On this day in history.

[Andy_Ross]

My ancestor was transported for stealing a scarf.

It's a quote from a one of the 'sketches' within an episode of The Young Ones.

 

[Andy_Ross]

1894

Blackpool Tower first opened to the public

 

[Andy_Ross]

1847

HMS Driver completed the first circumnavigation of the world by a steamship

 

[Andy_Ross]

1796 Edward Jenner became the first British physician to carry out a successful vaccination; on an eight year old boy against smallpox.

 

[Andy_Ross]

1973 Skylab space station, was launched.

 

[Andy_Ross]

1804 Lewis and Clark embarked from the American Midwest on their famous expedition to the Pacific coast

 

[Andy_Ross]

1607 The first permanent British settlement in North America was founded at Jamestown, Virginia.

 

[Andy_Ross]

1980 We came under direct air attack for the first time. Four Skyhawks popped over the hills and down on to San Carlos water. Two came for us and dropped bombs which fell short. One was hit by AA as it made for the horizon and went down. It was the only time we were ever directly targeted. The pilots just had seconds to pick a target as they came over the hills and until the RAF got their Rapier Missile batteries onto the hills there was just a few seconds for our AA to have a go at them.

Argentinian Skyhawk pilots were ridiculously brave and skilled. Flying low and fast through brutal weather in to SAMs, and Sea Harriers to attack our anchored ships with unguided 'iron' bombs. It was up-close and personal and they sank four ships and ten damaged.
We got two dozen of them. Once the Rapiers were in place the attacks subsided.

 

[Andy_Ross]

1536 The trial of Anne Boleyn. She was accused of incest, sleeping with 4 men and an assassination plot against her husband, King Henry VIII. She was found guilty by a specially-selected jury and executed four days later.

 

[Andy_Ross]

1941 The first flight of Britain's first jet propelled aircraft, the Gloster-Whittle E.28/39

 

[Andy_Ross]

1990 Home produced beef was banned in UK schools and hospitals as a result of concern over 'mad cow disease'

 

[Andy_Ross]

1718

The first machine gun was patented by London lawyer James Puckle

 

[Andy_Ross]

1841 First emigrant wagon train to reach California leaves Independence, Missouri,

 

[Andy_Ross]

1940 Richard and Maurice McDonald open the first McDonald's restaurant in San Bernardino, California

 

[Andy_Ross]

1988 The Soviet Union begins withdrawing its troops from Afghanistan

 

[shemp]

1940 Richard and Maurice McDonald open the first McDonald's restaurant in San Bernardino, California

Herr Schitler was the first customer.

 

[Andy_Ross]

1943 Launch of Operation Chastise, attack on German Mohne and Eder dams by RAF No. 617 Squadron.

 

[Andy_Ross]

1982 Overnight SAS and SBS raid on Pebble Island destroys the entire squadron of Pukara ground attack aircraft. As they withdrew HMS Glamorgan shelled the base with 4.5 inch gunfire to distract the Argentinian ground forces, destroying the fuel and ammunition stores.

 

[Andy_Ross]

1908 Britain’s first diesel submarine was launched

 

[Andy_Ross]

1929 The first movie academy awards were presented.