Today in History

After rumbling for two months, Mount Saint Helens, in Washington, erupts 3 times in 24 hours.

India becomes the sixth nation to explode an atomic bomb.

Two battalions of the 101st Airborne Division assault Hill 937 but cannot reach the top because of muddy conditions.

The United Nations moves its headquarters to New York city.

The Allies finally capture Monte Cassino in Italy.

New York ends night baseball games for the rest of World War II.

President Franklin Roosevelt signs the Tennessee Valley Authority Act.

Japanese pilot Seiji Yoshihara crashes his plane in the Pacific Ocean while trying to be the first to cross the ocean nonstop. He is picked up seven hours later by a passing ship.

Margot Fonteyn, English ballet dancer.

John Paul II [Karol Jozef Wojtyla], Roman Catholic pope.

The U.S. Congress passes the Selective Service act, calling up soldiers to fight World War I.

Joseph Vernon “Big Joe” Turner, blues singer.

Brigand Raisuli kidnaps American Ion H. Perdicaris in Morocco.

Meredith Willson, composer and lyricist (The Music Man).

Frank Capra, film director (It’s A Wonderful Life).