Today in News History

On June 20, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1782, The U.S. Congress adopts the Great Seal of the United States. In 1787, Oliver Ellsworth moves at the Federal Convention to call the government the 'United States'. 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 1944, The experimental MW 18014 V-2 rocket reaches an altitude of 176 km, becoming the first man-made object to reach outer space. In 1945, The United States Secretary of State approves the transfer of Wernher von Braun and his team of Nazi rocket scientists to the U.S. under Operation Paperclip. In 1950, Nouri al-Maliki, Iraqi politician, 76th Prime Minister of Iraq was born. In 1954, Ilan Ramon, Israeli colonel, pilot, and astronaut (died 2003) was born. In 1963, Following the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Soviet Union and the United States sign an agreement to establish the so-called "red telephone" link between Washington, D.C., and Moscow. In 2017, Prodigy, American music artist (born 1974) passed away. 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.