1966: H-bomb lost in Spain
On January 17, 1966, citizens of the Spanish coastal village of Palomares suffer a portentous scare when two U.S. Air Force jets collide in the skies overhead. The mid-air crash of the B-52 bomber and a KC-135 refueling plane killed eight crew members and dropped three 70-kiloton hydrogen bombs on the land and one in the sea. One thousand U.S. soldiers and experts were dispatched to clean up the wreckage strewn over the small town.
None of the bombs were armed, but explosive material in two of the bombs that fell to earth exploded upon impact, forming craters and scattering radioactive plutonium over the fields of Palomares. A third bomb landed in a dry riverbed, and was recovered relatively intact. The fourth bomb fell into the sea at an unknown location.
After an extensive search, the nuclear weapon was found, intact, in nearby waters. The United States eventually settled some 500 claims by Palomares residents whose health was adversely affected by the accident.
1995
A massive earthquake hits
Japan. The city of Kobe is worst hit, with hundreds of people feared dead.
1994
A huge earthquake rocks Los Angeles, killing more than 20 people.1991
After the death of his father,
Olaf V, Harald V becomes King of
Norway. 1983
Start of breakfast television in
Britain with the BBC's Breakfast programme presented by Frank Bough and Selina Scott.
1977
Convicted murderer Gary Gilmore is executed by
firing squad in Utah State Prison,
Salt Lake City. It is the first execution in the U.S. for almost ten years.
1961
Dwight D. Eisenhower makes his last television address to the American people as President. 1945
World War II: Soviet troops capture the Polish capital Warsaw. 1938
The first jazz concert takes place at
Carnegie Hall in New York, U.S.A.
1912
English explorer
Robert Falcon Scott (Scott of the Antarctic) reaches the South
Pole, one month behind Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen.
1899
In
France, the world land speed record is broken twice on the same day by Camille Jenatzy and Gaston Chasseloup-Laubat respectively.
1893
A group of American sugar planters overthrow Queen Liliuokalani, the Hawaiian monarch, and establish a new provincial government. The coup occurred with the foreknowledge of the U.S. government.1773
Captain Cook's ship 'Resolution' becomes the first to cross the Antarctic Circle.1648
In England, ‘The Vote of No Address’ is passed by the Long Parliament. Negotiations with King Charles I are ended and the second phase of the English Civil War begins.1944
French singer/songwriter Francoise Hardy1942
Cassius Clay (later Muhammad Ali)- three times world heavyweight champion.1928
Fashionable hair stylist Vidal Sassoon born in London.1925
American film star Rock Hudson.1912
Sir Edward Fennessy, pioneer of Radar.1899
Author Neville Shute.1880
American film producer Mack Sennett - creator of the 'Keystone Cops'.1863
Acting theorist and
theatre director Konstantin Stanislavski - co-founder of the Moscow Art Theatre.
1863
British politician David Lloyd George. Prime Minister of
Britain between 1916-1922.
1860
Playwright Anton Chekov.1820
Writer Anne Bronte.1977
Convicted US murderer Gary Gilmore is executed by
firing squad after demanding his own
death penalty be carried out.
1910
Inventor and designer Thomas Crapper - responsible for producing the world's first flushing toilet.1902
South African Boer leader
Gideon Scheepers is executed after being captured by British troops.
1874
The original Siamese twins, Chang and Eng Bunker , die within three hours of each other aged 62.
