1961: Bay of Pigs Invasion
An army of 1,400 anti-Castro Cuban exiles who have been secretly recruited, trained, and funded by the United States invade their
homeland at Bahia de Cochinos--the Bay of Pigs. American President John F. Kennedy, disturbed by Fidel Castro's two-year-old communist regime in
Cuba, approved the invasion but at the last minute refused to order air support when it became apparent that the operation was doomed to failure. Within three days, the invasion force, abandoned by Kennedy and the American military, was forced to surrender to the communists. About 100 Cuban exiles were killed in the fighting. The disastrous operation was a great humiliation for the Kennedy
administration and significantly increased
Cold War tensions. Castro did not return the surviving Cuban exiles until the United States sent millions of dollars in humanitarian aid to Cuba.
1984
A British police officer, Yvonne Fletcher, is shot dead outside the Libyan People's Bureau in London.1980
In Africa, Rhodesia becomes the independent nation of
Zimbabwe. 1979
British tennis star
John Lloyd marries American tennis star Chris Evert.
1969
In America,
Sirhan Sirhan is found guilty of the assassination of US senator Bobby Kennedy and sentenced to life imprisonment.
1964
British pop group The Rolling Stones release their first album.1963
British Government commissions the building of the country's first nuclear- powered submarine, HMS Dreadnaught.1963
Opening of the Hilton Hotel in London.1963
In Moscow, British businessman Greville Wynne is accused of spying. He's later found guilty of spying for
Britain and sentenced to three years in prison and five years in a Soviet labour camp.
1961
The American-backed invasion of Cuba by Cuban exiles at the Bay Of Pigs ends in humiliating defeat.1956
Premium Bonds are introduced into Britain by Conservative Chancellor of the Exchequer Harold Macmillan1937
A British attendance record at a football match is set at Hampden Park, Glasgow when 149,547 pay to watch Scotland play England.1888
Formation of the English Football League1860
In boxing, the first world title fight takes place near Farnborough, Hampshire, in England when Briton Tom Sayers takes on American John Heenan. After 42 rounds the contest is declared a draw.1421
An estimated 100,000 people drown in Holland when the North Sea breaks through the protective dykes at Dort. 1946
British yachtswoman Clare Francis.1940
British pop singer Billy Fury.1929
German musician/bandleader James Last1918
American
actor William Holden
1880
Architect Sir Leonard Woolley1960
American rock 'n roll star Eddie Cochran, aged 21, is killed in a car crash near Chippenham, Wiltshire, England while touring with singer Gene Vincent.
