On this day

83 years ago (1935)

We revealed the world’s biggest airship, the US Navy’s Macon, had sent out an SOS after battling gales off the coast of California. It crashed, killing two of the 73 crew.

73 years ago (1945)

RAF and US planes carried out the first of four massive bombing raids on Dresden in Nazi Germany, killing 25,000. Many see it as a war crime.

40 years ago (1978)

Former Tomorrow’s World host Anna Ford, 34, became ITV’s first female newsreader. Her appointment followed Angela Rippon’s BBC success.