Browsing: Society

A Brief History On June 22, 1990, Checkpoint Charlie, the best known crossing point between Soviet-occupied East Germany to Western-occupied West Germany was torn down, a sign that the Cold War that had threatened the world with nuclear annihilation since 1947 was drawing to an end. Here we list “10 More Symbols of the Cold War” after previously listing “10 Symbols of the Cold War,” weapons, people or other manifestations that symbolized the period from the end of World War II to the break up of the Soviet Union in 1991.  (Honorable mention to the Soviet T-62 tank and the…

A Brief History On June 20, 1943, World War II came to the American heartland when a massive race related riot broke out in Detroit. An influx of 400,000+ people from the Southern US (many of which were African American) people to work in war related industries strained the housing market and competed for jobs and resources. The mostly White European population already living in Detroit chafed at the newcomers and the newcomers did not appreciate the cold reception. Before the riot was quelled by 6000 US Army troops, 34 people had died and well over 400 were injured. Over…

A Brief History On June 17, 2018, we take the opportunity to discuss some new developments regarding events that either happened this month or that reached the news in the past couple weeks. The worst incident to report was the death of 2 Kansas City, Kansas sheriff’s deputies at the hands of a career criminal and murderer. Other events include the ongoing Russia probe and the status of racial discrimination and sexual misconduct claims.  Today (June 17, 2018), a reported drunken driver in Washington (state) apparently used a pistol to make at least a few attempts at car jacking people…

A Brief History Possibly on June 16, 1944 (the exact date is unknown, said to be sometime in the Spring of 1944, so we chose this date), American Army Air Force pilot William Overstreet, Jr. was flying his North American P-51 Mustang in pursuit of a German Messerschmitt Bf-109 when the 2 fighter planes amazed onlookers on the ground by flying right under the lower arches of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. The epic event has been caught on canvas by artist Len Krenzler, in his painting “Berlin Express Arrives in Paris” (2000). Digging Deeper Overstreet and his squadron…

A Brief History On June 15, 1936, the Vickers Wellington twin engine bomber made its maiden flight. The bomber would be produced from 1936 until the end of World War II in 1945, with a massive production run of well over 11,400 copies, over 4 000 more than the larger and more famous 7377 Avro Lancasters built. The Wellington was quickly found to be inadequate for a role as a daylight heavy bomber but proved highly effective in other roles as a medium bomber, both versatile and resilient. Digging Deeper Designed by inventive genius Barnes Wallis, the guy that gave…