A Brief History
This article presents a chronological list of notable events that happened on December 20th. For each date below, please click on the date to be taken to an article covering that date’s event.
Digging Deeper
On December 20, 217 AD, reigning Pope Saint Zephyrinus died, replaced by Callixtus I as his successor.
On December 20, 1941, the American Volunteer Group, better known by its nickname, the Flying Tigers, engaged in its first air-to-air combat when its fighters encountered 10 Japanese “Sally” bombers.
On December 20, 1941, the American Volunteer Group (AVG), better known by its nickname, the Flying Tigers, engaged in its first round of air-to-air combat when its fighters encountered Japanese “Sally” bombers.
On December 20, 1957, one of the most important flights in the history of passenger airlines took place when the Boeing 707 jetliner made its first flight.
On December 20, 1968, the killer later known as “The Zodiac Killer” shot and murdered two victims in Vallejo, California, the first confirmed victims of this still unidentified killer.
On December 20, 1987, the passenger ferry Dona Paz sank with twice as many drowned as the Titanic!
On December 20, 1991, the parents of a Palestinian American girl were sentenced to death for the first degree murder of their daughter, a murder committed in the name of “honor,” believing their daughter had shamed the family by living a decadent American style life and having a romantic relationship with an African American man.
On December 20, 2009, actress and lovely young woman Brittany Murphy died from pneumonia.
On December 20, 2018, we took a look back at the 30 some movies we saw at the theaters in 2018, almost all of which were reviewed on this site.
On December 20, 2019, the United States Space Force became a branch of the US Military, a military that far exceeds any current competitor.
Biographical sports drama fans had their chance to be among the first in Cleveland, Ohio to see American Underdog on Monday, December 20, 2021 at 7:00 PM at Cinemark At Valley View and XD in Valley View, Ohio!
Science fiction action fans had their chance to be among the first in Cleveland, Ohio to see The Matrix Resurrections on Monday, December 20, 2021 at 7:00 PM at Atlas Cinemas Eastgate 10 in Mayfield Heights, Ohio!
Biographical musical fans had their chance to be among the first in Cleveland, Ohio to see Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody on Tuesday, December 20, 2022 at 7:00PM at Atlas Cinemas Eastgate 10 on 1345 SOM Center Rd. in Cleveland, Ohio!
Question for students (and subscribers) to ponder: Which event that occurred on today’s date would you like to learn more about?
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Historical Evidence
For more information, please see…
Andrews, John and Matt Baker. Timeline of World History. Thunder Bay Press, 2020.
You can also watch video versions of this article on YouTube.