| 1988 - | A microlight aircraft landed near Sydney, Australia, to create a record time of 55 days since leaving London |
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| 1979 - | Rhodesian whites voted to transfer to majority rule |
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| 1972 - | In Ireland, British paratroopers believing they were under attack killed 13 people. This became known as 'Bloody Sunday' |
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| 1968 - | Tet Offensive begins |
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| 1965 - | Sir Winston Churchill, former PM, was given a state funeral |
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| 1961 - | The first contraceptive pills went on sale in Britain |
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| 1948 - | Orville Wright, US aviation pioneer, died. |
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| 1938 - | Boris Spassky, Russian chess champion, was born. |
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| 1933 - | Adolf Hitler became chancellor of Germany |
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| 1911 - | 1st rescue of an air passenger by a ship, near Havana, Cuba |
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| 1888 - | The author and artist Edward Lear died in San Remo, Italy |
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| 1790 - | The first purpose-built lifeboat was launched on the River Tyne. |
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| 1649 - | King Charles I was executed, having been found guilty of treason |
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