Today in History

Navy divers find the crew compartment of the space shuttle Challenger along with the remains of the astronauts.

Iraq launches an offensive against the rebellious Kurds.

General William Westmoreland asks for 206,000 more troops in Vietnam.

Svetlana Alliluyeva, Josef Stalin‘s daughter defects to the United States.

The first Ford Mustang rolls off the Ford assembly line.

The Barbie doll is unveiled at a toy fair in New York City.

Egyptian leader Nasser bars U.N. plans to share the tolls for the use of the Suez Canal.

British authorities arrest and deport Archbishop Makarios from Cyprus. He is accused of supporting terrorists.

Keri Hulme, New Zealand novelist (The Bone People).

Bobby Fischer, first American world chess champion.

Britain frees captured Italian coal ships on the eve of German Foreign Minister, Ribbentrop’s visit to Rome.

Czech President Emil Hacha ousts pro-German Joseph Tiso as the Premier of Slovakia in order to preserve Czech unity.

The German press warns that all Jews who vote in the upcoming elections will be arrested.

Yuri Gagarin, Russian cosmonaut, the first man to orbit the Earth.

Eamon De Valera is elected president of the Irish Free State and pledges to abolish all loyalty to the British Crown.