French WWI ace Jean Chaput survived multiple combat wounds and long recoveries before returning to…

Grounded Dreams: Fairchild BQ-3 – How a Twin-Engine Kamikaze Drone Was Obsoleted

The Fairchild BQ-3 was a WWII-era USAAF attack drone designed to deliver 4,000 pounds of…

Aces: Oren John Rose – How an American Volunteer Became an Elite British Fighter Ace

US-born WWI ace Oren John Rose scored 16 aerial victories in just four months, becoming…

Pioneers of Aeronautical Engineering: Kelly Johnson – Designer of the SR-71 and 40 Other Aircraft

Kelly Johnson founded Lockheed Skunk Works and helped develop more than 40 aircraft, including the…

Aces: Ernst Strohschneider – The Fifteen Victory Leader Killed In Dark Skies

Austro-Hungarian ace Ernst Strohschneider survived multiple wounds and captivity before becoming a respected fighter leader…

Grounded Dreams: Curtiss XP-40 Q – The High-Speed Warhawk That Was Lost in Time

The Curtiss XP-40 Q was the ultimate evolution of the legendary P-40 Warhawk, reaching 422…

Pioneers of Aeronautical Engineering: Bruce Banks – The Man with Most Patents at NASA’s Glenn Center

Bruce Banks helped advance NASA's electric propulsion, spacecraft coatings, and atomic oxygen research, earning a…

Grounded Dreams: Lockheed XF-90 – First US Air Force Jet to Have an Afterburner

The Lockheed XF-90 was a jet-powered long-range fighter developed to replace the P-51 Mustang, but…

Aces: Georg Von Hantelmann – How A Prussian Hussar Became A Blue Max Fighter Hero

Georg von Hantelmann was one of Germany’s youngest WWI aces, scoring 25 aerial victories in…

Grounded Dreams: Republic XP-72 – How The Fastest P-47 Successor Lost Its Wings

The Republic XP-72 was a powerful WWII fighter prototype powered by the massive Pratt &…