The FReeper Foxhole Remembers Lt. John Powers and Coral Sea (7-8 May,1942)

Stemming the Tide: Battle of the Coral Sea
7th - 8th May, 1942
And prologue, Early April - 7th May, 1942
Setup for battle, Early April - 4th May, 1942

The first days of April, 1942, saw Japan, once more the land of gods it seemed, in the possesion of virtually all former Western colonies in South-East Asia. Japan had won successes so spectacular in nature that by the time Admiral Nagumo's First Air Fleet returned from its intimidating but remarkably fruitless excourse to South-East-Asia, the Japanese time schedule had been toppled - Nippon was several months ahead of it. Japan had its "Greater East-Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere" - if one turned an blind eye to certain parts of the Philippines, where U.S. forces continued to give battle to the Japanese - an empire making the Land of the Rising Sun independent of the Western nations once and for all.

The preceeding five months of operations had been carefully pre-planned: objectives had been scouted and discussed, and attacked later. The Army was landed where it wanted, and the Navy retained forces to raid Darwin, Ceylon, and the Bay of Bengal. However, the dark cloud of inter-service rivalry was not about to have vanished forever, for the precisely planned part of the war lay behind the Japanese. What was next would be a problem.

Phase II of the Japanese war plan called for the securing of the "Outer Perimeter" - the border of the empire, and first in its lines of defense. But where, the planners asked, should this phase begin? And was this plan right anyway? Had not Japan defeated in five months time the three largest colonial powers in South-East Asia? Had it not conquered the entire area? And had it not crippled, destroyed, and defeated the U.S. fleet with but one blow? Perhaps, some in the Imperial General Headquarters wondered, Japan could now see its own greatness. Suggested was a strike towards Persia, throwing the British out of India and linking with Rommel's hopefully successful army on the oil-fields of Iraq. Then, the Axis would throw itself on the Sowjetunion, securing for Japan, Siberia.

The Navy wanted Australia, deemed the base of every U.S. effort to attack Japan's newly won empire. The Army, sensible for once, deemed a more modest approach the most favorable. It called for Operation MO, designed to pull the string around Australia's neck tighter. The Navy was asked -- ordered, given the Army superiority in the Imperial General Headquarters -- to support a two-fold operation in the Coral Sea. The island of Tulagi, housing a useful harbor, and lying just north of the larger island of Guadalcanal, was to be occupied as a first step for an attack further south. At the same time, a large convoy of transports should ferry Japanese soldiers toward Port Moresby, on the south-east of New Guinea, the last stronghold of the Allies on that island.

At the same time - at least approximately - however, the US was to conduct the strategically most far-reaching carrier raid in history. USS Hornet, newest of the Yorktown class, and her companion Enterprise, had secretly reached a point a mere 650 miles from Tokyo and, turning Hornet into the wind, Vice-Admiral William Halsey dispatched 16 USAAF B-25 bombers, modified for long-range flights, and departed the area. These bombers struck Tokyo, Yokosuka and other cities on April 18th, 1942.

Physical damage was slight, but the Navy's pride had taken a severe blow. The defense of the Home Islands was the Navy's job, and now the U.S. had demonstrated that it possessed the tools to kill the Emperor - the most shocking part of this entire operation for Yamamoto.

The raid had the effect of confirming for Yamamoto that a "decisive battle" was needed.

For this, Yamamoto wanted the créme de la créme of the Combined Fleet. Yet the necessity of supporting the Army's South Pacific operations denied him the chance to use his full force, though he did not yet know it. Despite having no reports whatsoever of U.S. carrier presence, he refused to believe that the U.S. would dare check the Japanese advance, and commited his forces. The Fifth Carrier Division, heavy carriers Shokaku and Zuikaku, under the command of Rear-Admiral Hara Chuichi, and escorts, cruisers Myoko and Haguro, and destroyers, the whole under the command of Vice-Admiral Takagi Takeo, was assigned as covering force. In addition, the light carrier Shoho and four heavy cruisers, under the command of Rear-Admiral Goto Aritomo, were to provide closer but still distant cover first to the Tulagi group, then to the Invasion Fleet for Port Moresby.

(It is interesting to note the following: Japanese Radio Intelligence had disclosed the possible -- probable -- presence of American carriers in the Coral Sea. Longing for the decisive battle, Yamamoto overlooked that the full fighting power of the Combined Fleet might have forced battle in the South Pacific, against an unprepared foe, well within range of land-based air. Then, after having destroyed half of the US carriers in the Pacific, the Japanese would have an far easier stand at their decisive battle. It was not to be, however, a fault which can again be credited to Yamamoto.)

