Ken P's Today in History
August 15

Copyright © 2006-2024 Ken Polsson
internet e-mail: ken@kpolsson.com
URL: http://kpolsson.com/today/
(this URL will automatically re-direct to the file containing a single day's events)

What happened in history on this day: August 15?

Since 1995, I have been collecting information on a variety of topics, creating several timelines of history. Here you will find specific events from those databases for this day, on the topics of personal computers, video games, the Walt Disney Company, Chevrolet Corvettes, A&W Root Beer, Sweden, and Canadian coins.

On August 15 in ...

Personal computer history:

  • 1998 - Apple Computer begins shipping the iMac to retail outlets in the US. Price is US$1299.
  • 2000 - Compaq Computer introduces the Compaq iPAQ Home Internet Appliance IA-1. It features infrared keyboard, AMD K6-2 processor, 32 MB SDRAM, 16 MB flash memory, 56 kbps modem, 10.1-inch 800x600 resolution color display, Windows CE operating system, Price is US$599, or U$199 with a three-year MSN access contract.
  • 2000 - Michael Cowpland resigns as chairman and chief executive officer of Corel.
  • 2003 - Osborne releases the book Dungeons and Dreamers: The Rise of Computer Game Culture From Geek to Chic, by Brad King and John Borland. Price is US$24.95.

Walt Disney Company history:

  • 1946 - RKO Radio Pictures releases Disney's animated feature film Make Mine Music to theaters. It comprises the following animated short films The Martins and the Coys, Casey at the Bat, Peter and the Wolf, Johnnie Fedora and Alice Bluebonnet, and The Whale Who Wanted to Sing at the Met.
  • 1994 - At Disneyland, the Disneyland Railroad engine No. 3, the Fred Gurley, is celebrated for the 100th anniversary as an operating steam locomotive.
  • 1994 - Disney begins publishing Family PC magazine.
  • 1995 - Disney releases the film Heavyweights on laserdisc in the US, for US$40.
  • 1995 - Disney releases the film Tall Tale: The Unbelievable Adventures of Pecos Bill on laserdisc in the US, for US$40.
  • 1997 - Buena Vista Pictures releases the Hollywood Pictures live-action feature film G.I. Jane to theaters in the USA.
  • 1999 - The maiden voyage of the Disney Wonder cruise ship takes place.
  • 2003 - The Disney Channel Original Movie The Cheetah Girls premieres.
  • 2005 - Disney premieres the home-video release of Lilo & Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch in Oahu, Hawaii.
  • 2010 - The final episode of the At the Movies TV show airs.

Chevrolet Corvette history:

  • 1976 - At the Brainerd International Raceway, in Brainerd, Minnesota, the 7-Up SCCA Trans-American Championship - Round 6 race is held.
    • Finishing 1st in category I and 5th overall is the Weaver Racing #10 Corvette 454, driven by Ron Weaver.
    • Finishing 5th in category I and 9th overall is the Stark Enterprises #17 Corvette 433, driven by Rick Stark.
    • Finishing 6th in category I and 12th overall is the Rosenmerkel #84 Corvette 350, driven by Richard Rosenmerkel.
    • Finishing 7th in category I and 13th overall is the Suburban Camera Stores #33 Corvette 427, driven by Buzz Fyhrie.
    • Finishing 8th in category I and 14th overall is the Rippie Corvette, driven by Doug Rippie.
    • Finishing 9th in category I and 15th overall is the Blue Sky Special #71 Corvette, driven by Steve Kline.
    • Finishing 10th in category I and 16th overall is the Biza #72 Corvette 327, driven by John Biza.
    • Finishing 11th in category I and 17th overall is the Dulski Racing #73 Corvette, driven by Jerry Dulski.
    • In 13th place in category I and 20th place overall, but not finishing the race, is the Phantom Racing #12 Corvette 454, driven by Dr. Frank Joyce.
    • In 15th place in category I and 22nd place overall, but not finishing the race, is the Bad News Racing Team #4 Corvette 350, driven by Gary Glojek.
    • In 17th place in category I and 25th place overall, but not finishing the race, is the Vettemotion Racing Enterprises #83 Corvette 350, driven by Vernon Brown.
    • In 18th place in category I and 26th place overall, but not finishing the race, is the Automotive Interests #77 Corvette 454, driven by Charles West.
    • In 19th place in category I and 28th place overall, but not finishing the race, is the Craig Car Stereo #43 Corvette 427, driven by Don Hager.
    • In 20th place in category I and 29th place overall, but not finishing the race, is the Music Stores / Kline Chevrolet #93 Corvette 350, driven by Tim Bird.
    • In 21st place in category I and 31st place overall, but not finishing the race, is the Midwest Corvette Center #23 Corvette 433, driven by Steve Strandemo.
    • In 23rd place in category I and 33rd place overall, but not finishing the race, is the Babe's Garage #78 Corvette 427, driven by Babe Headley.

