Today in History

In South Africa, Winnie Mandela is sentenced to six years in prison for her part in the kidnapping and beating of three black youths and the death of a fourth.

The U.S. space station Skylab is launched.

Three companies of the 101st Airborne Division fail to push North Vietnamese forces off Hill 937 in South Vietnam.

A bus carrying black and white civil rights activists is bombed and burned in Alabama.

Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion establishes the State of Israel.

Robert Jarvik, American physician.

George Lucas, film director and producer (Star Wars).

The British Army, in retreat from Burma, reaches India.

Holland surrenders to Germany.

A plebiscite in the Philippines ratifies an independence agreement.

Richard P. Brickner, novelist (The Broken Year).

Sidney Bechet, jazz clarinetist and soprano saxaphone player.

Union General Nathanial Banks heads towards Port Hudson along the Mississippi River.