Twelve transport ships were comprising the main body of the Port Moresby Invasion force, plus assorted escorts. In addition, two destroyers and light forces would be the Tulagi Invasion force. The overall command had Vice-Admiral Inouye Shigeyoshi at Rabaul.

On the other side was a more adhoc force of ships, assembled to repulse what was known of the Japanese plans. "Zeal" intercepts had disclosed the Japanese plans in a large part. Admiral Chester Nimitz, CINCPAC at Pearl Harbor, saw himself confronted with a major push south, which not only threatened his Australia-bound convoys, but also Australia itself, should Port Moresby fall. However, two of his heavy carriers were still off after the Doolittle Raid, which left him with two other carriers in the area. While hurrying Enterprise and Hornet south, he ordered the other two assembled.

These two carriers were USS Lexington, under the command of Rear-Admiral Aubrey Fitch, and Yorktown, under Rear-Admiral Frank Fletcher. In addition, British Rear-Admiral Sir John Crace was to lead the cruisers Australia, Chicago and Hobart to the scheduled meeting point off the New Hebrides on May 1st, 1942.

Rear Admiral Fletcher was the prime U.S. seagoing commander of 1942. He had held command of Yorktown ever since she participated in the Pacific battles, and had earlier been commander of a cruiser division, besides holding the job of Commander, Cruisers, Pacific Fleet.. These posts had made him an able carrier commander, for this part of the war. Fletchers mission, as given by Admiral Nimitz, had left open to him what he wanted to do once arriving at the meeting point with Fitch's carrier.

Already by April 30, the Tulagi Invasion Group under Rear-Admiral Shima had left Rabaul in New Britian. A day later, the covering force of carriers under Takagi departed Truk, Japan's most important naval base for the next two years.

Fletcher's forces, meanwhile, had met as scheduled on May 1st, and took two days of refueling, however separated, which placed Yorktown and Fletcher a hundred nautical miles north of Fitch's forces, now also comprising Crace's cruisers. These forces were to meet on oh-eighthundred on May 4th. Fletcher's plan, however, changed when two Australian search planes from MacArthur's command spotted Shima's light forces off Tulagi. Fletcher, in a dashing style never repeated by him, sped nothward at 24 knots with Yorktown and her escorts. The oiler Neosho and the destroyer Russell from the fleet's train, having refueled Task Force 17, were detached to meet with Fitch.

Japanese naval officers in all staffs were unaware of the danger they were facing. Since no numbers or any report had been offered to the fleet by the Japanese radio intelligence, Takagi in charge of the screening operations seemed to discount the possibility of strong enemy forces in the area. He was in for a surprise.

Fletcher reached the area from where he intended to launch in the early morning hours of May 4th, around 7 o'clock. From Yorktown, 28 SDB Dauntless divebombers, 18 TBD Devastator torpedo-planes and a six-plane escort of Wildcats ascended into a partly cloudy sky. The planes reached their targets at 0820 hours. In a three-wave attack, which lasted until 1530 hours the same day, Yorktown's aviators succeeded in sinking the destroyer Kikuzuki, two patrol-boats, and a transport. It was a decidedly modest result, counting the ammo expended, and all the more so because now, the Japanese got alerted. There were no single-engined land-based planes in the vicinity of Tulagi - at least no US planes. This meant, even though no detection was managed, that a carrier had to be around.

Battle of the Coral Sea, 5th - 7th May, 1942

While Fletcher showed the Japanese that they were not alone, the Port Moresby Invasion Group had departed Rabaul on May 4th, and turned west-south-west, toward the Jomard Passage between New-Guinea and the Louisiade Archipelago. In the meantime, Admiral Takagi guided his heavy carrier around the Solomons, rushing down the eastern side, and turning into the Coral Sea around San Cristobal Island on May 5th, to engage the U.S. carrier(s?).

Unlucky Takagi missed his chance that day, when both Yorktown and Lexington, having finally met, topped off their fuel tanks, in which situation they were extremely vulnerable. Having done that, Fletcher set off toward New-Guinea, there to intercept the transports of the Port Moresby Group.

Over the next day, May 6th, both groups were prowling the Coral Sea, and the night from 5th to 6th had seen the two foes pass each other at a mere 70 nautical miles, half-an-hour of flying time for the Japanese.

The day of May 6th passed without major events. Admiral Inoue at Rabaul saw himself with only a few floatplanes left to do reconnaisance, and the failure of one to return - Yorktown's planes had caught it - indicated to Inoue the presence of a carrier once again.

Fletcher had spent the day sitting a hundred miles south of the Jomard Passage, waiting for the Port Moresby group. Takagi, relying on Rabaul's air assets, failed to utilize his planes properly. Neither side saw each other. However, over the day B-17 bombers of MacArthur's command spotted the entire Port Moresby assets including the light carrier Shoho.

