What Happened On
Photo Credit: www.canadafreepress.com/
Photo Credit: www.canadafreepress.com/
Osama bin Laden Killed
May 2, 2011
The Saudi-born terrorist is killed in Pakistan by a U.S. military special operations unit. Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaeda organization are believed responsible for a series of bombings against the U.S., including the 1998 U.S. embassy bombings, the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, and the 9/11 Attacks.
General Belgrando underway
General Belgrando underway
First Ship Sunk by Nuclear-Powered Submarine
May 2, 1982
The British submarine HMS Conqueror sinks the Argentine cruiser ARA General Belgrano as part of the Falklands War, killing 323 people.
The General Belgrano was previously commissioned as the USS Phoenix and had survived the Pearl Harbor attack.
left to right: Wyman, Richards, Jones, Watts, and Jagger
left to right: Wyman, Richards, Jones, Watts, and Jagger
Rolling Stones
May 2, 1962
Brian Jones places an advertisement in the May 2nd edition of Jazz News inviting musicians to audition for a new R&B group. The first to join was pianist Ian Stewart, soon followed by Mick Jagger and Jagger's childhood friend Keith Richards.
Their first rehearsal included guitarist Geoff Bradford and vocalist Brian Knight, both of whom decided not to join the band because they objected to playing the Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley songs preferred by Jagger and Richards.
The group later added Charlie Watts and Bill Wyman.
Jack Benny's First Radio Program
May 2, 1932
The legendary comedian Jack Benny performs his first radio program, The Canada Dry Program, broadcast on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Benny would go on to portray himself as a miser who played his violin badly and perpetually claimed to be 39 years of age.
Samson taking off from HMS Hibernia
Samson taking off from HMS Hibernia
First Airplane Take-Off from the Deck of a Moving Ship
May 2, 1912
Lt. Samson from the HMS Hibernia. The previous January, Samson had become the first British pilot to take off from a stationary ship.
Stereoscope of mill explosion
Stereoscope of mill explosion
Great Mill Disaster
May 2, 1878
A spark ignites flour dust in a Minneapolis mill creating an explosion that demolished the mill and killed 18 workers instantly. The ensuing fire killed another four workers, destroyed five other mills, and reduced Minneapolis's milling capacity by one third. The disaster led to reforms in mill safety, including ventilation devices to reduce the buildup of grain dust.
The mill was built by Cadwallader C. Washburn in 1874 and was the largest flour mill in the world and contributed greatly to the development of Minneapolis. After this one was destroyed, Washburn built another, and it was also the largest in the world.
Civil War - Stonewall Jackson Shot by Friendly Fire
May 2, 1863
Confederate General Stonewall Jackson is shot by his own men when they mistake his troops for Union soldiers during the Battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia. The injuries required the amputation of his left arm. He died of complications of pneumonia eight days later.
First Non-stop Transcontinental Flight
May 2, 1923
Lt. John A. Macready and Lt. Oakley Kelly depart from New York arriving in San Diego May 3. They flew a modified Fokker T-2 loaded with gasoline with an official time of 26 hours, 50 minutes and 38 3/5 seconds.
Henry VIII's Version of Couples Counseling
May 2, 1536
Henry VIII charges his second wife, Queen Anne Boleyn, with treason, incest, and adultery. She was beheaded two weeks later.
Birthdays
Red Baron with his distinctive red triplane
Red Baron with his distinctive red triplane
Red Baron (Baron Manfred Von Richthofen)
Born May 2, 1892 d. 1918
German World War I flying ace. He shot down 80 enemy aircraft. In the month of April of 1917 alone, he shot down 22 British aircraft, including four in a single day. Canadian pilot Roy Brown is credited with killing him in action, although evidence shows that the Baron was probably killed by ground fire.
