SANDY KOZEL
On this day in 1937, the German airship Hindenburg crashed and
burned in Lakehurst, NJ. Thirty-six people, of the 97 on board,
were killed.
Japanese troops landing on Corregidor.
On this day in 1942, during World War II, Japanese military seized
control of the Philippines. About 15,000 Americans and Filipinos
on Corregidor surrendered to the Japanese.
CAMILLE BOHANNON
Mark Twain was lauded as the "greatest humorist this country has produced",
and William Faulkner called him "the father of American literature".
Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary) is 92 today.
The Queen celebrates two birthdays each year, her actual birthday on April
21 and her official birthday usually on the second Saturday in June. This
year that official birthday will fall on Saturday, June 9.
The musical "Annie" opened on Broadway on this day in 1977.
Opening night Curtain Call.
On this day in 1918, German fighter ace Manfred von Richthofen,
"The Red Baron," was shot down and killed during World War I.
Some of the remains of Richthofen’s plane are inspected by British
officers and soldiers.
MIKE GRACIA
"The Boston Massacre" took place on this day in 1770 when British troops fired on a crowd in Boston killing five people. Two British
troops were later convicted of manslaughter.
The senseless killing of a black man, Crispus Attucks (above) and
his compatriots spurred one of the most significant revolutions in modern history.
Winston Churchill delivered his "Iron Curtain Speech" on this day in 1946. He warned of the Soviet Unions growing influence in Eastern
Europe after WW 2.
Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin died on this day in 1952. He had been
in power for 29 years.
John Adam Belushi (January 24, 1949 – March 5, 1982)
The comedians death was investigated by forensic pathologist Michael Baden,
among others, and, while the findings were disputed, it was officially ruled
a drug-related accident.
Patsy Cline (Virginia Patterson Hensley)
(September 8, 1932 – March 5, 1963)
Patsy Cline along with Cowboy Copas, and Hawkshaw
Hawkins died in a plane crash near Nashville, TN. on
this day in 1963.
TIM MAGUIRE
On this day in 1965, Malcolm X was assassinated in New York City at
the age of 39 by assassins identified as Black Muslims.
It was on this day in 1972.
President and Mrs. Nixon visit the Great Wall of China.
In Baton Rouge, LA, on this day in 1988, TV evangelist Jimmy
Swaggart confessed to his congregation that he was guilty
of unspecified sin. He announced that he was leaving the
pulpit temporarily. Swaggart had been linked to an admitted
prostitute.
Jimmy Lee Swaggart will be 82 years old on March 15.
Chicago stockbroker Steve Fossett became the first person to fly
solo across the Pacific Ocean in a balloon on this day in 1995. He
landed in Leader, Saskatchewan, Canada.
James Stephen "Steve" Fossett
(April 22, 1944 – c. September 3, 2007)
Fossett disappeared on September 3, 2007, while flying a light aircraft
(below) over the Great Basin Desert, between Nevada and California.
1980 Bellanca 8KCAB-180 SUPER DECATHLON.
BRIAN THOMAS
Buddy Holly (22), Ritchie Valens (17), the Big Bopper (28) and pilot
Roger Peterson died in a plane crash in Iowa on this day in 1959.
Crash site memorial north of Clear Lake, Iowa.
The first rocket-assisted controlled landing on the Moon was made
by the Soviet space vehicle Luna 9 (above) on this day in 1966.
Eileen Marie Collins is a retired NASA astronaut and a retired United States
Air Force colonel. A former military instructor and test pilot, Collins was the
first female pilot and first female commander of a Space Shuttle on this day
in 1995 aboard STS-63. She was awarded several medals for her work. She
has logged 38 days 8 hours and 20 minutes in outer space. Collins retired
on May 1, 2006, to pursue private interests.
On this day in 2003, Phillip Harvey Spector became notorious for the murder of the actress Lana Clarkson (below). He was convicted of
murder in second degree.
Recently released prison mugshots of Phil Spector (AP).
Hundreds of people were feared drowned in the Red Sea on this day
in 2006 after an Egyptian ferry carrying 1,400 passengers and crew
sank in rough weather in one of the worst shipping disasters in the
world. Rescuers found at least 200 survivors in lifeboats and were
brought ashore.
Norman Percevel Rockwell (February 3, 1894 – November 8, 1978)
Norman Rockwell was a 20th-century American author, painter and illustrator
whose works have a broad popular appeal in the U.S. for their reflection of American culture. Rockwell is most famous for the cover illustrations that
depict everyday life he created for The Saturday Evening Post magazine over
nearly five decades.
Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy
(February 3, 1809 – November 4, 1847)
Born and widely known as Felix Mendelssohn, a German composer, pianist, organist and conductor of the early romantic period. Mendelssohn wrote symphonies, concertos, oratorios, piano music and chamber music. His best-known works include his Overture and incidental music for A Midsummer
Night’s Dream, and the Italian Symphony.
