In 1987 Supernova 1987a was observable from Earth on this day. The explosion occurred in the Tarantula Nebula approximately 168,000 light years away (and therefore occurred 168,000 years ago). This was the most visible supernova since 1604 (SN 1604) which occurred within the Milky Way.
In 1981 a rebel army attempts to take control of Spain. 200 soldiers stormed the Spanish Parliament and took 350 MPs hostage. Lieutenant General Jaime Milan del Bosch, who led the attempted right-wing coup, ordered tanks onto the streets and ordered the TV and radio stations be taken over. King Juan Carlos acted quickly ordering his armies to crush the rebels and the coup ended with all rebels surrendering within 22 hours.
In 1945 Four US marines raised their flag and pole on Mount Suribachi on the island of Iowa Jima while the battle for the island still raged with Japanese forces. A photo of the event was taken and has become one of the most iconic images in US warfare. The battle for Iowa Jima was one of America’s most bloody battles of World War II and said to be the toughest fought by US marines. Out of the 75,000 marines that landed on the island, at least one third were killed or injured. The island was a strategic strong point and the Japanese new this, fighting to the death for every inch of the Island. The United States took the island allowing them to launch bombing raids on the Japanese mainland.
In 1861 President Elect Abraham Lincoln arrives in the US Capital early and in disguise to avoid an assassination attempt. Even before his inauguration as President of the United States (on the 4th of March 1861) Abraham Lincoln’s life was in danger. The ‘President Elect’ (a title given to an elected President before he takes office) was due to stop in Baltimore and give a speech on his way to Washington DC but it was discovered that there was a plot to assassinate him in Baltimore. Initially Abraham Lincoln wanted to continue with the speech as planned rather than look like a coward but was talked into taking precautions. He was disguised with a soft hat cloak and told to hunch his back in order to mask his height and rushed on the train. They still had to change trains in Baltimore but managed to cross the town to another train station undetected. Lincoln had always regretted his un-presidential arrival but it was paramount he survived to take office and lead the north in the American Civil War.
