Schedule

The sound of jet combat reverberates above the tombs of the Pharaohs as the small Israeli Air Force delivers a knock-out punch to the Egyptians in the 1967 Six Day War. Fly in the Mirage III with the IAF's first jet ace Giora Romm as he chases down two MiG-17s over the Suez Canal at dusk. Be in the cockpit with 119 Squadron Commander and ace Ran Ronen as he flies into hostile Jordan for a top secret rendezvous--arranged by the Israeli Mossad, and later as he speeds deep into enemy territory for a bombing mission that ends up as a swirling dogfight directly over the Egyptian base. Witness the first combat engagement of the McDonnell Douglas F-15, and how Major Moshe Melnik draws first blood for the Eagle in the skies over Lebanon in 1979. Learn how the Israeli Air Force of today hones its capabilities with cutting edge technology that makes it the most feared opposition in the sky.

Contestants compete with the legendary longbow. A breakout performance gives one team immunity, while two competitors from the losing team face off on the William Tell challenge in which they'll have to hit a series of apples with a crossbow.

During WWII, the leaders of the U.S. military challenged themselves to create the most advanced supply system in the history of warfare. The servicemen who fought the supply war played a critical, and under-appreciated, role in achieving victory. Without them the Allied war machine would have ground to a halt. Peter Coyote narrates this compelling journey into WWII through the eyes of those who lived it, using color film and photographs unearthed from archives and personal collections.

Contestants are shocked to see two Top Shot champions return as honorary captains for the team challenge. Marksmen compete with a just-released, ultra modern assault rifle and tensions flare when a fight erupts between two competitors.

On May 8, 1846, Mexico and the United States met in battle at a place called Palo Alto, near Brownsville, deep in Southern Texas. The two countries had been anticipating war since the annexation of Texas in 1845. The future President, General Zachary Taylor led the Americans--among his officers, 51 future generals, including Ulysses S. Grant and George Meade. But for over 150 years, what really happened has remained obscure. The official contemporaneous sketches implied the battle ended in a draw. Yet by day's end, the Mexican army was in full retreat. Now, battlefield archaeology is working on the hidden story of Palo Alto. Archaeologists, forensic scientists, and historians join forces, and aided by tests at the US Army's Yuma Missile Proving Ground, are cracking this military mystery.

Hunter Ellis looks at the history of winter warfare--a tradition of fighting, surviving, and traveling in snow and ice that created commandos in Norway, Sweden, and Germany, and later, the U.S. 10th Mountain Division--and at the billion-dollar winter sports industry. Next, we see how gunsights make it possible for military and law enforcement snipers to do their jobs as we examine their gear and techniques. Then, we look at the first stealth fighters--gliders--and into their likely future in space.

Informational programming.

Informational programming.

Informational programming.

Informational programming.

During WWII, the leaders of the U.S. military challenged themselves to create the most advanced supply system in the history of warfare. The servicemen who fought the supply war played a critical, and under-appreciated, role in achieving victory. Without them the Allied war machine would have ground to a halt. Peter Coyote narrates this compelling journey into WWII through the eyes of those who lived it, using color film and photographs unearthed from archives and personal collections.

Contestants are shocked to see two Top Shot champions return as honorary captains for the team challenge. Marksmen compete with a just-released, ultra modern assault rifle and tensions flare when a fight erupts between two competitors.

On May 8, 1846, Mexico and the United States met in battle at a place called Palo Alto, near Brownsville, deep in Southern Texas. The two countries had been anticipating war since the annexation of Texas in 1845. The future President, General Zachary Taylor led the Americans--among his officers, 51 future generals, including Ulysses S. Grant and George Meade. But for over 150 years, what really happened has remained obscure. The official contemporaneous sketches implied the battle ended in a draw. Yet by day's end, the Mexican army was in full retreat. Now, battlefield archaeology is working on the hidden story of Palo Alto. Archaeologists, forensic scientists, and historians join forces, and aided by tests at the US Army's Yuma Missile Proving Ground, are cracking this military mystery.

Hunter Ellis looks at the history of winter warfare--a tradition of fighting, surviving, and traveling in snow and ice that created commandos in Norway, Sweden, and Germany, and later, the U.S. 10th Mountain Division--and at the billion-dollar winter sports industry. Next, we see how gunsights make it possible for military and law enforcement snipers to do their jobs as we examine their gear and techniques. Then, we look at the first stealth fighters--gliders--and into their likely future in space.