With this information, Fletcher got nervous. He feared that he would get engaged by Japanese carriers and be unable to stop the Port Moresby group. Accordingly, he thought, he would have to detach forces. Crace's cruisers were chosen, and by early morning on May 7th, left the circle of protection around the carriers and headed north toward the Louisiades. Fletcher's decision is odd; he violated the main principle of warfare, massing of force against a seperated enemy. Crace's ships would have made the defense of his carriers easier; if the carriers were destroyed, as Fletcher feared could happen, Crace's cruisers would stand a chance neither. Crace got lucky; successfully evading damage from repeated high-level bomber attacks, he turned back to Australia after receiving reports that the Port Moresby group had abandoned its mission, upon its escort force having been hit by planes.

But anyway, the battle proceeded. It seemed the early morning had seen a change in fortunes for the Japanese. Launched earlier that day, a search plane radioed back a sighting report. "A carrier and a cruiser" were supposed to have been found on 0730 hours. Takagi, thinking this to be his chance, ordered an all-out attack. When the planes appeared overhead their target at 1038, however, disappointment spread. The ships were identified wrongly - actually it was the oiler Neosho, a Pearl Harbor veteran, and the destroyer Sims. While some of the planes continued to search for more valuable targets, in the final effect the whole load of two carriers struck the two ships. After fighting for two and a half hours, three bombs ended Sims' wartime career, and several more put Neosho out. The tanker was sunk several days later by a U.S. destroyer.

At about the same time, planes from Yorktown were scouting forward of the US forces, and hit the Support Force of Rear-Admiral Goto. Wrongly identifying the group as containing two carriers, the report triggered Fletcher into action, and attack planes found the group at tenhundred hours, off guard. Shoho had send fighters to support the Port Moresby force, and was unable to put up a proper defense. Ninety-two planes swooped down on her, delivering thirteen bombs and seven torpedoes into the small carrier. Half an hour after the attack had begun, Fletcher on Yorktown received the famous message, "Scratch one flattop", issued by Lt.Cmdr.R.E.Dixon. The rest of the Port Moresby groups returned to Rabaul.

Fletcher meanwhile decided that the destruction or interdiction of the Port Moresby group was the prime goal, and set of toward the Louisiades again. Takagi turned his planes around after their landing, hoping to find the U.S. carriers. Luck was not with the Japanese aviators. Bad weather made for visibility measured in only a few kilometers, and again, the close proximity of both forces made for interesting situations. Heading back for their carriers rather late in the evening (having only been launched at 1630 hours), they ran into the US carriers, and their air units. Nine bombers fell while two Wildcats did the same, and the day was not yet over for the Japanese. Finding a carrier at the edge of their fuel supply, several planes descended.

Shortly before touchdown, however, the Stars and Stripes marked the carrier as an American. Without bombs, or torpedoes, all dumped to save fuel, the Japanese could not do anything about the carriers. However, the equally surprised Americans were only able to account for one plane. Only seven of twenty-seven planes made it back to the Japanese flattops.

Eighth May, 1942, would be marked in history as the first day of carrier-vs.-carrier battle. The day began as the last four had as well. Both sides launched search planes, but this time, both sides would find what they searched for. Eighteen planes from Lexington shot into the skies, and only an hour after the planes had launched, the Japanese carriers were sighted. Admiral Fletcher ordered an all-out strike again, and by 0915, 82 planes were on their way.

Fletcher had due reason to be worried, however. Lexington had intercepted radio traffic from a search plane, and knew he had been found. His force was in bright sunshine. Takagi had had his planes in the air since 0915 as well, and his attack planes were already spreading to search for their foes when the message came in. Shortly later, 69 planes were headed toward the U.S. forces. It was the U.S. however to strike first. Yorktown's 39 planes found their targets at 1050, and proceeded to attack. However, their attack was not timed well. Dive-bombers had to circle uselessly to wait for torpedo-planes, a fact which allowed Zuikaku to escape into a rain squall, and Shokaku to strengthen her air defense groups. When the attack finally began, Yorktown's planes hit twice with bombs, severely damaging Shokaku's bow and denying her air-operations, and destroying her plane-engine shops. Lexington's following strike, numerically reduced by a lack of fuel, did no damage at all, despite scoring a bomb hit. On the other side, three Wildcats fell in the defense of their bombers. Shokaku was dropped from the battle, but her launch capability was renewed, and forty-two of her planes landed on Zuikaku.