  • 1976 - At the raceway in Pocono, Pennsylvania, an IMSA 100-mile race is held.
    • Finishing 5th in GTO class and 7th overall is the Corvette driven by Mike Brockman.
    • Finishing 6th in GTO class and 8th overall is the Corvette driven by Phil Currin.
    • Finishing 7th in GTO class and 10th overall is the Corvette driven by Rick Hay.
    • Finishing 13th in GTO class and 22nd overall is the Corvette driven by Richard Valentine.
    • Placing 17th in GTO class and 26th overall is the Corvette driven by Joe Scheckel.

  • 1992 - At the Mosport Park Raceway in Bowmanville, Ontario, the sixth race of the SCCA World Challenge series race is held, the 24 Hours of Mosport, over two days.
    • Finishing 1st overall is the Bakeracing Corvette ZR-1 driven by Jim Minneker and Kim Baker.
    • Finishing 2nd overall is the Morrison Motorsports / Mobil 1 #98 Corvette, driven by John Heinricy, Stu Hayner, and Ron Nelson.
    • Finishing 4th overall is the Dieline Motorsport Corvette, driven by R.K. Smith, Bill Cooper, Peter Cunningham, and Boris Said.

  • 2003 - At the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California, the 30th Annual Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races are held, over three days. The 1956-62 Production/GT Cars race is held.
    • Finishing 1st is the #58 1958 yellow Corvette, driven by Noel Park.
    • Finishing 2nd is the #59 1959 Corvette, driven by Ron Cressey.
    • Finishing 3rd is the #133 1957 Corvette, driven by Orwin Middleton.
    • Finishing 9th is the #6 1957 purple Corvette, driven by Paul Reinhardt.
    • Finishing 11th is the #8 1958 white Corvette, driven by Scott Daines.
    • Finishing 12th is the #12 1962 white Corvette, driven by John Goodman.
    The 1963-66 Production/GT Cars Over 2000cc race is held.
    • Finishing 5th is the #75 1965 Corvette, driven by Terry Gough.

  • 2004 - In Pebble Beach, California, the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance show is held. Five cars are revealed as subjects of five new US Postal Service 37-cent stamps celebrating 1950s American sports cars, including the 1953 Corvette.
  • 2006 - The Bonneville Nationals Speedweek races are held in Utah. Gary Gustafson sets a new SCTA record of 187.719 mph in a 1976 Corvette with 302-ci engine in D/Fuel Modified Sport category.

