Today in History: September 7, Germany Launches Blitz on VK

Today is Saturday, September 7, the 251st day of 2024. There are 115 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On September 7, 1940, Nazi Germany began an intensive bombing campaign against Britain during World War II, with an air raid on London. This attack became known as The Blitz and lasted eight months. The campaign resulted in more than 40,000 civilian deaths.

Also on this date:

In 1921 the first Miss America Pageant was held in Atlantic City, NJ

In 1943, a fire at the Gulf Hotel, a boarding house in Houston, killed 55 people.

In 1963, the Pro Football Hall of Fame opened in Canton, Ohio, inducting its first 17 members.

In 1977, the Panama Canal Treaty was signed in Washington by US President Jimmy Carter and Panamanian leader Omar Torrijos. It stipulated that the US would transfer control of the waterway to Panama by the end of 1999.

In 1986, Bishop Desmond Tutu was installed as the first black clergyman to lead the Anglican Church in southern Africa.

In 1996, rapper Tupac Shakur was fatally shot on the Las Vegas Strip. He died six days later.

In 2005, police and soldiers went from house to house in New Orleans to persuade remaining residents to leave the city, which had been devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

In 2021, El Salvador became the first country in the world to make Bitcoin legal tender.

Today’s birthday:

• Jazz musician Sonny Rollins is 94.
• Singer Gloria Gaynor is 81.
• Actress Julie Kavner is 74.
• Rock singer Chrissie Hynde (The Pretenders) is 73.
• Actor Corbin Bernsen is 70.
• Actor Michael Emerson is 70.
• Pianist-singer Michael Feinstein is 68.
• Singer/songwriter Diane Warren is 68.
• Actor J. Smith-Cameron is 67.
• Actor Toby Jones is 58.
• Actor-comedian Leslie Jones (TV: “Saturday Night Live”) is 57.
• Actor Tom Everett Scott is 54.
• Actor Shannon Elizabeth is 51.
• Actor Oliver Hudson is 48.
• Actor Evan Rachel Wood is 37.
• Olympic gold medal swimmer Ariarne Titmus is 24 years old.
• Actor Ian Chen (TV: “Fresh Off the Boat”) is 18.