At the very moment the dive-bombers decended on Shokaku, Japanese planes struck with deadly force at the US fleet. The Japanese had all the advantages they needed: a good composition in their strike, and extremely deadly ordonance. Their sharp swords were soon at Lexington. Her fighter protection out of place, the carrier saw itself confronted with a deadly "anvil-attack" scheme: from both sides, and a 45 degree angle forward, torpedo-planes came in. Twenty-three Dauntless dive-bombers caught four torpedo-planes, at the cost of four of their own to Zeros, and had not helped: Lexington ran into two torpedoes, and her inadequate maneuverability made the maneuvers her younger compatriot executed impossible for her: only luck prevented more than two bombs from hitting her. Her smokestack destroyed, her hull flooding, and a battery of her flak destroyed, she burned furiously in her interior.

Yorktown had her design to help her: smaller and more maneuverable, she evaded eight of eight torpedoes launched on her, and Captain Elliott Buckmaster did his best to help against the bombs, with some successes. Only one bomb hit, causing casualties but no severe damage.

When the Japanese planes headed back to their carriers, both US flattops were swimming, and both looked good. Lexington had seven degrees port list, but that was repaired by moving around the fuel to the starboard side, and the fires were extinguished rapidly.

By 1247 however, a huge explosion rocked the ship from deep below. More explosions occured, but with her steady 25 knots, Lexington looked salvagable, and Captain Frederick C. Sherman was still in good hope of saving his hip. Soon, however, more explosions occured. Connections to vital areas were severed, and several more fires rose in the ship, soon to go out-of-control. When the fires reached vital - potentially deadly - areas, including bomb and torpedo storage, Sherman orderd all hands abandon ship, at 1707 hours.

USS Phelps torpedoed the carrier, dubbed the "Lady Lex" by it's crew, and at 2000 hours, she cut under the waves of the grey-blue Coral Sea - America's first carrier had been lost.

The aftermath was quickly decided. Having Yorktown patched together and ready for action, Fletcher awaited the Port Moresby group, or a new carrier battle, but neither Zuikaku nor Shokaku were battle worthy, and both retired northward. Yorktown was soon recalled by Nimitz to Pearl Harbor, arriving there for quick repairs.

Lessons Learned

The Battle of the Coral Sea had given the sailors and the pilots aboard the Yorktown battle experience. These men could now know what to expect. Also they were able to hone their skills. A great deal about air warfare had been learned from the first great carrier battle. The flaws of the American aircraft were exposed and brought to the fore. It became evident that the Navy needed better fighters and better torpedo planes. It was also learned that fighters in combat air patrols needed to fly at 20,000 feet instead of 10,000 feet. If the fighters would have been at that elevation, they could have thinned out the Japanese bombers with greater efficiency and reduced the effectiveness of the Japanese attack.

Admiral Aubrey Fitch saw that the Japanese had been using their land based aircraft more effectively than the Allies had. Fitch then recommended that more planes be stationed in the South Pacific and that those planes cooperate with naval units.

The advancements in technology and tactics were not only relegated to how planes and ships were to be used in the future. The development and the effective use of radar played a major role in Coral Sea. Radar officers were able to use this relatively new technology to aid in the victory of the U.S. forces in Coral Sea. Radar officers were able to track Japanese bombers at one point in the battle. This tracking enabled the American forces to set up an ambush for these bombers. Also, the effective use of "Magic" gave the Allies a good idea of what the Japanese were planning. The code breaking was not fulproof by any means, but the Allies at least had a clue to what the next Japanese move was going to be.

Coral Sea also brought about a change in strategy. Admiral Chester Nimitz and Admiral Ernest King agreed that it was in the best interest of the Navy not to fight the Japanese fleet head on. The Navy could no longer afford to "slug it out with the probably superior approaching Japanese forces." They agreed on a strategy of attrition. Given some time, the surging American economy would be able to produce multiple navies. Even Admiral Yamamoto was aware of this fact. He knew that Japan's resources were severely limited, and that a war of attrition would eventually result in an American victory.

This new strategy advocated stealth over strength. This was the only course of action that Nimitz could pursue, especially after seeing what had happened in the Coral Sea. They would attempt to use all naval resources to reduce the Japanese forces. Nimitz and King were in favor of increasing submarine attacks and air bombing, especially on isolated Japanese units. Nimitz, however, reluctantly elected this strategy. He saw this not as giving credit to the strength of the Japanese Imperial Navy, but as a defficiency of the American navy. These American inadequacies led to the decision by Nimitz to strengthen his long range striking capabilities. The slow and inefficient battleships would be relocated to the west coast of the United States. Nimitz was going to rely on the carrier striking forces combined with land based air power, similar to those that participated in the Battle of the Coral Sea.

