December 21 - The Day in History

December 21 : General Interest 1988: Pan Am Flight 103 explodes over Scotland On this day in 1988, Pan Am Flight 103 from London to New York explodes in midair over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing all 243 passengers and 16 crew members aboard, as well as 11 Lockerbie residents on the ground... read more American Revolution 1761 : Patriot Robert Barnwell is born http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/patriot-robert-barnwell-is-born Automotive 1967 : "The Graduate" opens in New York; makes Alfa Romeo Duetto Spider famous http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-graduate-opens-in-new-york-makes-alfa-romeo-duetto-spider-famous Civil War 1861 : Trent crisis escalates http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/trent-crisis-escalates Cold War 1991 : Soviet republics proclaim the Commonwealth of Independent States http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/soviet-republics-proclaim-the-commonwealth-of-independent-states Crime 1980 : Sunny von Bulow is found comatose http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/sunny-von-bulow-is-found-comatose 1988 : Pan Am Flight 103 explodes over Lockerbie, Scotland http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/pan-am-flight-103-explodes-over-lockerbie-scotland Disaster 1946 : Earthquake sends tsunami toward Japan http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/earthquake-sends-tsunami-toward-japan General Interest 1958 : De Gaulle elected http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/de-gaulle-elected 1968 : Apollo 8 departs for moon's orbit http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/iapollo-8i-departs-for-moons-orbit 1975 : Carlos the Jackal attacks OPEC headquarters http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/carlos-the-jackal-attacks-opec-headquarters Hollywood 2001 : Russell Crowe stars in A Beautiful Mind http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/russell-crowe-stars-in-a-beautiful-mind Literary 1799 : William Wordsworth moves into Dove Cottage http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/william-wordsworth-moves-into-dove-cottage 1996 : Curious George co-creator Margret Rey dies http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/curious-george-co-creator-margret-rey-dies Music 1985 : Harry Chapin earns a #1 hit with "Cat's In The Cradle" http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/harry-chapin-earns-a-1-hit-with-quotcat39s-in-the-cradlequot Old West 1866 : Indians massacre Fetterman and eighty soldiers http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/indians-massacre-fetterman-and-eighty-soldiers Presidential 1970 : Nixon meets Elvis Presley http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nixon-meets-elvis-presley Sports 1918 : Hobey Baker killed in plane crash http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/hobey-baker-killed-in-plane-crash Vietnam War 1969 : Thailand announces plans to withdraw troops http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/thailand-announces-plans-to-withdraw-troops 1972 : Defense Department reports eight B-52s lost during Linebacker II http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/defense-department-reports-eight-b-52s-lost-during-linebacker-ii World War I 1915 : Sir William Robertson is appointed chief of the Imperial General Staff http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/sir-william-robertson-is-appointed-chief-of-the-imperial-general-staff World War II 1945 : "Old Blood and Guts" dies http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/old-blood-and-guts-dies

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