TODAY IN HISTORY
Today is Sunday, Aug. 6, the 218th day of 2017. There are 147 days left in the year.
Today’s Highlight in History
On August 6, 1945, during World War II, the U.S. B-29 Superfortress Enola Gay dropped an atomic bomb code-named “Little Boy” on Hiroshima, Japan, resulting in an estimated 140,000 deaths. (Three days later, the United States exploded a nuclear device over Nagasaki; five days after that, Imperial Japan surrendered.)
On this date
1813 — During the Venezuelan War of Independence, forces led by Simon Bolivar recaptured Caracas. 1914 — Austria-Hungary declared war against Russia and Serbia declared war against Germany. 1917 — Actor Robert Mitchum was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut. 1926 — Gertrude Ederle became the first woman to swim the English Channel, arriving in Kingsdown, England, from France in 14 1/2 hours. Warner Bros. premiered its Vitaphone sound-on-disc movie system in New York with a showing of “Don Juan” featuring synchronized music and sound effects. 1930 — New York State Supreme Court Justice Joseph Force Crater went missing after leaving a Manhattan restaurant; his disappearance remains a mystery. 1942 — Queen Wilhemina of the Netherlands became the first reigning queen to address a joint session of Congress, telling lawmakers that despite Nazi occupation, her people’s motto remained, “No surrender.” 1956 — the DuMont television network went off the air after a decade of operations. 1961 — Soviet cosmonaut Gherman Titov became the second man to orbit Earth as he flew aboard Vostok 2; his call sign, “Eagle,” prompted his famous declaration: “I am Eagle!” 1965 — President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act. 1986 — William J. Schroeder died at Humana Hospital-Audubon in Louisville, Kentucky, after living 620 days with the Jarvik 7 artificial heart. 1997 — Korean Air Flight 801 crashed into a hillside a short distance from Guam International Airport, killing 228 of the 254 aboard the Boeing 747.
Five years ago
Syria’s prime minister, Riad Hijab, defected two months after being forced into the position by President Bashar Assad.
One year ago
The White House released a version of President Barack Obama’s 3-year-old guidance on the use of lethal force against terrorists overseas, laying out what it said were safeguards to minimize civilian deaths and errant strikes while preserving the capability to take quick action with drone attacks and other means.
A fire swept through a birthday party at a bar in the French city of Rouen, killing 14 people.
Today’s Birthdays
Children’s performer Ella Jenkins is 93. Actor-director Peter Bonerz is 79. Actor Ray Buktenica is 74. Rock singer Pat MacDonald (Timbuk 3) is 65. Country musician Mark DuFresne (Confederate Railroad) is 64. Actress Stepfanie Kramer is 61. Actress Michelle Yeoh is 55. Actor Benito Martinez is 49. Movie writer-director M. Night Shyamalan is 47. Actress Merrin Dungey is 46. Singer Geri Halliwell Horner is 45. Actor Jason O’Mara is 45. Singer-actor David Campbell is 44. Actress Ever Carradine is 43. Actress Soleil Moon Frye is 41. Actress Melissa George is 41. Actor Leslie Odom Jr. is 36. Actress Romola Garai is 35.