Additional Sources:

www.hazegray.org
history.acusd.edu
www.homeofheroes.com
www.brooksart.com
www.history.navy.mil

On This Day In History

Birthdates which occurred on May 08:
1492 Andreas Alciatus [Giovanni Andrea-Alciato], Italian lawyer
1521 Peter Canisius [Pieter de Hondt/Kanijs], jesuit/saint
1527 Johann Walter composer
1592 Francis Quarles English poet (Argalus & Parthenia, Emblems)
1629 Niels Juel Danish Admiral (Oland, Moen, Kjögebocht)
1641 Nicolaas Witsen etcher/mayor (Amsterdam)
1668 Alain R Lesage French author (Turcaret ou le Financier)
1673 Johann Valentin Eckelt composer
1703 Gottlob Harrer composer
1737 Edward Gibbon England, historian (Decline & Fall of Roman Empire)
1742 Johann Baptist Krumpholtz composer
1745 Carl Philipp Stamitz composer
1750 Elias Mann composer
1753 Miguel Hidalgo y Castilla father of Mexican independence
1763 John Goldberg Dutch patriot/statesman
1778 Johann Gansbacher composer
1786 Thomas Hancock founded British rubber industry
1803 Joseph Napoleon Ney Moskova composer
1806 Jan Bedrich Kittl composer
1810 James Cooper Brigadier General (Union volunteers), died in 1863
1814 Mikhail Alexandrovich Bakunin anarchist
1824 William Walker filibuster/President of Nicaragua (1856-57)
1828 Jean Henri Dunant Switzerland, writer/founder (Red Cross (Nobel Peace Prize 1901))
1829 Louis Moreau Gottschalk 1st internationally recognized US pianist
1833 Frank Wheaton Brevet Major General (Union Army), died in 1903
1836 Bryan Morel Thomas Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1905
1839 Francis W Warre-Cornish English vice-provost of Eton/writer
1842 Emil C Hansen Danish physiologist
1844 Hermann Gradener composer
1846 Oscar Hammerstein Germany, opera/playwright (Kohinoor)
1853 Charles Lee Williams composer
1857 Frits [Frederik H] Tartaud Dutch actor/husband of Alida Klein
1858 John Meade Falkner novelist (Moonfleet)
1871 [Émile M] Louis Madelin French historian (French revolutionary)
1873 Henry Leveson-Gower cricketer (England captain 1909-10 later official)
1882 Philips C Visser Dutch explorer/diplomat
1884 Harry S Truman Lamar MO, 33rd US President (D) (1945-1953)
1886 Jef van Hoof composer
1891 Chet "Red" Hoff pitcher (New York Yankees 1911-15), lived to 103+
1892 Ezio Pinza Rome Italy, bass singer (South Pacific, RCA Victor Show)
1893 Francis Quimet Massachusetts shop assistant who won golf's US Open (1913)
1895 Edmund Wilson American critic/writer (Patriotic Gore)
1895 Fulton J Sheen El Paso IL, bishop (Life is Worth Living)
1895 José Gómez [Joselito el Gallo], bullfighter
1899 Friedrich August von Hayek Vienna Austria, author (The Road to Serfdom)/co-recipient of Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences (1974)
1899 Jan F van Hall Dutch sculptor/resistance fighter
19-- Reid Smith Burbank CA, actor (Chase, Chisholms)
1902 Andre Michel Lwoff physiologist
1902 Milford "Curly" Page cricketer (New Zealand bat early 1930's, All Black half)
1903 Fernandel [Fernand Joseph Desire Contandin] French actor (Paris Holiday)
1904 John Derrick Mordaunt Snagge BBC news announcer/commentator
1905 Inglis Gundry composer
1906 David Van Vactor Plymouth IN, composer (Chaconne)
1906 Roberto Rossellini Rome Italy, director (Open City)
1908 Arturo De Cordova [Rodriguez], Merida México, actor (Medal for Benny)