World War II history:

  • 1940 - Twenty German JU88 aircraft from Denmark attack Driffield, Yorkshire, destroying ten Whitley aircraft on the ground.
  • 1940 - One hundred German bombers from Air Fleet 5 in Scandinavia, with Me-110 escort fighter planes, approach Tyneside, England. British Hurricane and Spitfire fighters are there to meet them, knocking down thirty planes with no loss to the British.
  • 1940 - 1800 German aircraft make a widespread attack on Great Britain against various objectives.
  • 1940 - Spain's General Francisco Franco writes to Italy's Benito Mussolini, telling him of his intent to enter the war, now closer to ready, once provisions are made available.
  • 1940 - British planes shoot down 90 German planes during the day's aerial fights, with a loss of 42 planes.
  • 1940 - (evening) German Air Minister Hermann Göring orders all further Luftwaffe attacks to be directed solely against British air force bases and communications.
  • 1942 - (0800 hours) Tanker Ohio, final merchant ship of Mediterranean convoy Pedestal reaches Valletta harbor at Malta. This ends Operation Pedestal, and lifts the siege of Malta. A total of 323 men died on Royal Navy ships, and 123 on merchant ships.
  • 1942 - The United States 101st Airborne Division is officially activated, at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana.
  • 1943 - The emissary of Italy's Marshal Badoglio arrives in Portugal to begin serious peace talks with the Allies.
  • 1943 - A Canadian/American Special Services Force lands on Kiska in the Aleutian Islands, finding that the Japanese force left three weeks earlier. After five days, there are dozens of deaths due to friendly fire and Japanese booby traps.
  • 1943 - (evening) About 200 British bombers attack Milan, Italy.
  • 1944 - German Hans-Bernd von Haeften (brother of Liietenant Werner von Haeften) is executed, for his role in the anti-Nazi resistance.
  • 1944 - Adolf Hitler forbids Army Group B from breaking out of the Falaise pocket.
  • 1944 - In Germany, Wolf Heinrich von Helldorf is executed. He was Berlin Police President, part of conspiracy against Adolf Hitler since 1938.
  • 1944 - As part of Operation Anvil, American and British gliders take off from Italian airbases, and land in the Argens River Valley, behind German lines.
  • 1944 - In France, the US 3rd Army stops at Dreux (50 miles west of Paris), Chartres (50 miles southwest of Paris), and Orléans (70 miles south of Paris).
  • 1944 - The Allies launch Operation Anvil (or Dragoon), as a second Allied invasion force under Lieutenant-General Jacob Devers lands on the Mediterranean coast of France between Cannes and Toulon. 885 ships deliver 151,000 troops (40,000 French, the rest Canadian-American) of the US 3rd Division, 36th Division, 45th Division, French 1st Division, and Canadian-American 1st Special Services Force.
  • 1945 - (about 1200 hours) Emperor Hirohito addresses the public of Japan, announces the surrender of Japan.
  • 1945 - (about 1130 hours) The New Zealand cruiser HMNZS Gambia fires last shots of the war, as it raises the cease fire signal. A Japanese suicide bomber flies in low, followed by an allied fighter plane attacking it; the Japanese plane falls to the sea about 200 yards from the ship.
  • 1994 - Netherlands issues two postage stamps depicting the war in the Dutch East Indies, and Operation Market Garden.
  • 1995 - Montserrat issues eight postage stamps marking the 50th anniversary of the end of the war, depicting advances based on war research.
  • 2010 - Democratic People's Republic of Korea issues six postage stamps marking 60th anniversary of the liberation of Korea.

Video game history:

  • 2017 - Sony Interactive Entertainment releases the Matterfall video game for the PlayStation 4 in the USA.
  • 2017 - Deep Silver releases the Agents of Mayhem video game for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in the USA.
  • 2017 - Aspyr releases the Observer video game for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in the USA.

Swedish history:

  • 1505 - A local peace treaty is signed at Hjortsberga between Värend, Möre, Sunnerbo, and Västbo hundreds of Sweden and Blekinge province and Göinge hundred of Skånia of Denmark. Peasants of each side agree to not cross boundary, warn each other of raids, continue trade, and combat robbers in the boundary forest.
  • 1986 - Hungary issues a 2 forint postage stamp for the Stockholmia '86 numismatic show. The stamp depicts the ship Wasa from 1628.

