The Ford Mustang is officially unveiled by Henry Ford II at the
World’s Fair in Flushing Meadows, New York, on April 17, 1964.

That same day, the new car also debuted in Ford showrooms
across America and almost 22,000 Mustangs were immediately
snapped up by buyers. Named for a World War II fighter plane,
the Mustang was one of the first vehicles that came to be known
as a “pony car.” Ford sold more than 400,000 Mustangs within
its first year of production, far exceeding sales expectations.

The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang.

The crew, which included Fred Haise( left), Jim Lovell
(middle) and Jack Swigert (right).

With the world anxiously watching, Apollo 13, a U.S. lunar
spacecraft that suffered a severe malfunction on its journey
to the moon, safely returned to Earth on April 17, 1970.

On April 11, the third manned lunar landing mission was
launched from Florida, carrying astronauts James A. Lovell,
John L. Swigert and Fred W. Haise. The mission was headed
for a landing on the Fra Mauro highlands of the moon.

However, two days into the mission, disaster struck 200,000
miles from Earth when oxygen tank No. 2 blew up in the
spacecraft. Swigert reported to mission control on Earth,
“Houston, we’ve had a problem here,” and it was discovered
that the normal supply of oxygen, electricity, light and water
had been disrupted.

The landing mission was aborted, and the astronauts and
controllers on Earth scrambled to come up with emergency
procedures. The crippled spacecraft continued to the moon,
looped around it, and began a long, cold journey back to Earth.

The landmark 1969 Hybrid model was offered at the Barrett-
Jackson Palm Beach auction where it was purchased for
$1.1 million.   

That’s more than 10 times its list price of $104,295, but it wasn’t
just bought for the bragging rights.

The buyer was none other than NASCAR team owner and car
dealer Rick Hendrick (below) who has been the high bidder at
many GM charity auctions.        

       
All the proceeds from the auction were earmarked for the
Donors Choose charity, which helps buy supplies and
project materials for public schools.

Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin 
(16 April 1889 – 25 December 1977)

On April 16, 1889, future Hollywood legend Charlie Chaplin 
was born Charles Spencer Chaplin in London, England.

Chaplin, one of the most financially successful stars of early
Hollywood, was introduced to the stage when he was five.

The son of London music hall entertainers, young Chaplin
was watching a show starring his mother when her voice
cracked. He was quickly shuffled onto the stage to finish
the act.

SANDY KOZEL

    
    

Titanic on sea trials, 2 April 1912.

Titanic Sinking, engraving by Willy Stöwer.