By StephanieLee Elliott
FROM WIKIPEDIA COMMONS
SS Robin Moor was a United States cargo steamship that was built in 1919 and sunk by a U-boat in May 1941, several months before the US entered World War II.
The U-boat allowed the passengers and crew to launch her lifeboats and abandon ship with no loss of life. However, the sinking of a neutral ship in an area considered until then to be relatively safe from U-boats, and the plight of her crew and passengers, caused a political incident in the United States.
The attack caused many to question the motives of U-69‘s commander, Jost Metzler as Hitler himself, preparing for his June 1941 invasion of Russia, had expressly ordered his Navy chief, Admiral Erich Raeder: “…in the next weeks all attacks on naval vessels in the closed area should cease…” Hitler did not wish to provoke America into joining with Britain in its fight against Germany.
TODAY’S ALMANAC
Question of the Day
Well, that depends, of course, on the size of the trees. Here are some examples: It would take 50 trees 4 inches in diameter, 10 trees 8 inches in diameter, or 3 trees 14 inches in diameter to make a cord of wood.
Advice of the Day
Home Hint of the Day
Word of the Day
Puzzle of the Day
Born
- Albrecht Durer (painter) –
- Alexander Pope (poet) –
- Henri Rousseau (painter) –
- James Gladstone (first Canadian aboriginal senator) –
- Fats Waller (jazz pianist) –
- Raymond Burr (actor) –
- Richard Hatch (actor, writer, producer) –
- Mr. T (actor) –
- Ashlie Brillault (actress) –
Died
- Hernando de Soto (explorer) –
- Jane Addams (social worker) –
Events
- Windsor Agricultural Fair (North America’s oldest) founded, Nova Scotia–
- Cyrus McCormick’s reaper patented–
- American Red Cross founded–
- The first U.S. speed limit law for motor vehicles (12 mph in the city/15 mph in the country) passed in Connecticut–
- Aviator Charles Lindbergh completed the first nonstop solo flight across the Atlantic, New York to Paris–
- Amelia Earhart completed the first solo flight by a woman across the Atlantic–
- Robin Moor became the first U.S. merchant ship sunk by a U-boat–
- Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall were married–
- World’s first nuclear powered light-house, Baltimore Light, went into operation, Chesapeake Bay–
- Patti Frustaci gave birth to the first septuplets in the United States–
Weather
- 124 degrees F in Salton, California–
- Elkhart, Kansas, was struck by a dust storm–
- Sleet and snow fell in northern New England–
- An F2 tornado touched down in Hampton, New Hampshire–
COURTESY www.almanac.com