Canadian coin history:

  • 1925 - The British Treasury appoints Mr. John Honeyford Campbell to be Deputy Master of the Ottawa branch of the Royal Mint, following the retirement of Arthur H.W. Cleave on October 1.

USA coin history:

  • 1909 - Treasury Secretary Franklin MacVeagh announces decision to halt minting Lincoln cents, to have designer initials "V.D.B." removed.
  • 1971 - US President Richard Nixon's administration refuses to settle foreign debts in gold at $35 per ounce, dropping the gold standard, and allowing the dollar to float in foreign exchanges.

Sports history:

  • 1899 - Louisville Colonels' Henry Dowling is struck out five times in a game.
  • 1905 - Philadelphia Athletics' Rube Waddell no-hits Saint Louis Browns, 2-0 in five innings.
  • 1912 - New York Yankees' player Guy Zinn sets record by stealing home twice in a game.
  • 1960 - Chicago Bears beat New York Giants 16-7 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada (NFL expo).
  • 1960 - Milwaukee Braves' Lew Burdette no-hits Philadelphia Phillies, 1-0.
  • 1964 - Philadelphia Phillies triple-play New York Mets.
  • 1964 - Ralph Boston of the US sets long jump record at 27 feet 3.25 inches.
  • 1981 - Robin Leamy of US swims record 7.98 kph for 50m.
  • 1987 - US beats Cuba in the Pan-Am baseball.
  • 2004 - Vijay Singh wins the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits.
  • 2007 - NBA referee Tim Donaghy surrenders to police and pleads guilty to charges brought up by the FBI investigation that he placed bets on games that he refereed.
  • 2008 - In Beijing, China, an Olympic Torch used in the relay to China sells for over US$42,000. A torch from the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games (first torch relay) sells for almost US$25,000.
  • 2008 - At the Beijing Olympics, American Michael Phelps won his sixth gold and his sixth world record in the 200 metres individual medley. American Ryan Lochte wins gold in the Olympic men's 200-metre backstroke in a world-record 1:53.94.
  • 2010 - Germany's Martin Kaymer wins his first major golf title in the 92nd U.S. PGA Championship, earning $1.35 million.
  • 2022 - At Oracle Park in San Francisco, California, USA, Major League Baseball regular season game: San Francisco Giants beats Arizona Diamondbacks by score 6-1.
  • 2022 - At Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California, USA, Major League Baseball regular season game: Seattle Mariners beats Los Angeles Angels by score 6-2.
  • 2022 - At American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA, Major League Baseball regular season game: Los Angeles Dodgers beats Milwaukee Brewers by score 4-0.
  • 2022 - At Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, Illinois, USA, Major League Baseball regular season game: Chicago White Sox beats Houston Astros by score 4-2.
  • 2022 - At Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, USA, Major League Baseball regular season game: Texas Rangers beats Oakland Athletics by score 2-1.
  • 2022 - At Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, Major League Baseball regular season game: Minnesota Twins beats Kansas City Royals by score 4-2.
  • 2022 - At Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, Major League Baseball regular season game: Atlanta Braves beats New York Mets by score 13-1.
  • 2022 - At Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Major League Baseball regular season game: Baltimore Orioles beats Toronto Blue Jays by score 7-3.
  • 2022 - At Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York, USA, Major League Baseball regular season game: Tampa Bay Rays beats New York Yankees by score 4-0.
  • 2022 - At Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., USA, Major League Baseball regular season game: Washington Nationals beats Chicago Cubs by score 5-4.
  • 2022 - At LoanDepot Park in Miami, Florida, USA , Major League Baseball regular season game: Miami Marlins beats San Diego Padres by score 3-0.
  • 2022 - At Great America Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, Major League Baseball regular season game: Philadelphia Phillies beats Cincinnati Reds by score 4-3.
  • 2022 - At Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, Major League Baseball regular season doubleheader game 1: Cleveland Guardians beats Detroit Tigers by score 4-1.
  • 2022 - At Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, Major League Baseball regular season doubleheader game 2: Detroit Tigers beats Cleveland Guardians by score 7-5.