The sound of jet combat reverberates above the tombs of the Pharaohs as the small Israeli Air Force delivers a knock-out punch to the Egyptians in the 1967 Six Day War. Fly in the Mirage III with the IAF's first jet ace Giora Romm as he chases down two MiG-17s over the Suez Canal at dusk. Be in the cockpit with 119 Squadron Commander and ace Ran Ronen as he flies into hostile Jordan for a top secret rendezvous--arranged by the Israeli Mossad, and later as he speeds deep into enemy territory for a bombing mission that ends up as a swirling dogfight directly over the Egyptian base. Witness the first combat engagement of the McDonnell Douglas F-15, and how Major Moshe Melnik draws first blood for the Eagle in the skies over Lebanon in 1979. Learn how the Israeli Air Force of today hones its capabilities with cutting edge technology that makes it the most feared opposition in the sky.

Contestants compete with the legendary longbow. A breakout performance gives one team immunity, while two competitors from the losing team face off on the William Tell challenge in which they'll have to hit a series of apples with a crossbow.

During WWII, the leaders of the U.S. military challenged themselves to create the most advanced supply system in the history of warfare. The servicemen who fought the supply war played a critical, and under-appreciated, role in achieving victory. Without them the Allied war machine would have ground to a halt. Peter Coyote narrates this compelling journey into WWII through the eyes of those who lived it, using color film and photographs unearthed from archives and personal collections.

Contestants are shocked to see two Top Shot champions return as honorary captains for the team challenge. Marksmen compete with a just-released, ultra modern assault rifle and tensions flare when a fight erupts between two competitors.

On May 8, 1846, Mexico and the United States met in battle at a place called Palo Alto, near Brownsville, deep in Southern Texas. The two countries had been anticipating war since the annexation of Texas in 1845. The future President, General Zachary Taylor led the Americans--among his officers, 51 future generals, including Ulysses S. Grant and George Meade. But for over 150 years, what really happened has remained obscure. The official contemporaneous sketches implied the battle ended in a draw. Yet by day's end, the Mexican army was in full retreat. Now, battlefield archaeology is working on the hidden story of Palo Alto. Archaeologists, forensic scientists, and historians join forces, and aided by tests at the US Army's Yuma Missile Proving Ground, are cracking this military mystery.

Hunter Ellis looks at the history of winter warfare--a tradition of fighting, surviving, and traveling in snow and ice that created commandos in Norway, Sweden, and Germany, and later, the U.S. 10th Mountain Division--and at the billion-dollar winter sports industry. Next, we see how gunsights make it possible for military and law enforcement snipers to do their jobs as we examine their gear and techniques. Then, we look at the first stealth fighters--gliders--and into their likely future in space.

For over 300 years, the North American Apache tribes were remarkably successful, beating opponents who were wealthier, better armed, and apparently more organized. Apache warriors gained an unrivalled reputation as fighters. In this hour, historians explore two important battles to try and uncover the secrets of their success. Archaeologists and forensic scientists investigate and compare the weapons used by the Apache and their last enemy--the US Army. A military geologist unpicks clues to Apache use of the landscape itself to help defeat outsiders. And at the sites of the Battle of Cieneguilla (1854) and Hembrillo (1880), remote locations in New Mexico, we uncover tantalizing clues. But how did the Army eventually overpower the Apache? Battlefield Detectives reveals the answer.

Josef Stalin is considered one of the most powerful and murderous dictators ever. He was the supreme ruler of the Soviet Union for a quarter of a century and his regime of terror caused the death and suffering of tens of millions. Follow a team of historical detectives who use evidence from recent excavations, scientific studies and historical documents to piece together clues to see what the Soviet Union looked like during Stalin's rule. Computer graphics allow the viewers to fly over, enter the streets, walk through the halls and peer into this lost world.

Audacious, gruff, and the U.S. Navy's ultimate warrior, Admiral "Bull" Halsey led his naval forces to victory in the Pacific Theater of War, destroying a large part of the Imperial Japanese Navy in World War II. His daring leadership inspired the sailors he commanded, and the enemy feared his very presence. Some say he was the finest U.S. naval leader since John Paul Jone. In this 2-hour special, we'll meet the man and explore his battles, talking with officers and men who served under him.

As WWII raged across Europe and the Pacific, one branch of the U.S. military went quietly about its business, moving with such secrecy that it was dubbed the "Silent Service". The elite submarine sailors endured an unique type of battle--with little chance of escape if disaster struck, the submarine itself often became a steel coffin. WWII comes alive through a moving tapestry of letters, diaries, color film and photographs unearthed from archives and personal collections. Peter Coyote narrates.

In 1941, with the U.S. government's tacit approval, retired Army Air Force Captain Claire L. Chennault, then a colonel in China's Air Force, formed the mercenary American Volunteer Group to fight Japan. Later dubbed "Flying Tigers", these brave pilots set records yet to be equaled in the annals of aerial history. This is their story.