1910 Mary Lou Williams US jazz pianist/composer (Zodiac Suite)
1910 Ronald Russell actor/manager (We are Angels, Little Dorrit)
1911 Robert Johnson blues singer (King of the Delta Blues Singer)
1911 Wilhelm F de Gaay Fortman Dutch lawyer/foreign minister
1912 George Woodcock author
1912 Gertrud Fussenegger [Dorn] Austrian writer (Mohrenlegende)
1913 Sidney James [Cohen] Johannesburg, actor (Carry On)
1914 Lord Murton of Lindisfrarne, deputy chairman (Comm House of Lords)
1915 John Archer Osceola NE, actor (Destination Moon)
1916 Gordon Scarrott engineer
1919 Sultan Ismail Hajibeyov composer
1920 Maurice Cranston political scientist
1920 Sloan Wilson Norwalk CT, novelist (Man in the Gray Flannel Suit)
1921 Graham Leonard bishop of London
1921 Saul Bass designer
1922 Brian Kellett CEO (Port of London Authority)
1922 Friedrich Döppe writer
1924 Tristan Jones sailor
1925 Ali Hassan Mwinyi President of Tanzania (1985- )
1925 Lord Jauncey of Tullichettle lord of appeal in ordinary
1926 Don Rickles Queens NY, comedian (Don Rickles Show, CPO Sharkey)
1926 Erico Menczer Fiume Italy, cinematographer (Chosen, Miranda)
1926 Ronald Waterhouse high court judge
1926 Sir David [Frederick] Attenborough London England, environmentalist/zoologist/TV host (BBC)
1927 Ian Denholm CEO (Murray Investment Trust)
1927 Philip Wilkinson deputy chairman (National Westminster Bank)
1928 Theodore Sorensen presidential advisor (JFK)/author (1000 Days)
1928 William Jay Sydeman composer
1929 V N M Korte-van Hemel Dutch Secretary of Justice (CDA)
1930 Doug Atkins Humbolt TN, NFL hall of famer (Browns, Bears, Saints)
1930 Gary Snyder [Japhy Ryder] beat poet (Rip Rap & Cold Mountain Poems)
1930 Heather Harper soprano
1931 Charles M Wilson composer
1933 Alistair Service writer/publisher
1934 Leonard Hoffmann high court judge
1934 Roger Kendrick governor (Dartmoor Prison)
1934 Sonny Liston US heavyweight boxing chmap (1962-64)
1935 Jack Charlton soccer manager (Republic of Ireland)
1935 Salome Jens Milwaukee WI, actress (From Here to Eternity)
1935 Viscount Falkland British peer (Liberal-Democrat)
1936 James Darren actor (Time Tunnel)
1936 Neville Purvis British Vice Admiral (Chief of Fleet Support)
1937 Daniël Robberechts Belgian writer (Labia Majora)
1937 Dennis DeConcini (Senator-D-AZ, 1977- )
1937 Michael Simmons Air Marshal (British Ministry of Defense)
1937 Thomas Pynchon novelist (V)
1938 Javed Burki cricketer (Pakistan batsman in 25 Tests 1960-69)
1938 Pierre Lucien Claverie bishop of Oran
1939 Otis Paul Drayton Glen Cove NY, 4x100 meter runner (Olympics-gold-1964)
1940 James Blyth CEO (Boots)
1940 Peter Benchley New York NY, novelist (Jaws, The Deep)
1940 Rick [Eric Hilliard] Nelson Teaneck NJ, rock star (Hello Mary Lou, It's Late, Garden Party)
1941 James A Traficant Jr (Representative-D-OH, 1985- )
1941 Jim Mitchum Bridgeport CT, actor (Blackout, Invincible 6)
1941 John Fred rocker
1942 Euclid "Motorhead" Sherwood rocker (Mothers Of Invention)
1942 Norman Lamont MP/Chancellor of Exchequer
1942 Robin Hobbs cricketer (England leg-spinner 1967-71)
1942 Ruth Holland journalist
1943 Paul Samwell-Smith London England, rocker (The Yardbirds-For Your Love)
1943 Toni Tennille Montgomery AL, female Beachboy (Captain & Tennille)
1944 Gary Glitter [Paul Gadd] Banbury Oxfordshire England, rocker (Rock & Roll Part II)
