This Day in History – September 21, 2011

1780 American Revolutionary War: Benedict Arnold gives the British the plans to West Point. 1792 The National Convention declares France a republic and abolishes the monarchy. 1827 Joseph Smith, Jr. is reportedly visited by the angel Moroni, who gave him a record of gold plates, one-third of which Smith has translated into The Book of Mormon. 1895 1st auto manufacturer opens-Duryea Motor Wagon Company 1897 The “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus” editorial is published in the New York Sun. 1922 Pres Warren G Harding signs a joint resolution of approval to establish a Jewish homeland in Palestine 1930 Johann Ostermeyer patents the flashbulb 1931 Britain goes off the gold standard 1937 J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit is published. 1938 The Great Hurricane of 1938 makes landfall on Long Island in New York. The death toll is estimated at 500-700 people. 1942 On the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, Nazis send over 1,000 Jews of Pidhaytsi (west Ukraine) to Belzec extermination camp. 1942 In Poland, at the end of Yom Kippur, Germans order Jews to permanently evacuate Konstantynów and move to the Ghetto in Biała Podlaska, established to assemble Jews from seven nearby towns, including Janów Podlaski, Rossosz and Terespol. 1942 In Dunaivtsi, Ukraine, Nazis murder 2,588 Jews. 1942 The B-29 Superfortress makes its maiden flight. 1953 Allied forces form West Germany 1954 Nuclear submarine “Nautilus” is commissioned 1956 Yanks set dubious record, stranding 20 men on base Mantle hits a 500′ plus homer but Red Sox win 13-9 in Fenway 1957 “Perry Mason” with Raymond Burr premiers on CBS-TV 1961 Maiden flight of the CH-47 Chinook transportation helicopter. 1964 Malta becomes independent from the United Kingdom. 1964 The North American XB-70 Valkyrie, the world’s first Mach 3 bomber, makes its maiden flight from Palmdale, California. 1965 Gambia, Maldives and Singapore are admitted as members of the United Nations. 1969 NY Jet Steve O’Neal punts 98 yards against Denver Broncos 1970 “Monday Night Football” on ABC premiers (Browns beat Jetss 31-21) 1970 Luna 16 leaves the Moon 1971 Bahrain, Bhutan and Qatar join the United Nations. 1976 Seychelles joins the United Nations. 1981 Belize is granted full independence from the United Kingdom. 1981 Sandra Day O’Connor is unanimously approved by the U.S. Senate as the first female Supreme Court justice. 1985 Michael Spinks becomes 1st light heavyweight to defeat the reigning heavyweight champion, he defeats Larry Holmes 1986 Miami Dan Marino passes for 6 touchdowns vs NY Jets (51-45) 1986 New Orleans Saints Mel Gray returns kickoff 101 yards for a touchdown 1986 NY Jets beat Miami Dolphins 51-45 in OT; record 884 passing yards 1989 Hurricane Hugo makes landfall in the U.S. state of South Carolina. 1990 Faye Vincent turns down White Sox bid to reinstate Minnie Minoso, 68, (so he can play in 6 decades) because it is a publicity stunt 1991 Armenia is granted independence from Soviet Union. 1993 Russian President Boris Yeltsin suspends parliament and scraps the then-functioning constitution, thus triggering the Russian constitutional crisis of 1993. 2001 Deep Space 1 flies within 2,200 km of Comet Borrelly. 2001 America: A Tribute to Heroes is broadcast by over 35 network and cable channels, raising over $200 million for the September 11 attack victims. 2003 Galileo mission is terminated by sending the probe into Jupiter’s atmosphere, where it is crushed by the pressure at the lower altitudes.]]]]> ]]>