Today in News History

On June 20, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1877, Alexander Graham Bell installs the world's first commercial telephone service in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. In 1916, Jean-Jacques Bertrand, Canadian lawyer and politician, 21st Premier of Quebec (died 1973) was born. In 1943, World War II: The Royal Air Force launches Operation Bellicose, the first shuttle bombing raid of the war. Avro Lancaster bombers damage the V-2 rocket production facilities at the Zeppelin Works while en route to an air base in Algeria. In 1956, A Venezuelan Super-Constellation crashes in the Atlantic Ocean off Asbury Park, New Jersey, killing 74 people. In 1959, A rare June hurricane strikes Canada's Gulf of St. Lawrence killing 35. In 1966, Georges Lemaître, Belgian priest, physicist, and astronomer (born 1894) passed away. In 1973, Aeroméxico Flight 229 crashes on approach to Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport, killing all 27 people on board. In 1990, The 7.4 Mw Manjil-Rudbar earthquake affects northern Iran with a maximum Mercalli intensity of X (Extreme), killing 35,000-50,000, and injuring 60,000-105,000. In 2011, RusAir Flight 9605 crashes in Besovets during approach to Petrozavodsk Airport, killing 47. In 2019, Iran's Air Defense Forces shoot down an American surveillance drone over the Strait of Hormuz amid rising tensions between the two countries. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.