TODAY IN HISTORY: Sept. 11, 2001
In 2001, hijackers crashed two airplanes into New York’s World Trade Center, toppling its twin 110-storey towers. Not long after, another hijacked plane slammed into the Pentagon in suburban Washington and a fourth plane crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers on board fought with hijackers. Approximately 3,000 people were killed in the four crashes, including two dozen Canadians. The attacks were blamed on Saudi millionaire Osama bin Laden, who was living in Afghanistan under the protection of that country’s Taliban government. The U.S. responded by organizing an international coalition to drive the Taliban from power and find bin Laden, who was killed by U.S. Navy SEALs in Pakistan on May 2, 2011.
In 1754, fur trader Anthony Henday became the first white man to enter what is now Alberta.
In 1899, country singer, songwriter and two-time Louisiana governor Jimmie Davis was born in Quitman, La. He is the author of the perennial favourite “You Are My Sunshine.” Davis was elected governor of Louisiana in 1944 and 1960. Between terms he concentrated on recording gospel music. Davis was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1972. He died Nov. 5, 2000 at the age of 101.
In 1956, Canadian war hero Billy Bishop died in Palm Beach, Fla., at age 62. The Owen Sound, Ont.-native was the top scoring Canadian and Imperial ace of the First World War, credited with shooting down 72 German aircraft. He was also the first Canadian airman to win the Victoria Cross.
In 1962, unsatisfied with the work by Ringo Starr a week earlier, Beatles producer George Martin had them re-record “Love Me Do” with session drummer Andy White and Starr playing the tambourine. They also remade “P.S. I Love You” with Starr playing the maracas.
In 1968, Charles Lavern Beasley of Dallas was charged with Canada’s first hijacking after he ordered an Air Canada Viscount bound for Toronto from Moncton, N.B., to go to Cuba. Describing himself as an American black-power militant sought by the CIA, he was arrested when the plane landed at Dorval, Que., for refuelling. He was sentenced to six years in prison.
In 1987, reggae star Peter Tosh was shot to death in his home in Kingston, Jamaica. He was 43. Police say Tosh was shot in the head after he refused a demand for money from three robbers. A guest at Tosh’s home also was killed and five others were wounded.