A Brief History On October 30, 1985, the American Space Shuttle Challenger lifted off on its 9th mission, a successful flight that lasted over seven days and was notable for having taken the first Dutch astronaut into space. Digging Deeper Challenger had a successful career from its first flight into space in April of 1983 through its 9th flight in October and November of 1985, spending nearly 1500 hours in space flight. Unfortunately, as we have chronicled, on January 28, 1986, the magnificent space machine blew up and went to pieces only 73 seconds into its 10th and final flight,…
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A Brief History On October 29, 1955, the Soviet Navy of the USSR suffered yet another in a long line of what we call “Naval Oops Moments” when the battleship Novorossiysk struck a World War II era naval mine and sank. Digging Deeper The Novorossiysk was the former Italian battleship Giulio Cesare, commissioned way back in 1914, but turned over to the Soviets after World War II. Ironically, the big ship was sunk in her own home harbor at Sevastopol, the Crimean headquarters of the Soviet Black Sea Fleet. Sadly, 608 sailors died in the incident, and the ship was…
A Brief History On October 28, 1453, the Bohemian city of Prague witnessed the crowing of Ladislaus the Posthumous as King. Although you may think the name implies the guy was dead when crowned, it really referred to his father having died before the birth of Ladislaus. We have previously discussed some goofy names, and today ask you to tell us which monarch had the goofiest name, and we provide a list you can choose from, or you can name your own choice. Digging Deeper Æthelred the Unready, England Charles the Bald, West Francia Charles the Child, Aquitaine Charles the…
A Brief History On October 27, 939, King Æthelstan of England died, the throne then going to his half-brother, Edmund I. Digging Deeper This year, 2022, King Charles III has ascended the throne of the United Kingdom, the first royal succession in Britain since Queen Elizabeth II became monarch in 1952. Long before either of these esteemed individuals, Æthelstan was the first English monarch to become King of ALL of England, though various subsections of England had had kings for centuries. Prior to attaining the title, King of the English in 927, Æthelstan had been King of the Anglo Saxons…
A Brief History On October 26, 1943, the aptly named Dornier Do 335 Pfeil, or Arrow, made its first flight. Sleek and menacing looking, this unique fighter had an engine and propeller on both the front and the back of the fuselage and had the performance to match its appearance. Digging Deeper Today, we offer you a list of candidates for the meanest looking plane of World War II, but feel free to add your own choice. Bell P-39 Airacobra Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Curtiss P-40 Warhawk Dornier Do 335 Pfeil Junkers Ju-87 Messerschmitt Me-163 Komet Messerschmitt Me 262 Schwalbe…