CUBAN EXILES LAND AT THE BAY OF PIGS
A force of 1400 Cuban exiles, trained & equipped by the CIA, has made a landing on the southern coast of Cuba this morning.
The exile force, known as "Brigade 2506", came under heavy fire from Fidel Castro's army as they landed at the "Bay of Pigs".
Early reports indicate that Castro's air force staffed the beach & sank 2 of the Brigade's escort ships.
The purpose of the invasion, approved during the Eisenhower administration & supported by President Kennedy, is to overthrow communist dictator Fidel Castro.
The Brigade's landing was hampered by bad weather & a shortage of ammunition.
Fighting is expected to continue tomorrow.*
*Check back for more information in tomorrow's JFK+50 posting.
April 17, 1964
FORD MOTOR COMPANY PREMIERS "MUSTANG"
Henry Ford II of Ford Motor Company unveiled a new sports car today at the 1964 World's Fair in Flushing Meadows, New York.
22,000 "Mustangs" were sold today at dealers across the USA.
The manufacturer's suggested price for Ford's new sports car starts at $2300.*
*Ford sold 400,000 "Mustangs" in 1964 & a silver Mustang was featured in the James Bond film, "Goldfinger".
1964 1/2 Ford Mustang Convertible
April 17, 1970
UNLUCKY APOLLO 13 RETURNS SAFELY TO EARTH
After an oxygen tank explosion scrubbed their lunar landing mission, the astronauts aboard Apollo 13 made a safe "splash-down" today in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
Jim Lovell, John Swigert & Fred Haise had been forced to transfer temporarily to the lunar lander, after the explosion, in order to survive the journey back to earth.
Apollo 13 Spacecraft
April 17, 1975
CAMBODIA FALLS TO THE COMMUNISTS
The forces of the Khmer Rouge captured Phnom Penh today & is now in control of Cambodia.
After US military forces pulled out of Vietnam in 1973, Cambodians were left alone to fight the communist insurgents in their own country.*
*As a result of the fall of Cambodia, thousands of people were murdered or died from hunger & disease.
April 17, 1790
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN IS DEAD
America's most distinguished statesman, Benjamin Franklin, died today at the age of 84 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Franklin, author, diplomat, inventor, printer & scientist, was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1706 but moved to Philadelphia in 1723 where he published "The Pennsylvania Gazette.
From 1732 to 1757, Franklin published "Poor Richard's Almanack" which is famous for such proverbs as "A penny saved is a penny earned".
A successful inventor, Franklin is known for his stove, bifocal eyeglasses & lightning rod.
Benjamin Franklin was a member of the Continental Congress, the Constitutional Convention & a diplomat who negotiated the Treaty of Alliance with France & the Treaty of Paris with Great Britain.
Mr. Franklin is to be buried in the Christ Church Burying Ground in Philadelphia.
Benjamin Franklin
April 17, 2011
A Special Tribute to Harry Luther Bailey, Sr.
I want to pay a special tribute to my brother-in-law, Harry L. Bailey, Sr., who passed away this past Wednesday, April 13, 2011 at the age of 79.
Harry, the son of Paul & Wanita Bailey (my wife Beverly's parents), graduated from Knoxville High School & served in US Naval Aviation during the Korean War.
He graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Engineering in 1957 & began his career at Union Carbide, Y-12 plant in Oak Ridge where he held numerous engineering management positions.
In 1975 he served as the Y-12 Engineering Site Manager where he was responsible for all engineering & construction projects for the plant.
Harry retired in 1996 but returned as an Engineering Consultant.
Harry was not only a gifted individual who served the United States in many influential capacities, he was a great person. I could not have had a more wonderful brother-in-law.
Harry, we will miss you.*
*We will be attending Harry's funeral service in Clinton, Tennessee this evening.
Harry Luther Bailey, Sr.
United States Navy
