It just means "I got onto a flight..." "I hopped a flight to Hanoi"..."I got on a flight to Hanoi" "I hopped a train to Perth"..."I got on a train to Perth" I think it probably stems from the phrase "I hopped on a...(train/plane) " It is a fairly Australian way to say things.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.