1945 Arthur Docters van Leeuwen jurist (Holland's secret service)
1945 Keith Jarrett jazz musician/film composer (Nachtfahrer)
1947 Felicity Lott English soprano (We come to the river)
1947 Phil Sawyer rocker (Spencer Davis Group)
1947 Rick Zehringer Celina OH, rocker (McCoys)
1948 John Reid MP
1948 Maurizio Nichetti actor (Icicle Thief, Volcano)
1950 Mark Blankfield Pasadena TX, comedian (Fridays, Good & Evil)
1951 Chris Frantz Fort Campbell KY, rock drummer (Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club)
1951 Deborah Harmon actress (Ted Knight Show, MASH, Just the 10 of Us)
1951 Philip Bailey rocker (Earth Wind & Fire-Shining Star, Easy Lover)
1952 Beth Henley Jackson MS, actress/playwright (Miss Firecracker)
1952 Charles J Camarda New York NY, PhD/astronaut
1954 David Keith Knoxville TN, actor (Back Roads, Firestarter)
1954 Pat Meyers LPGA golfer
1955 Alex Van Halen Nijmegen Netherlands, rock drummer (Van Halen-1984, Jump)
1955 Stephen Furst Norfolk VA, actor (Animal House, Elliot-St Elsewhere)
1956 Gary Wilmot British? entertainer
1956 Jeff Madrigali Walnut Creek CA, soling yachter (Olympics-bronze-96)
1957 Deana Deardruff US, 4 X 100 meter swimmer (Olympics-gold-1972)
1957 Jeff Wincott Toronto Ontario Canada, actor (Night Heat)
1959 Ronnie Lott Albuquerque NM, NFL defensive back (San Fransisco 49er)
1961 Riaz Poonawalla cricketer (Indian 12th man/UAE bat 1994 ICC Trophy)
1962 Terry Baker CFL kicker (Montréal Alouettes)
1963 Clemens Lothaller Austria, cosmonaut (Soyuz TM-13 backup)
1964 Cheryl Richardson Palo Alto CA, actress (Jennie-General Hospital)
1964 Eric Brittingham rocker (Cinderella-Heartbreak Station)
1964 Melissa Gilbert [Boxleitner/Brinkman] Los Angeles CA, actress (Little House on the Prairie)
1964 Peter Gill rocker (Frankie Goes to Hollywood-Relax) [or Mar/Jan 8]
1966 Eddie Brown CFL slot back (Edmonton Eskimos)
1968 Franklin Langham Augusta GA, Nike golfer (1993 Permian Basin Open)
1968 John Johnson NFL linebacker (New Orleans Saints)
1968 Omar Camporese Italy, tennis star
1969 Brad Culpepper NFL defensive tackle (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
1969 Duane Forde CFL fullback (Calgary Stampeders)
1969 Swift Burch CFL defensive end (Montréal Alouettes)
1970 Christine Stark Winnipeg Manitoba, volleyballer (Olympics-96)
1970 Marco Heering soccer player (Go Ahead Eagles)
1970 Michael Bevan cricketer (dashing New South Wales & Australian lefty bat)
1971 Carlos Brooks NFL cornerback (Arizona Cardinals)
1971 Chris Wolf actor/musician (Guys Next Door)
1971 Stephen Ingram NFL tackle/guard (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
1972 Chris Sanders NFL wide receiver (Tennessee/Houston Oilers)
1972 Keelin Curnuck Miss New York USA (1996)/Ms Venus Swimwear (1994)
1973 Wolf Wigo Abington PA, water polo driver (Olympics-96)
1974 Calvin Branch cornerback (Oakland Raiders)
1974 Colin Daynes Windsor Ontario, 68 kg Greco Roman wrestler (Olympics-96)
1974 Korey Stringer NFL tackle (Minnesota Vikings)
1976 Oleg Tverdovsky Donetsk Ukr, NHL defenseman (Winnipeg Jets)
1978 Cindy Parlow Memphis TN, soccer forward (Olympics-96)
1978 Sandra Kleinova Prague Czechoslovakia, tennis star (1995 Futures-Turku-Finland)
1979 Jayna Cronin Geneva NY, dance skater (& Dreger-1997 National-13th)