Space exploration history:

  • 1986 - US President Ronald Reagan decides to support a replacement for the space shuttle Challenger.

Extreme weather history:

  • 1952 - 9 inches of rainfall creates a 20-foot wave in Lynmouth, England, killing 34.

USA history:

  • 1858 - Regular mail to the Pacific coast begins.
  • 1861 - Meeting of 32 associated banks at New York City agree to loan US government $50 million at 7.3 percent interest.
  • 1864 - Off New England coast, CSS Tallahassee captures six yankee schooners.
  • 1870 - Transcontinental Railway actually completed.
  • 1901 - Arch Rock, danger to San Francisco Bay shipping, is blasted with 30 tons of nitroglycerine.
  • 1906 - First freight delivery tunnel system begins, underneath Chicago, Illinois, USA.
  • 1914 - The Panama Canal officially opens, linking the Pacific and Atlantic oceans between North and South America. The SS Arcon is first ship to officially transit the canal, taking 9 hours 40 minutes.
  • 1918 - Jewell Productions releases The Sinking of the Lusitania animated film in the USA, first full-length feature cartoon. Winsor McCoy created the film in 22 months using 25,000 drawings.
  • 1930 - President Herbert Hoover presents congressional gold medal to Colonel Charles A. Lindbergh.
  • 1934 - US ends occupation of Haiti (been there since 1915).
  • 1935 - Wiley Post and Will Rogers (age 55, humorist) are killed in a plane crash in Alaska.
  • 1942 - The United States 101st Airborne Division is officially activated, at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana.
  • 1945 - US wartime rationing of gasoline and fuel oil ends.
  • 1957 - US Air Force Captain Joe B Jordan reaches 31,513 metres in F-104 jet fighter.
  • 1962 - Shady Grove Baptist Church burned in Leesburg, Georgia, USA.
  • 1964 - Race riot in Dixmoor (Chicago suburb), Illinois, USA.
  • 1971 - US President Richard Nixon's administration refuses to settle foreign debts in gold at $35 per ounce, dropping the gold standard, and allowing the dollar to float in foreign exchanges. The president also declares a state of national emergency, imposes a ten percent duty increase on many imports, and a 90-day wage and price freeze.
  • 1978 - US House of Representatives approves (233-169), 39-month extension for Equal Rights Amendment.
  • 1986 - US President Ronald Reagan decides to support a replacement for the space shuttle Challenger.
  • 1996 - Bob Dole is nominated for President of the USA, and Jack Kemp for Vice President, at the Republican National Convention in San Diego, California.
  • 1999 - The maiden voyage of the Disney Wonder cruise ship takes place.
  • 2007 - Shares in large American mortgage lender Countrywide Financial fall 13 percent, following a stock analyst's rating switch from buy to sell.
  • 2008 - Poland signs a deal with the US to host part of its new missile defence shield. The US will install ten interceptor missiles at a base on the Baltic coast, and help strengthen Polish air defences.

Other history:

  • 1057 - Macbeth, King of Scotland, slain by son of King Duncan.
  • 1620 - Mayflower sets sail from Southampton with 102 Pilgrims.
  • 1914 - Panama Canal opens.
  • 1948 - Republic of Korea (South Korea) proclaimed.
  • 1969 - Woodstock Music and Art Fair opens in New York State (Max Yasgur's Dairy Farm).
  • 1971 - Bahrain gains independence after 110 years of British rule.

vvv advertisement vvv

^^^ advertisement ^^^

You can pick a particular day to view that day's events in history.

Bookmark this URL:   http://kpolsson.com/today/   and revisit each day. (this URL will automatically re-direct to the file containing the current day's events)

Or, visit my Timelines of History page.

Copyright © 2006-2024 Ken Polsson (email: ken@kpolsson.com).
URL=http://kpolsson.com/today/
Link to Ken P's home page.


vvv advertisement vvv

^^^ advertisement ^^^