Podcast Summary: Aaron Mahnke’s Cabinet of Curiosities

Episode: Flying Ace
Release Date: September 9, 2025
Host: Aaron Mahnke
Production: iHeartPodcasts & Grim & Mild

Overview

In this bite-sized episode, Aaron Mahnke delves into two exceptional tales from American history:

1. The bizarre self-declared monarchy of James Jesse Strang on Beaver Island.
2. The astonishing story of a jet pilot who accidentally shot his own aircraft down.

Both stories exemplify the podcast’s knack for unearthing the unbelievable and untold—reminding listeners that history is often stranger than fiction.

Story 1: The King of Beaver Island—James Jesse Strang

Segment starts at [00:40]

Key Discussion Points

• Convoluted Rise to Power:

  • Strang started life as a lawyer, newspaper editor, and Baptist minister in upstate New York.
  • He converted to Mormonism after the death of Joseph Smith in 1844 and claimed he was Smith’s ordained successor.
  • Presented a dubious letter naming himself as Smith’s heir—a claim met with skepticism by most Mormons, who followed Brigham Young instead.

• A Kingdom in the Wilderness:

  • Strang led a splinter group to Beaver Island, Michigan, claiming angelic guidance.
  • He declared himself king, complete with crown, scepter, and robes—a rare and odd moment in American religious history.

• Controversial Rule:

  • Enforced strict religious laws, banned alcohol, and expelled or converted existing Anishinaabeg and Irish inhabitants.
  • Accused (perhaps falsely) of piracy, threats, and violence.
  • Attracted national scrutiny; successfully defended himself against federal charges in 1853, then gained a seat in the Michigan legislature.

• Downfall and Death:

  • After embracing polygamy (despite previously denouncing it), Strang alienated followers and locals alike.
  • Authentically strange (and unverifiable) rumors: firing a cannon at a crowd, animal sacrifices, stealing wives.
  • Ultimately assassinated by disgruntled followers in 1856 ([05:04]).
  • After his death, his followers were driven from the island and their homes destroyed.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “He donned a crown, a scepter and robes, and declared himself king of the Kingdom of God and the earth.” — Aaron Mahnke [02:08]
• “In many of these tales, the legend may be taller than the man, but there was no evidence that he did any of these things. But the rumors spread nonetheless, and some of his followers began to push back.” — Aaron Mahnke [04:18]
• “Today, Beaver Island is a peaceful tourist spot. Few visitors realize it was once the seat of an American monarchy.” — Aaron Mahnke [05:38]
• Closing reflection: “Looking back, the legend of the Mormon King of Beaver Island has some truth to it, but there’s no denying that it’s definitely a little… Strang.” — Aaron Mahnke [05:57]

Story 2: The Jet That Shot Itself Down

Segment starts at [07:06]

Key Discussion Points

• Aviation Hazards and Chicken Cannons:

  • Bird strikes are a persistent threat; airplane manufacturers use “chicken guns” to fire poultry at aircraft for safety testing.

• The 1956 Incident:

  • Test pilot Thomas Attridge flying the supersonic Grumman F11 Tiger.
  • During a weapons test, Attridge fires dummy rounds while in a steep downward dive, then descends further.

• Disaster in the Sky:

  • At 7,000 ft, the plane’s windshield shatters, engine fails, and the aircraft loses power while Attridge tries to limp back to the airstrip.
  • Highlight: He holds the shattered windshield in place with one hand as he pilots the crippled jet ([08:28]).

• Investigation & Revelation:

  • Mechanics discover the cause: Attridge’s jet had caught up with and been struck by its own bullets, which had slowed due to air resistance, while the jet itself was accelerating downward.
  • Attridge survives, but the Grumman F11 Tiger goes down in history as the first and only aircraft to “shoot itself down.”

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “Manufacturers test rigorously to ensure their planes are as resistant as possible to encounters with birds at extremely high speeds. When a plane is built, they will be taken to a facility that has a chicken gun…” — Aaron Mahnke [07:26]
• “By the time he reached 7,000 ft, he was traveling at well over 800 miles per hour and the bullets he had fired were traveling closer to 400. So the jet had caught up with its own bullets, running face first into a handful of non-lethal but still very solid projectiles.” — Aaron Mahnke [09:38]
• Concluding wit: “In a way, you could say this aircraft peaked early. After all, the F11 Tiger is the first, and to date, the only aircraft that has ever managed to shoot itself down.” — Aaron Mahnke [10:46]

Key Timestamps

| Time | Content | |-----------|-----------------------------------| | 00:40 | Story 1: James Jesse Strang begins| | 05:57 | Story 1 concludes | | 07:06 | Story 2: Jet that shot itself | | 10:46 | Story 2 concludes |

Tone & Style

Aaron Mahnke delivers these stories with his characteristic dry wit, blend of curiosity and skepticism, and an eye for both historical fact and memorable irony. The episode explores the fine line between legend and truth, much like the peculiar fates of its subjects.

Conclusion

“Cabinet of Curiosities” continues to prove there’s always more to discover beneath the surface of history. This episode’s tales—of a would-be king and an unlucky pilot—highlight how both ambition and error can make for stories both strange and unforgettable.