Ep 1. World War Speed

Secrets of the Dead season 18 episode 1, titled "World War Speed," takes viewers on a journey to explore the technological advancements that were made during World War II and how these advancements helped to shape the modern world. The episode explores the battle to create faster and more efficient airplanes, cars, and boats during the war and how these developments forever changed transportation.

Throughout the episode, viewers are introduced to a range of historians, scientists, and military experts who provide detailed insights into the various tactics and strategies used by different countries to develop faster modes of transportation. The show explores the role that countries like Britain, Germany, Japan, and the United States played in advancing these technologies and how these advancements ultimately led to huge advances in transportation during the 20th century.

One key aspect of the episode is the role that the Second World War played in stimulating advances in aviation technology. The episode explores how the need to create faster and more efficient airplanes led to the development of the jet engine, which transformed aviation and led to faster, more powerful aircraft being developed. This new technology was a huge surprise to the enemy when the RAF first deployed it on fighter planes in 1944 and helped the allies to gain a significant advantage in the skies.

The episode also explores how the development of advanced vehicles played a key role in the war effort. Military groups from different countries competed to create faster and more efficient tanks to gain an advantage on the battlefield. The program compares the tanks used by Germany, whose tanks were considered some of the most effective and advanced of the war, with the United States, whose vehicles were larger and more powerful.

Another element explored in the show is how advances in transportation technology during the war eventually led to the development of new modes of civilian transportation. For example, the episode explores how advancements made in airplane technology during the war later transformed commercial aviation by introducing the Boeing 707 and modern air travel. Likewise, the show looks at how the development of faster and more lightweight boats in the war led to the creation of high-performance boats that would be enjoyed by leisure boaters in the post-war period.

Overall, Secrets of the Dead season 18 episode 1 provides a fascinating insight into the advancements made in transportation during World War II and how these advancements helped to transform the modern world. The episode provides a detailed exploration of the various technologies that were developed, the strategies and tactics used by different countries, and the impact that these advancements had on society in the decades following the war. With expert commentary from historians, scientists, and military experts, the episode provides a comprehensive and engaging look at a little-known aspect of World War II.