Important Events From This day in History December 15

 

 1944 England -- Glenn Miller

1944 : Glenn Miller one of the best selling recording artists of his time is killed when his U.S. Army plane disappeared over the English Channel. Some of his most popular recordings include, "In the Mood", "Tuxedo Junction", "Chattanooga Choo Choo", "Moonlight Serenade", "Little Brown Jug", and "Pennsylvania 6-5000".

1961 China -- United Nations

1961 : China under Chiang Kai-shek applied to become a member of the United Nations and the General Assembly was to vote on it. The discussion went on for two weeks and the U.S. was opposed to China being a part of the U.N. . The U.S. had kept the issue at bay for a decade.

1967 U.S.A. -- The Silver Bridge

The Silver Bridge across the Ohio River collapses during rush hour and a number of cars fall into the icy water killing 46 .

1791 United States -- Bill Of Rights

The first 10 ammendments to the U.S. Constitution ( Bill Of Rights ) introduced by James Madison which limit the power of the U.S. federal government are ratified by three-fourths of the States, The Bill Of Rights protect the natural rights of liberty and property including freedom of religion, freedom of speech, a free press, free assembly, and free association, as well as the right to keep and bear arms.

1904 Jamaica -- Debt Ridden

1904 : Jamaica as a country was deeply in debt. It owed 5,000,000 pounds with a population of only 800,000 people. However, Britain could not help financially because the Boer War had cost 200,000,000 pounds.

1921 U.S.A. -- National Guard Called In

In Kansas the Kansas national guard was called out to subdue protesting women who were going from mine to mine attacking non-striking coal miners in the Pittsburgh coal field.

1935 France -- German Army

1935 : Leon Archibald, a French army expert, predicted that Germany under Hitler would soon have a military of 1 million soldiers by 1936, whereas France only had 654,000 soldiers. Germany's military outnumbered France's by 5 to 3.

1940 Italy -- Egypt Invasion

Benito Mussolini's soldiers had invaded Egypt and were still there after three months, however their campaign was met with many calamities. They struggled with desert sand storms, salted water holes, and blown up wells.

1939 U.S.A. -- Gone With The Wind

1939 : The Movie "Gone With The Wind" based on the Pulitzer Prize Book Winner in 1937 starring Vivien Leigh ( Scarlett O'Hara ), Clark Gable ( Rhett Butler ) Leslie Howard ( Ashley Wilkes ) and Olivia de Havilland ( Melanie Wilkes ) has its world premiere in Atlanta, Georgia. Find More What happened in 1939

1953 Canada -- US Relations

1953 : Canadian-U.S. relations were at their lowest ebb in years. The American government even refused to allow Canadian planes to land in Tampa, Florida and the U.S. was angry over the alleged Russian spy, Igor Gouzenko incident. Americans felt that the Canadian government should have done more to help in rooting out Soviet espionage.

1973 Italy -- John Paul Getty III

John Paul Getty III who had been kidnapped in July is found safe and well after his grandfather paid the kidnappers $2.8 million for his safe return. During his kidnapping his ear was cut off and sent to the family to convince them the kidnappers were serious.

1974 England -- New Speed Limits

1974 : The British Government has imposed new speed limits to help with the conservation of fuel due to the large price increase of crude oil ( from $3.00 a barrel to $10.00 a barrel ) during the oil embargo by the Arab oil-producing countries (OPEC)on countries supporting Israel during the Arab-Israeli war.

1978 U.S.A. -- China Recognized

The American President Jimmy Carter announces America recognizes the People's Republic of China and cutoff all relations with Taiwan / Formosa. This was in response to China's claim that Taiwan was under the control of the People's Republic of China ( PRC ). ( The ongoing dispute between China and Taiwan continues even now with the PRC claiming sovereignty ) Taiwan does have it's own currency and government.

1979 Saudi Arabia -- Oil Prices

Fuel prices increased as a result of Saudi Arabia and other oil producing countries raising the price from $18 to $24 a barrel. OPEC was convening in Venezuela to discuss oil prices.

1982 Gibraltar -- Access To Spain

1982 : After 13 years the gates connecting Gibraltar Known as the Rock have been opened to allow pedestrian access to Spain. ( Currently Only Spanish citizens or inhabitants of Gibraltar are allowed across ) The gates were closed during General Franco's Regime in 1969 as part of the siege of Gibraltar. Both the British government and the Spanish government would like sovereignty to move to Spanish control but the 30,000 inhabitants of Gibraltar have voted to stay under British control by large majorities in local referendum .

1987 Iran -- Persian Gulf

Iranian frigates were harassing and attacking ships in the southern Persian Gulf. Two Greek tankers were slightly damaged by them. Iran was patrolling the area trying to prevent any Iraqi (enemy) cargo from getting through.

1992 Haiti -- President Bush

1992 : A Haitian priest who is Roman Catholic claimed that President Bush was the victim of a voodoo hex. The priest claimed that the president could undo the curse by changing the U.S.'s foreign policy to Haiti. He said that the proof of Bush's curse was the fact that the president vomited on the Japanese prime minister.

1999 Venezuela -- Mudslides

Heavy rains cause flooding and mudslides which kill thousands in shantytowns on the outskirts of Caracas .