When Brown saw a fellow pilot being chased by the Red Baron, he dived in pursuit firing at the Red Baron. Brown eventually had to pull out of the dive and lost sight of the pair. It is believed that the Red Baron turned and while flying low was shot and killed by Australian Army ground fire and crashed near the Australian trenches. Although Brown marked his initial report of the fight as "indecisive", his commanding officer changed it to "decisive" and he was credited with the kill.
Capture of John André
Capture of John André
Benedict Arnold's Accomplice
John André
Born May 2, 1750 d. 1780
British officer. He assisted Benedict Arnold in the failed attempt to surrender West Point, New York to the British during the American Revolution. He was caught by the Continental Army and hanged as a spy. Benedict Arnold escaped and was commissioned as a brigadier general in the British Army and later fought against colonial troops that he had previously commanded.
Kyle Busch
Born May 2, 1985
American racecar driver, NASCAR #18. In 2008, he set the record for the most wins in a season with 21.
Larry Gatlin
Born May 2, 1948
American Grammy-winning country singer. Music: Broken Lady (1976, Grammy) and I Don't Wanna Cry (1976, Grammy).
It's My Party
Lesley Gore (Lesley Sue Goldstein)
Born May 2, 1946 d. 2015
American singer. Music: It's My Party (1963, #1), which she recorded at the age of 16, working with Quincy Jones. In 1967, she appeared in the TV show Batman as Pussycat, one of Catwoman's minions.
Goldy McJohn (John Raymond Goadsby)
Born May 2, 1945 d. 2017
American keyboardist, with Steppenwolf. A classically-trained pianist, he was a pioneer in the use of the electronic organ in rock and roll and heavy metal. Music: Born To Be Wild (1968) and Magic Carpet Ride (1968).
Engelbert Humperdinck (Arnold Dorsey)
Born May 2, 1936
British singer. Music: Release Me (1967, #1 UK) and After the Lovin' (1976).
Roscoe Lee Browne
Born May 2, 1922 d. 2007
American Emmy-winning actor. TV: Falcon Crest (1988, Rosemont).
Pinky Lee (Pincus Leff)
Born May 2, 1907 d. 1993
American children's TV show host. Known for his lisp, checkered hat, and plaid suit, he hosted The Pinky Lee Show (1954-55). He collapsed in the middle of a show due to a sinus infection. The camera crew and audience thought it was all part of his usual manic act and kept filming and cheering as he writhed on the floor.
Yoo hoo, it's me,
My name is Pinky Lee.
I skip and run with lots of fun
For every he and she…
Benjamin Spock
Born May 2, 1903 d. 1998
American pediatrician. Author of The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care (1946), which was one of the best-selling books of the twentieth century, selling 500,000 copies in its first six months and 50 million by the time of Spock's death in 1998.
He won a gold medal for rowing in the 1924 Summer Olympics. In 1968, he was convicted of conspiracy to aid others in draft evasion and sentenced to two years.
Norma Talmadge
Born May 2, 1894 d. 1957
American silent film actress. According to legend, she accidentally stepped into wet cement at Grauman's Chinese Theater (1927), starting a long tradition. She was one of the biggest stars during the silent film era.
Irene and Vernon Castle
Irene and Vernon Castle
Vernon Castle
Born May 2, 1887 d. 1918
English dancer, aviator. He and his wife Irene Castle popularized the Fox-trot dance (c1912). He was also the originator of the Castle-walk, one-step, and turkey-trot.
Karl Nessler
Born May 2, 1872 d. 1951
German-born American beautician. Invented the permanent wave (1909) and false eyelashes (1902).
Father of the State of Israel
Theodor Herzl
Born May 2, 1860 d. 1904
Hungarian journalist. Founder of modern Zionism and known as "Father of the State of Israel", his efforts led to the establishment of the state of Israel (1948).
Henry Martyn Robert
Born May 2, 1837 d. 1923
American army engineer and author of Robert's Rules of Order (1876).
