April 17 - This Day in History

April 17 : General Interest 1970: Apollo 13 returns to Earth With the world anxiously watching, Apollo 13, a U.S. lunar spacecraft that suffered a severe malfunction on its journey to the moon, safely returns to Earth... read more American Revolution 1783 : Colbert launches raid on Fort Carlos, Arkansas http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/colbert-launches-raid-on-fort-carlos-arkansas Automotive 1964 : Ford Mustang debuts at World's Fair http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/ford-mustang-debuts-at-worlds-fair Civil War 1864 : Battle of Plymouth, North Carolina, begins http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/battle-of-plymouth-north-carolina-begins Cold War 1961 : The Bay of Pigs invasion begins http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-bay-of-pigs-invasion-begins Crime 1936 : A single horsehair uncovers a murderer http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/a-single-horsehair-uncovers-a-murderer Disaster 1815 : Volcanic eruption kills 80,000 http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/volcanic-eruption-kills-80000 General Interest 1790 : Benjamin Franklin dies http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/benjamin-franklin-dies 1941 : Yugoslavia surrenders http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/yugoslavia-surrenders 1969 : Architect of Czechoslovakia's Prague Spring resigns http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/architect-of-czechoslovakias-prague-spring-resigns Hollywood 2002 : General Hospital airs 10,000th episode http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/general-hospital-airs-10000th-episode Literary 1885 : Isak Dinesen is born http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/isak-dinesen-is-born Music 1960 : Eddie Cochran dies, and Gene Vincent is injured, in a UK car accident http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/eddie-cochran-dies-and-gene-vincent-is-injured-in-a-uk-car-accident Old West 1882 : Life of Billy the Kid arrives at Library of Congress http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/life-of-billy-the-kid-arrives-at-library-of-congress Presidential 1961 : JFK waits for word on the Bay of Pigs invasion http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/jfk-waits-for-word-on-the-bay-of-pigs-invasion Sports 1976 : Mike Schmidt hits four consecutive homers http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/mike-schmidt-hits-four-consecutive-homers Vietnam War 1972 : First antiwar protest of the year is conducted http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/first-antiwar-protest-of-the-year-is-conducted 1975 : Cambodia falls to the Khmer Rouge http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/cambodia-falls-to-the-khmer-rouge World War I 1917 : Second Battle of Gaza http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/second-battle-of-gaza World War II 1941 : The Yugoslav army surrenders http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-yugoslav-army-surrenders 1942 : General Henri Giraud makes his great escape http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/general-henri-giraud-makes-his-great-escape 1945 : Americans seize 1,100 tons of uranium http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/americans-seize-1100-tons-of-uranium