Author Biography: mstanaway

Nick-names can be terms of affection or witty insights describing character. See if you can identify these military commanders from the Second World War by their nick-names.

Irredentism is an international relations term advocating the annexation of territories administered by another on the grounds of ethnicity and or prior historical possession. Here are some recent examples of irredentist claims by two or more parties.

For three days in October 1944 the US Navy and the remnants of the Imperial Japanese Navy engaged in a titanic struggle for mastery of the waters around the Philippines.

Here are some random questions about project Apollo from the development stage to the final landing. Most of them are fairly straightforward but some might require a little reflection.

Test your knowledge of the Solomon Islands campaign when two evenly matched opponents slugged it out for control of the waters around Guadalcanal in 1942-43.

Here are some examples of generals and other officers who have assumed high office by election, popular acclaim, appointment, or by more familiar military methods! The questions are in the who am I format.

This time let us take a look at the names of some of the multi-engined military types from yesteryear.

There was a time when aircraft actually had names rather than the model numbers used by today's manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus. See if you can remember the names of these aircraft which were common in the pre-jet era.

Take a look at the Red Planet and test your knowledge about the exploration of our most intriguing neighbour.

Throughout history political leaders and the office they hold have been protected by bodyguards and special protection organisations. How much do you know about these units?

The landing of Apollo 11 marked the conclusion of what became known as the 'Space Race'. Despite subsequent denials, the Soviets actually did make a serious attempt to be the first to land a man on the moon. See what you know about this programme.

Love him or hate him Douglas MacArthur made his mark on the world stage with a presence that few could ignore. This quiz takes up his story from its lowest ebb, and is loosely based on William Manchester's biography 'American Caesar.'

Some clangers of historic proportions have been made over the years. See if you can identify who made these statements, fill in the missing word, or the context of these little beauties!

Nikita Khrushchev's interference in the Soviet manned space in an effort to upstage Project Gemini in 1963/64 wasted precious years on a technological dead end.

Here are some more generals and other military figures who have become leaders of their country. The questions are posed in the "Who am I" format. Do you know who they are?

The modern nation state holds in great respect the individuals who were responsible for their creation and the sense of common identity it gives to the people. See if you can identify these leaders and the states they created.

Repressive regimes indulge in personality cults sustained by an adoring mass media to create the image of the leaders as being larger than life and wise in all things. See if you can identify these characters or their claims to fame.

Some statements have gone down in history as reflecting the mood of their time. See what you know about the context in which these well known quotes appeared.

This quiz takes the story through his greatest years when he re-made a nation and challenged authority in a test of wills that determined the course of events in the mid 20th Century. This quiz is loosely based on William Manchester's biography.

Here are some examples of Doctors who have found their true calling in politics some being seduced by the elixir of power. Can you identify them or name the countries they led?

This trusty spacecraft has been the mainstay of Soviet and later Russian manned access to space for the past forty years. See how much you know about this adaptable spacecraft

The attractions of power and prestige in this world can be seductive. Here are some examples of men of the cloth who have attained respect or infamy through their involvement in secular affairs.

In January 2004 President Bush announced the Vision for Space Exploration for a return to the moon and onward to Mars. How much do you know about the "Vision"?

With the exception of water more tea is consumed in the world than any other beverage. Green tea is a significant component of this consumption. How much do you know about the Japanese style of this refreshing drink?

Man's capacity for understatement and deception never ceases to amaze. Here are some more examples along these lines. Just identify the context or supply the missing word.

Thirty five years before the Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, wowed us with spectacular vistas from another world, a remarkable robot called Lunokhod endeared itself to the public with its antics on a world very much closer to home.

Affectionately referred to by space engineers as 'Semyorka' or 'Old Number Seven' the family of rockets based on the R-7 design have become the most versatile space launchers in history. Check out this remarkable launcher.

Before Douglas MacArthur became a world figure he had a distinguished career which was to prepare him for the important role he was to play in the affairs of Pacific nations in the middle of the 20th Century.

I recently competed on a TV quiz show where my special subject was Project Apollo. Rather than waste all that research I would like to share some of it with you. This is my first quiz on Funtrivia and I hope you like it.

I have been an Apollo fan right from the beginning and thought it was the greatest thing happening in my adolescent years. Here is some more project Apollo bric a brac to test your knowledge of this pioneering programme.