Today in News History

On June 20, several notable moments in the history of News stand out. In 1897, Elisabeth Hauptmann, German author and playwright (died 1973) was born. In 1942, The Holocaust: Kazimierz Piechowski and three others, dressed as members of the SS-Totenkopfverbände, steal an SS staff car and escape from the Auschwitz concentration camp. In 1948, Cirilo Flores, American bishop (died 2014) was born. In 1949, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, 8th president of Sri Lanka was born. 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 1964, A Curtiss C-46 Commando crashes in the Shengang District of Taiwan, killing 57 people. In 1973, Snipers fire upon left-wing Peronists in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in what is known as the Ezeiza massacre. At least 13 are killed and more than 300 are injured. In 1973, Aeroméxico Flight 229 crashes on approach to Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport, killing all 27 people on board. In 1994, The 1994 Imam Reza shrine bomb explosion in Iran leaves at least 25 dead and 70 to 300 injured. Together, these milestones provide historical context for today's news news and ongoing narratives.