Elias Boudinot
Born May 2, 1740 d. 1821
10th president of the Continental Congress (1782-83), and missionary to the Indians.
Deaths
Photo Credit: www.canadafreepress.com/
Photo Credit: www.canadafreepress.com/
Osama bin Laden (Usama ibn Mohammed ibn Awad ibn Ladin)
Died May 2, 2011 b. 1957
Saudi-born terrorist. Founder of al-Qaeda (1988). Osama and al-Qaeda are believed responsible for a series of bombings against the U.S., including the 1998 U.S. embassy bombings, the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, and the 9/11 Attacks. Osama bin Laden was killed in Pakistan on May 2, 2011 by a U.S. military special operations unit.
John Edgar Hoover
Died May 2, 1972 b. 1895
American law enforcement administrator and the first Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the United States. He was head of the Bureau of Investigation (BOI), when it became the FBI in 1935, making him the FBI's first president. When he took over as head of the BOI in 1924, he fired all female agents and banned the hiring of female agents.
Marston (right) testing his lie detector
Marston (right) testing his lie detector
William Moulton Marston
Died May 2, 1947 b. 1893
American psychologist, cartoonist. He is the co-creator of Wonder Woman (1941) and inventor the lie detector.
Mona Lisa, by Leonardo da Vinci
Mona Lisa, by Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci
Died May 2, 1519 b. 1452
Italian artist. Works: The Last Supper and the Mona Lisa. He is also the discoverer of capillary action (1490) and inventor of roller bearings (1496).
Bobby Unser
Died May 2, 2021 b. 1934
American Hall of Fame auto racer. Three-time Indy 500 winner (1968, 75, 81).
Vincent Baggetta
Died May 2, 2017 b. 1944
American actor. TV: The Eddie Capra Mysteries (1978-79, Eddie Capra) and The Colbys (Asst. D.A. John Moretti).
Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.
Died May 2, 2014 b. 1918
American actor. TV: 77 Sunset Strip (Stuart Bailey) and The F.B.I (Lewis Erskine).
Lynn Redgrave
Died May 2, 2010 b. 1943
British actress. Film: Georgy Girl (1966, Georgy). TV: Weight-Watcher advertisements. She is the only person to have been nominated for all of the 'Big Four' American entertainment awards (Grammy, Emmy, Oscar, and Tony) without winning any of them.
Jack Kemp
Died May 2, 2009 b. 1935
American politician, NFL quarterback. U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (1989-93) and U.S. House of Representatives from New York (1971-89). Quote: "We must win the war on poverty by enlisting the greatest weapon ever invented: Free Enterprise."
Oliver Reed
Died May 2, 1999 b. 1938
English actor. He died during the filming of Gladiator. Even though the film was completed using CGI and a mannequin, he was posthumously nominated for a BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor. Film: Oliver! (1968), The Three Musketeers (1974, Athos), Tommy (1975, Frank - "Tommy doesn't know what day it is. He doesn't know who Jesus was or what praying is."), Gladiator (2000).
Jack Barry
Died May 2, 1984 b. 1918
American game-show host. TV: Joker's Wild and Twenty-One, which was involved in the '50s game show scandals. The movie Quiz Show (1994) was based on this scandal.
George Pal
Died May 2, 1980 b. 1908
Hungarian-born American Oscar-winning director. Film: When Worlds Collide (1951, Oscar), War of the Worlds (1953, Oscar), and The Time Machine (1960, Oscar).
Dan Bankhead
Died May 2, 1976 b. 1920
American baseball player, first black pitcher in major league baseball (1947), with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Joseph McCarthy
Died May 2, 1957 b. 1908
U.S. Senator (Wisconsin). He led the Senate inquiry into the alleged communist activities during the 1950s.
Tad Dorgan (Thomas Aloysius Dorgan)
Died May 2, 1929 b. 1877
American cartoonist. Creator of Judge Rummy's Court, Silk Hat Harry, and Indoor Sports.