The term “fragging” comes from the Vietnam War. Soldiers would throw live frag grenades into the quarters of officers they thought were incompetent. There were over 800 confirmed “fragging” attempts in the Army and Marines during the Vietnam War. – WTF Fun Facts
History
Weird history facts all gathered right here under our history category. Once you have had your fill of history facts head over to our random fact generator to learn more random factoids!
WTF Fun Fact – Origin Of California
The most popular theory for the origin of the state name California is that it was the name of a fictional island located East of the Indies in Las Sergas de Esplandián, a Spanish chivalry novel written in 1510. – WTF Fun Facts
WTF Fun Fact – Old Huts Built From Mammoth Bones
In 1965, a Ukrainian farmer dug up the lower jawbone of a mammoth. Further excavations revealed 4 huts, made up of a total of 149 mammoth bones. These dwellings date back roughly 15,000 years. – WTF Fun Facts
WTF Fun Fact – Pan Am Building Helicopter Transfer
In the 1960’s and 70’s, there was an hourly helicopter service from the top of the Pan Am Building in New York that would take First and “Clipper” class passengers to JFK airport. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: New York Airways – Wikipedia
WTF Fun Fact – Jetpacks At Halftime
During the 1967 Super Bowl I halftime show, there wasn’t a performance by a musician but rather two men flying around with rocket belts (a.k.a jetpacks). The spectacle was witnessed by the 60,000 in attendance and 50 million more watching at home. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: The Super Bowl’s Love Affair With Jetpacks | History | Smithsonian Magazine
WTF Fun Fact – Samuel Whittemore
In 1775, 78-year-old Massachusetts farmer Samuel Whittemore fired at British soldiers and killed 3. Out of ammo, he drew his sword to continue the fight. He was shot in the face, bayoneted multiple times, and left for dead. He was found, patched up, and lived to be 96. – WTF Fun Facts
WTF Fun Fact – Chrysler Turbine Car
In the 1960’s, Chrysler produced a total of 55 Chrysler Turbine Cars, whose A-831 turbine engine could run on many alternative fuels including: kerosene, jet fuel, peanut oil, soybean oil, furnace oil, and even tequila. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: Chrysler Turbine Car – Wikipedia
WTF Fun Fact – The Walls of Benin City
The Walls of Benin City, originally known as Edo and located in present-day Nigeria, were the world’s largest man-made earth structure, and an estimated four times longer than the Great Wall of China. Large portions of the walls were destroyed by the British in 1897. –WTF Fun Facts
Source: Story of cities #5: Benin City, the mighty medieval capital now lost without trace | Cities | The Guardian
WTF Fun Fact – Drunken Nuclear Strike
In 1969, a drunk Richard Nixon ordered a nuclear strike on North Korea for shooting down a US EC-121 spy plane. Henry Kissinger intervened and made him sober up before deciding how to retaliate. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: That time a drunk Richard Nixon tried to nuke North Korea – Business Insider
WTF Fun Fact – Free Soup Coffee & Doughnuts
During the Great Depression, Al Capone started one of the first soup kitchens, called “Free Soup Coffee & Doughnuts for the Unemployed.” Every day the soup kitchen served three meals to over 2,000 Chicagoans.–WTF Fun Facts
Source:Mobster Al Capone Ran a Soup Kitchen During the Great Depression – HISTORY
WTF Fun Fact – Sticky Rice Mortar
The Great Wall of China is held together by sticky rice mortar. Around the year 500 A.D., the Chinese started mixing sticky rice soup with slaked lime to make very strong and weather resistant mortar. – WTF Fun Facts
WTF Fun Fact – Where To Build A Hospital
During the Islamic Golden Age, the medieval scholar Rhazes was tasked with choosing the location of a new hospital in Baghdad. He hung meat at points around the city and chose the location where it rotted the slowest. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: Islamic Golden Age – Wikipedia
WTF Fun Fact – Shrew’s Fiddle
In the Middle Ages, the “shrew’s fiddle” or “neck violin” was used to punish those who were caught bickering. The “double fiddle” linked two people together face-to-face, forcing them to talk to each other. They were not released until the disagreement had been resolved. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: Shrew’s fiddle – Wikipedia
WTF Fun Fact – Still On Patrol
The US Navy has a tradition that no submarine is ever considered lost at sea. Subs that don’t return, including 52 lost during WWII, are considered “still on patrol.” Every year at Christmas sailors manning communications hubs send holiday greetings to those listed as still on patrol. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: https://seamussweeney.net/2018/10/18/still-on-patrol/
WTF Fun Fact – Body Sugaring
Ancient Egyptians used a sugaring paste or wax called ‘moum’ made of sugar, water, and lemon for removing body hair. The paste was applied in the direction of hair growth, covered with a piece of muslin cloth and pulled off when cooled. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: https://www.puresugarhb.com/blog/2016/1/26/the-history-of-sugaring
WTF Fun Fact – Peter Tordenskjold
In 1714, Norwegian captain Peter Wessel and an English captain had a 14-hour long ship fight. Afterwards, both ships were badly damaged and the Norwegian captain was running out of ammo. He sent an envoy to the English ship, asking if he could borrow some of their ammo. They said no and then the captains drank to each other’s health, before the ships dispersed. – WTF Fun Facts
WTF Fun Fact – Frutola
Pixy Stix started out as a drink mix called Frutola in the 1930’s. Then inventor J. Fish Smith turned it into a candy by selling it in a cup. It wasn’t until 1950 when Sunline, Inc. purchased it that it was sold in the straw we know today. – WTF Fun Facts
Source: https://www.truetreatscandy.com/the-secret-life-of-the-pixy-stix/
WTF Fun Fact – Gigantopithecus
Up until 300,000 years ago, a giant ape named Gigantopithecus, which stood more than 10 feet tall and weighed 1,200 pounds, roamed around in Asia eating Bamboo and similar plants.–WTF Fun Facts