Schedule

August 1942... the Solomon Islands. Heroic, die-hard American pilots of the tiny Cactus Air Force match skills and instincts against top Japanese aces as they battle in the skies above Guadalcanal. Legendary Marine Capt. John Smith and Medal of Honor recipients Jeff De Blanc and Jim Swett pit their tough 4F4 Wildcats against the relentless Japanese Zeros. At stake--the fate of the Pacific War.

Continuing the epic journey into the depths of WWII, our award-winning all-color series returns to recount stories unearthed from archives and personal collections of the "Greatest Generation". Narrated by Peter Coyote, this episode reveals the intimate relationship between a soldier and the tools of his trade--everything from the uniform that protected him from the elements to the weapons that protected him from the enemy to the insignia and medals that differentiated him from his comrades.

An examination of the weapons that battled through surf and snow, dense jungle and choking dust...the guns of the American GI. Though WWII introduced instruments that pierced the dark and weapons that released the power of the atom, the infantryman's guns were designed decades before; but in dependability they were unequaled.

Modern day warrior, Green Beret Terry Schappert goes beyond the myth of the legendary Spartans, perhaps the most single-minded fighting society in history. He tests the weapons and reveals the tactics that led to the battle that finally avenged the devastating defeat of The 300 at Thermopylae.

Host Terry Schappert travels to Scotland to examine the epic Battle of Stirling Bridge where William "Braveheart" Wallace and his rag-tag band of soldiers took on the full power of the English army. Terry uses his expertise as a Green Beret to breakdown this battle through the eyes of the soldiers. He'll explain how the techniques, weaponry, and strategy of these warriors influenced the surprising outcome of the battle.

Informational programming.

Informational programming.

Informational programming.

Informational programming.

Continuing the epic journey into the depths of WWII, our award-winning all-color series returns to recount stories unearthed from archives and personal collections of the "Greatest Generation". Narrated by Peter Coyote, this episode reveals the intimate relationship between a soldier and the tools of his trade--everything from the uniform that protected him from the elements to the weapons that protected him from the enemy to the insignia and medals that differentiated him from his comrades.

An examination of the weapons that battled through surf and snow, dense jungle and choking dust...the guns of the American GI. Though WWII introduced instruments that pierced the dark and weapons that released the power of the atom, the infantryman's guns were designed decades before; but in dependability they were unequaled.

Modern day warrior, Green Beret Terry Schappert goes beyond the myth of the legendary Spartans, perhaps the most single-minded fighting society in history. He tests the weapons and reveals the tactics that led to the battle that finally avenged the devastating defeat of The 300 at Thermopylae.

Host Terry Schappert travels to Scotland to examine the epic Battle of Stirling Bridge where William "Braveheart" Wallace and his rag-tag band of soldiers took on the full power of the English army. Terry uses his expertise as a Green Beret to breakdown this battle through the eyes of the soldiers. He'll explain how the techniques, weaponry, and strategy of these warriors influenced the surprising outcome of the battle.

August 1942... the Solomon Islands. Heroic, die-hard American pilots of the tiny Cactus Air Force match skills and instincts against top Japanese aces as they battle in the skies above Guadalcanal. Legendary Marine Capt. John Smith and Medal of Honor recipients Jeff De Blanc and Jim Swett pit their tough 4F4 Wildcats against the relentless Japanese Zeros. At stake--the fate of the Pacific War.

Continuing the epic journey into the depths of WWII, our award-winning all-color series returns to recount stories unearthed from archives and personal collections of the "Greatest Generation". Narrated by Peter Coyote, this episode reveals the intimate relationship between a soldier and the tools of his trade--everything from the uniform that protected him from the elements to the weapons that protected him from the enemy to the insignia and medals that differentiated him from his comrades.

An examination of the weapons that battled through surf and snow, dense jungle and choking dust...the guns of the American GI. Though WWII introduced instruments that pierced the dark and weapons that released the power of the atom, the infantryman's guns were designed decades before; but in dependability they were unequaled.

Modern day warrior, Green Beret Terry Schappert goes beyond the myth of the legendary Spartans, perhaps the most single-minded fighting society in history. He tests the weapons and reveals the tactics that led to the battle that finally avenged the devastating defeat of The 300 at Thermopylae.

Host Terry Schappert travels to Scotland to examine the epic Battle of Stirling Bridge where William "Braveheart" Wallace and his rag-tag band of soldiers took on the full power of the English army. Terry uses his expertise as a Green Beret to breakdown this battle through the eyes of the soldiers. He'll explain how the techniques, weaponry, and strategy of these warriors influenced the surprising outcome of the battle.

This spectacular two-hour special delivers the tipping points of World War II as you've never seen them before. The key editorial feature of the program is an all-seeing CGI eye; a satellite, flying above earth, bringing a new visual approach to the biggest conflict of all time. Flying through space and time from above, we'll see these monumental moments in their global context, bringing new information to the forefront and explaining how a nation ranked 19th in the world's militaries in 1939, emerged six years later as the planet's only atomic superpower. Our view from above means we can re-interpret WWII; placing key events in perspective, flying around the world to show the importance of simultaneity, revealing the hidden ripple effects of crucial incidents, and re-creating ground-breaking moments that could never have been captured on camera.

At Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, host R. Lee Ermey gets to do something only a few hundred humans have done before him--take a ride in a B-2 Stealth Bomber on a mock bomb run! The Gunny sets the stage for his historic flight by giving us the facts and stats on what makes the B-2 the greatest bomber in the history of aviation. Then, we go along on Lee's pre-flight training as he prepares to get airborne. From the cockpit, he shows viewers what it's like to fly in a stealth bomber. The Whiteman crew the Gunny flies with are part of the 509th Bomber Group, the same squadron that flew the first atomic bomb missions back in World War II. In his tribute to the 509th, the Gunny shows how the Enola Gay and other bombers got the mission done.

It's been said that war is 90% boredom mixed with 10% sheer terror. The Allied servicemen of WWII spent a majority of their time in what normally would be called "everyday" activities. Eating, sleeping, reading and writing letters--trying to snatch a few moments of enjoyment in the midst of the titanic conflict. Veterans describe how they spent those brief interludes that became treasured wartime memories. With vivid color film unearthed from archives and personal collections. Peter Coyote narrates.