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6th May

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1937: The Hindenburg disaster


On this day, the commercial airship Hindenburg, the largest dirigible ever built and the pride of Nazi Germany, bursts into flames upon touching its mooring mast in Lakehurst, New Jersey, killing 36 passengers and crew. The hydrogen-filled airship, which stretched 804 feet from stern to bow, was on its maiden voyage. American radio announcer Herb Morrison, expecting a routine landing, immortalized the disaster in a famous on-the-scene account. Oh, the humanity! he emotionally declared as the airship ignited and fell 200 feet to the ground. Lighter-than-air passenger travel rapidly fell out of favor after the Hindenberg disaster, and no rigid airships survived World War II.

1999

In an historic vote, electors in Scotland and Wales go to the polls to chose their representatives for the newly-devolved Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly.

1995

Just 3 weeks ahead of the World Cup, the England rugby union captain Will Carling is sacked after describing the RFU's senior officials as '57 old farts'. He is re-instated 72 hours later after an apology.

1994

French President Mitterrand and Queen Elizabeth II jointly open the Channel Tunnel linking Britain and France underneath the English Channel.

1966

At Chester Crown Court in Britain, Moors murderers Ian Brady and Myra Hindley are found guilty of torturing and killing several children before burying their bodies on the Moors north of Manchester.

1960

Princess Margaret, sister of Queen Elizabeth II, marries Anthony Armstrong-Jones at Westminster Abbey in London.

1959

Icelandic gunboats fire live ammunition at British trawlers during a Cod War between Britain and Iceland over fishing rights in the North Sea.

1954

British athlete Roger Bannister runs the first sub four minute mile in 3 minute 59.4 seconds.

1937

German airship Hindenburg explodes and bursts into flames while coming in to land at Lakehurst, New Jersey, USA. 36 of the 97 people on board are killed.

1910

Death of King Edward VII of England - reigned 1901-1910.

1906

In Russia, Tsar Nicholas II makes a public declaration of the Fundamental Law of the Russian Empire - re-affirming autocratic rule.

1851

American inventor Linus Yale patents the security lock.

1840

The world's first postage stamp, the Penny Black, is issued by the Post Office in Britain.

1626

A Dutch settler, called Peter Minuit, buys the area now known as Manhattan Island for trinkets worth around $25 from local Indians

1953

British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

1915

Actor and film director Orson Welles.

1913

English actor Stewart Granger

1895

Romantic film star Rudolph Valentino. Born in Castellaneta in Italy.

1856

Czech psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud.

1992

German-born actress Marlene Dietrich dies in Paris aged 90.

1991

British actor Wilfrid Hyde-White.

1919

Writer Frank Baum, author of Wizard of Oz, dies aged 62.

1910

Death of King Edward VII of England. Reigned 1901-1910.