On May 19, 1780, Historian Thomas Campanella explains, “ a preternatural gloom settled upon the New England landscape, and by noon the sun had been all but blotted from the sky.” New England’s “Dark Day” was read as an omen, even, perhaps, as the biblical end of days. But the question has persisted for nearly two and a half centuries- what could have blotted out the Sun?
While the massive Essex-class fleet carriers grabbed the headlines with their sprawling air groups and high-speed strikes, the "Jeep carriers" of the Casablanca class provided the indispensable backbone of Allied maritime operations.
Man-eating big cats are rare, but can be prolific killers. Studying some of history's greatest struggles with nature’s creatures helps us to understand ourselves, and offers lessons as we continue to face the challenges of living in harmony with our environment.