The Japanese fleet had no idea how successful the Pearl Harbor attack would be, but it was safe to assume some of its planes would be hit and unable to return to their carriers. The pilots were told to fly to Niihau island and wait for a submarine to Read more…
Jacob Brown was born on May 9, 1775. Raised a Quaker, he would later overlook their pacifist beliefs. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1790. After teaching for a few years, he settled in upstate New York and became prosperous and a leading member of his community. Read more…
The most famous air ship disaster occurred on May 6, 1937. The Hindenburg was the largest dirigible ever made. Since it was German, it was called a “zeppelin”. It was designed to make long flights and the year before, it had made 10 trips to the U.S., uneventfully. On Read more…
Elizabeth Cochran (she later added an e to Cochran) was born on May 5, 1864. The was the 13th of 15 children. Her father was a factory owner and county judge. When he died when she was 6, he did not leave a will and the family was plunged into Read more…
Manfred von Richthofen was born on May 2, 1892 in Kleinburg, Germany (today Poland). His family was from the lower nobility and he inherited the title Freiherr (“free lord”) which was equivalent to a baron. He was sent to military school at age 11. He enlisted in the army at Read more…