This day in history - April 18

[seamusTX]

1775 - Paul Revere began his famous ride.

Paul Revere's ride has become more myth than history. Revere did in fact ride out from Boston to warn the countryside that British forces were coming to take the armory at Lexington and arrest John Hancock and Samuel Adams. He was one of three riders plus a party that went by boat.

Revere set out around 11 p.m. and was arrested by the British before dawn. He was released when the battle of Lexington began.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Rever ... aul_Revere" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.paulreverehouse.org/ride/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Much of the myth comes from Longfellow's poem: http://www.paulreverehouse.org/ride/poem.shtml" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It's almost certain that no one involved said, "The British are coming." The American colonists at that time (a year before the Declaration of Independence) still considered themselves British citizens. Revere is quoted as saying, "The regulars are coming out."

1906 - An earthquake struck San Francisco. The earthquake and fires that followed killed some 3,000 people and left more than half the population homeless. It was one of the deadliest and most destructive natural disasters of American history.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1906_San_F ... earthquake" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The San Francisco city authorities appealed to the army for assistance, and the mayor issued an infamous "shoot to kill" order against rioters and looters.

http://www.sfmuseum.org/1906.2/killproc.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

1942 - An air raid led by Lt. Col. James H. Doolittle bombed Tokyo and other Japanese cities. It was the first strike on the Japanese home islands by U.S. forces, less than four months after the Pearl Harbor bombing.

http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/even ... dooltl.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

1945 - Ernest T. ("Ernie") Pyle was killed by Japanese machine-gun fire on an island in the Pacific at age 44. Pyle was the voice of the common soldier during WW II and frequently butted heads with the military establishment. His columns were immensely popular and won him a Pulitzer prize shortly before his death.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernie_Pyle#World_War_II" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://journalism.indiana.edu/resources ... e-columns/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

As the WW II generation passes away and their children age (including me), these people and events are at risk of becoming musty dry history.

- Jim

[WildBill]

1986 - April 18, a Titan 34D exploded 8.5 seconds after launch, destroying a Big Bird (KH-9) satellite, and scattering debris and toxic propellant over Vandenberg AFB. This happened about three months after the Challenger accident. As a result, the USAF temporarily lost it's capability to launch satellites until the fleet was recertified and the next Titan 34D was launched 18 months later. The Shuttle did not fly for another 32 months. A thorough investigation established that Segment #1 (lowest position Segment) on one of the SRMs experienced overheating and eroding of the motor case near the forward joint of the Segment, causing it to fracture, resulting in the destruction of the vehicle.

[RoyGBiv]

Albert Einstein
March 14, 1879 - April 18, 1955
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Einstein#Death" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


On a happier note.... This day is KidGBiv's BIRTHDAY.!!!

[WildBill]

On a happier note.... This day is KidGBiv's BIRTHDAY.!!!

So how old is "The Rainbow Kid" ?