TODAY IN HISTORY

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHT

March 3, 1974

A Turkish Airlines DC-10 crashed shortly after takeoff from Orly Airport in Paris, killing all 346 people on board. ALSO ON THIS DATE

1791

Congress passed a measure taxing distilled spirits; it was the first internal revenue act in U.S. history.

1845

Florida became the 27th state.

1863

President Abraham Lincoln signed a measure creating the National Academy of Sciences.

1931

“The Star-Spangled Banner” became the national anthem of the United States as President Herbert Hoover signed a congressional resolution.

1934

Bank robber John Dillinger escaped from the Lake County Jail in Crown Point, Indiana, along with another prisoner, Herbert Youngblood.

1943

In London’s East End, 173 people died in a crush of bodies at the Bethnal Green tube station, which was being used as a wartime air raid shelter.

1959

The United States launched the Pioneer 4 spacecraft, which flew by the moon. Comedian Lou Costello died in East Los Angeles three days before his 53rd birthday.

1960

Lucille Ball filed for divorce from her husband, Desi Arnaz, a day after they had finished filming the last episode of “The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Show” on Arnaz’s 43rd birthday.

1966

Death claimed actor William Frawley at age 79 and actress Alice Pearce at age 48 in Hollywood.

1991

Motorist Rodney King was severely beaten by Los Angeles police officers in a scene captured on amateur video. Twenty-five people were killed when a United Airlines Boeing 737-200 crashed while approaching the Colorado Springs airport.