Episode Overview

In this special 'one-minute' episode of Ripley's Believe It Or Not, broadcast as part of Harold's Old Time Radio, the show presents remarkable true stories illustrating the adage "Truth is stranger than fiction." This installment highlights acts of courage and uncanny events from history, inviting listeners to "believe it or not."

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Extraordinary Wartime Occurrence

• [00:42] The narrator recounts a remarkable event during World War II at the Battle of Mokmer Airdrome on Biak Island:
  • "Two artillery shells, one American and the other Japanese, fused together by a head on impact in flight."
  • This defies expectations about the chaos of battle and the odds of two shells colliding mid-air with such precisely opposing trajectories.
  • The story exemplifies Ripley's fascination with the unbelievable realities that history sometimes produces.

2. An Act of Courage in Diplomatic History

• The narrative pivots to a story about ministerial bravery and linguistic intervention in 1900 China:
  • "Yuan Chang, a minister in the Chinese Foreign Office, in 1900, stopped a plan to slaughter thousands of foreigners by changing one word of a telegram."
  • Chang changed the word ‘sha’ (kill) to ‘pow’ (protect) in a message from the Empress of China, fundamentally altering the order’s intent.
  • This decision, though morally courageous, led to his own execution: "The courageous foreign minister was himself beheaded for his act of courage."
  • The story highlights the immense personal risk taken by individuals who stand against prevailing violence and the sometimes tragic cost of doing the right thing.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [00:32] C: "Truth is stranger than fiction. And this is the proof. This is Ripley's Believe it or Not."
• [00:42] B: "In World War II, at the Battle of Mokmer Airdrome on Biak island, two artillery shells, one American and the other Japanese, fused together by a head on impact in flight. Believe it or not, in a moment I'll tell you about an act of courage."
• [00:53] B: "Yuan Chang, a minister in the Chinese Foreign Office, in 1900, stopped a plan to slaughter thousands of foreigners by changing one word of a telegram. Yuan substituted the word pow protect for the word sha kill. In a message sent by the Empress of China. The courageous foreign minister was himself beheaded for his act of courage. Believe it or not."

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:32] – Introduction & the premise: "Truth is stranger than fiction."
• [00:42] – The artillery shell collision at the Battle of Mokmer Airdrome.
• [00:53] – Yuan Chang's act of courageous diplomacy and its consequences.

Tone & Style

The show maintains Ripley's signature tone of astonishment and factual wonder, efficiently delivering incredible historical vignettes in a concise format. The stories are presented with brevity and dramatic emphasis, capturing the listener's curiosity and respect for historical oddities and acts of heroism.

Summary

This episode of Ripley’s Believe It Or Not offers listeners two striking examples of extraordinary happenings and personal bravery from global history. From the physics-defying mid-air collision of artillery shells in WWII to the moral courage of Yuan Chang amid political violence, the show underscores its enduring message: sometimes, the truth truly surpasses fiction—believe it or not.