1945: First atomic bomb detonated
On July 16, 1945, the world's first
atomic bomb is secretly detonated in the desert near Los Alamos, New Mexico. Under extreme secrecy, the British and Americans began development of the bomb in 1940. In 1942, the atomic program was placed under U.S. Army control and code-named the
Manhattan Project, and in 1943 a laboratory directed by U.S. physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer was opened in the New Mexico desert. By the time of the successful
Trinity test in July 1945, more than $2 billion had been spent on the bomb's research and development. News of the deadly new weapon was not made public until three weeks later, when two others like it devastated the
Japanese cities of
Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
1999
In America,
John F Kennedy Jr - son of assassinated President John Kennedy - his wife and her sister, are killed in a plane crash off the Massachusetts resort island of Martha's Vineyard.
1970
In
Britain, Prime Minister
Edward Heath declares a state of emergency following the start of a national dock strike - the first state of emergency issued in Britain since 1926.
1969
In the United States, the launch of the
Apollo 11 spacecraft at the start of its mission to land men on the moon. On board the spacecraft - three US astronauts, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and
Michael Collins. 1965
French President Charles De Gaulle and President Saragat of Italy open the 7 mile long Mont Blanc road tunnel linking
France with
Italy. 1955
Racing driver Stirling Moss becomes first Englishman to win the British Grand Prix.1951
Publication of J.D Salinger's controversial novel 'Catcher in the Rye'.1950
The largest ever crowd at a football match - more than 199,000 in Montevideo to see
Uruguay beat
Brazil 2-1 in the World Cup final.
1945
World War II: The United States detonates its first
atomic bomb at an airbase in the New Mexico desert.
1942
World War II: Almost 14,000 Jewish people living in
Paris are arrested as
German troops begin a round up of the Jewish community.
1942
World War II: Almost 14,000 Jewish people living in Paris are arrested as German troops begin a round up of the Jewish community.1909
Mohammed Ali, Shah of Persia, is deposed in favour of 12 year old Sultan Ahmad Shah.1909
Mohammed Ali, Shah of Persia, is deposed in favour of 12 year old Sultan Ahmad Shah.1909
Mohammed Ali, Shah of Persia, is deposed in favour of 12 year old Sultan Ahmad Shah. 1942
Australian tennis champion Margaret Court.1911
American actress/dancer Ginger Rogers - real name Virginia McMath.1907
American film actress Barbara Stanwyck - real name Ruby Stevens.1872
Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen - the first man to reach the South
Pole in 1911.
1989
Austrian conductor Herbert von Karajan.1953
French-born British writer Hillaire Belloc.1557
Anne of Cleves, the fourth wife of King
Henry VIII of England. Her marriage to the King had been annulled after six months.
