Todays History

First flight of Britain’s Handley Page Victor strategic bomber.

The Immaculate Reception is caught by Franco Harris to win the Pittsburgh Steelers their first ever playoff victory, after defeating the Oakland Raiders.

U.S. President Gerald Ford creates the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in response to the 1970s energy crisis.

Arthur Wynne’s “word-cross”, the first crossword puzzle, is published in the New York World.

The United States invasion of Panama deposes Manuel Noriega.

BBC World Service begins broadcasting as the BBC Empire Service.

Project SCORE, the world’s first communications satellite, is launched.

Harold Holt, Prime Minister of Australia, disappears while swimming near Portsea, Victoria, and is presumed drowned.

Taj Mahal Palace and Tower hotel in Bombay first opens its doors to guests

Italian American food cart vendor Italo Marchiony receives a U.S. patent for inventing a machine that makes ice cream cones