#OTD20 | October 5, 1914
Aerial Combat's Pioneering Moment: The Dawn of Dogfights
October 5, 1914: The first aerial combat victory is marked when a French biplane shoots down a German aircraft.
This groundbreaking event transforms the skies into a new battlefield. The romantic era of flight soon confronts the grim realities of war.
Initially, planes in WWI primarily serve reconnaissance roles. But as the conflict intensifies, nations recognize the potential of aircraft as offensive weapons. The skies over Europe witness fierce dogfights, with pilots becoming heroes and legends in their own right.
This milestone in aerial warfare paves the way for the development of advanced fighter planes and combat tactics, forever changing the dynamics of warfare.
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The advent of modern industrial warfare, including the use of aircraft in combat, is chronicled in our two-part survey of the Great War, "World War I."
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#OTD20
Step back in time to experience the significant events that happened on this day in the 20th century.
September 30, 1938: Neville Chamberlain and the Munich Agreement – ‘Peace In Our Time’
#OTD20 — September 30, 1938: British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain believes war with German has been averted, declaring the Munich Agreement affords “peace in our time.”
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September 25, 1919: Woodrow Wilson Incapacitated
#OTD20 | September 25, 1919 Woodrow Wilson’s Debilitating Stroke: A Secret Crisis in American Governance September 25, 1919: President Woodrow Wilson collapses while in Colorado, rallying public support for the League of Nations. The president is rushed back to Washington.
Continue Reading “September 25, 1919: Woodrow Wilson Incapacitated”
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September 24, 1957: Ike Orders Federal Troops into Little Rock
#OTD20 —On September 23, 1957: President Eisenhower orders federal troops into Little Rock, Arkansas to ensure the integration of Central High School.
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September 23, 1952: Nixon’s Checkers Speech
#OTD20 — September 23, 1952: Explore the enduring legacy of Richard Nixon’s 1952 Checkers speech, a moment that changed American politics forever.
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September 23, 1913: Colorado Coalfield War begins
#OTD20 — September 23, 1952: A strike by miners in the Colorado coalfields leads to a violent, year-long conflict known as the Colorado Coalfield War. Explore its origins, key events, and lasting impact.
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September 22, 1961: The Peace Corps is Created
#OTD20 — September 22, 1961: President Kennedy’s vision comes to life with the establishment of the Peace Corps, igniting an era of global volunteerism and outreach.
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September 20, 1962: James Meredith Blocked at Ole Miss
#OTD20 — September20, 1962: James Meredith attempts to register at the University of Mississippi but is obstructed by Governor Ross Barnett. Barnett’s defiant act directly challenges a U.S. Supreme Court ruling and sets the stage for a federal intervention.
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September 18, 1947: The CIA is Born
#OTD20 — September 18, 1947: The Central Intelligence Agency comes into existence, authorized by National Security Act of 1947.
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September 17, 1939: Soviet Union Invades Poland
#OTD20 — September 17, 1939: Forces from the Russian army invade Poland, coming on the heels of the German invasion just two weeks earlier. The offensive effectively splits Poland in two.
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September 15, 1963: Birmingham Church Bombing
#OTD20 — September 15, 1963: a bomb explodes at the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama killing four young girls: Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley, Carole Robertson, and Denise McNair.
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