ON THIS DAY 39 years ago (1982)

54 years ago (1967)

Our front page revealed the tragic deaths of Apollo 1 astronauts Virgil “Gus” Grissom, Edward White and Roger Chaffee after their command module caught fire during preparations for the first crewed Apollo flight. The blaze began in the electrical system before spreading to the oxygen supply.

Grissom was the second American to fly into space, while White was the first US astronaut to walk in space.

68 years ago (1953)

Derek Bentley, 19, who had learning difficulties, was hanged for his part in the murder of PC Sidney Miles during a bungled robbery at a warehouse in Croydon, south London.

Bentley’s execution led to a lifelong campaign by his family to clear his name. His conviction was overturned in 1998.

We reported that police in Padua, Italy, rescued US Brigadier General James Dozier who had been held captive by the Red Brigade for 42 days.

The deputy chief of staff at Nato’s Southern European headquarters was seized from his sixth-floor flat in Verona by terrorists posing as plumbers.