Deaths which occurred on May 08:
0535 John [Mercurius] Italian Pope (533-35), dies
0685 Benedict II Italian Pope (683-85), dies
1319 Haakon V King of Norway (1299-1319), dies
1577 Viglius ab Aytta Zuichemus lawyer/President (Raad van State), dies
1684 Henri Dumont composer, dies
1725 John Lovewell US Indian fighter, dies in battle
1773 Ali Bey Egyptian Mameluk head, dies
1785 Pietro Longhi painter, dies
1794 Antoine-Laurent Lavoisier chemist (identified oxygen), guillotined
1809 Augustin Pajou French sculptor (Bachante), dies at 78
1818 Franz Ignaz Kaa composer, dies at 78
1829 Mauro Giuseppe Sergio Pantaleo Giuliani composer, dies at 47
1844 Charles XIV Johan [Jean B Bernadotte] King of Sweden/Norway, dies
1846 Giacomo Cordella composer, dies at 59
1853 Joannes P Roothaan 1st Dutch Lieutenant Colonel-General of Jesuits, dies at 67
1861 Láseló Teleki Hungarian earl/revolutionary, commits suicide
1864 James Samuel Wadsworth General-Major (Union), dies in battle at 56
1873 John Stuart Mill great Empiricist philosopher, dies at 66
1876 Truganini last originating Tasmanian, dies
1880 Gustave Flaubert French writer (Salammbô), dies
1885 Pavel Krizkovsky composer, dies at 65
1887 Alexander Ulyanov brother of Lenin/hanged for assassination of tsar
1891 Helena Petrovina Blavatsky Russian theosophist, dies
1894 Klara Fey German orchestra leaser (Die Kleinen Betrachtungen), dies at 79
1903 Eugène-Henri-Paul Gauguin French painter (Tahiti), dies
1904 Eadweard Muybridge English photographer (horse trot), dies
1909 Friedrich von Holstein German diplomat, dies
1915 Henry McNeal Turner 1 US black army chaplain, dies at 82
1924 Lev N Lunts Russian writer (Outside the Law), dies at 23
1930 Lvar Henning Mankell composer, dies at 61
1932 Albert Thomas French socialist politician
1936 Oswald Spengler German philosopher (Underworld of Abendlandes), dies
1941 Heinrich Zollner composer, dies at 86
1943 Mordicai Anielewicz commander of Warsaw ghetto uprising, killed
1948 Alfred Holy composer, dies at 81
1950 Franklin Dyall dies at 76
1957 Johannes C B "Jan" Sluyters Dutch painter, dies at 75
1958 Nasni Matni Lebanese journalist, murdered
1959 Renato Caccioppoli Italian mathematician/pianist, suicide at 55
1960 Hugo Alfven Swedish composer (Midsommarvaka), dies at 88
1961 James Fairfax actor (Gale Storm Show), dies at 63
1965 H T W Hardinge cricketer (scored 25 & 5 in only Test for England), dies
1967 Barbara Payton actress (Dallas, Trapped, Bad Blonde), dies at 39
1967 Elmer Rice New York playwright/director/novelist, dies at 74
1967 Laverne Andrews singer (Andrews Sisters), dies at 51
1973 Ralph Miller last 19th century baseball player, dies
1974 Graham Bond rocker, dies jumping under a train
1975 Avery Brundage CEO (International Olympic Committee, 1952-72), dies at 87
1976 Alan Baxter dies at 67
1976 Ulrike Meinhof lead Germany Red Army Faction, dies
1979 Talcott Parsons US sociologist, dies at 76
1981 Daniel Gillès Belgian writer, dies at 64
1981 Margaret Lindsay actress (G Men, Lady Killer, Jezebel), dies from emphysema at 40
1981 Maurice Fernandes cricket captain (West Indies in 1st Test win, 1930 vs England), dies
1982 Gilles Villeneuve Canadian auto racer, dies in an accident
1985 Dolph Sweet actor (Gimme a Break, Gil McGowan-Another World), dies of cancer at 64
1985 Edmond O'Brien actor (Sam Benedict), dies at 69 of Alzheimer's disease
1985 Karl Marx German composer/conductor, dies at 87
1987 Pam Ewing (Victoria Principal) character on Dallas, is killed off
1988 Robert A Heinlein sci-fi writer (Friday), dies of heart failure at 80
1990 Tomas O'Fiach [Tomas Seamus Fee], Irish cardinal-archbishop, dies
1991 Jean Langlais composer, dies at 84
1991 Lloyd Ford stuntman, dies at 79
1991 Ronnie Brody British actor (Superman 3, What's Up Nurse), dies at 72
1992 Addeke H Boerma director-general (FAO), dies at 80
1992 Brian Moore writer (Catholics), dies of heart failure at 59
1992 Gul Mahomed cricketer (8 Tests for India & one for Pakistan), dies
1992 Margaretha D Ferguson-Wigerink author (Fear on Java), dies
1992 Richard Derr actor (When Worlds Collide), dies at 74 of cancer
1993 Kees Deenik singer/conductor
1994 Cobina W "Coby" Molenaar peace activist, dies at 88
1994 George Peppard actor (Breakfast at Tiffanys, A-Team), dies at 65
1994 Rupert Haselden journalist/screenwriter, dies at 36
1994 Steven Keats actor (Death Wish), dies of apparent suicide at 48
1995 Carroll Best bluegrass banjo, dies at 63
1995 Jerry Zipkin socialite, dies at 80
1995 Prem Bhatia journalist, dies at 83
1995 Teresa Teng singer, dies at 41
1996 Jane Cowan cello teacher, dies at 80
1996 Luis Miguel Domiguin bullfighter, dies at 69
1996 Serge Chermayeff architect/designer, dies at 95
1997 Kai-Uwe Von Hassel German President of Bundestag (CDU 1969-72), dies

Reported: MISSING in ACTION

1965 LA HAYE JAMES D. GREEN BAY WI.
GROUNDFIRE CRASH AT SEA NO PARA

1966 RAY JAMES E. LONGVIEW TX.
02/12/73 RELEASED BY DRV, ALIVE AND WELL 98

1967 MC CUISTION MICHAEL K. LINCOLN NE.
03/08/73 RELEASED BY DRV, ALIVE AND WELL 98

1967 STEIMER THOMAS JACK PIEDMONT CA.

1968 CONDREY GEORGE T. III ATLANTA GA.
EXPLODE NO SIGN SUBJ NEAR CRASH

1968 DAYTON JAMES L. GRANITE CITY IL.
EXPLODE NO SIGN SUBJ NEAR CRASH

1968 JENNE ROBERT E. SALT LAKE CITY UT.
EXPLODE NO SIGNS SUBJ NEAR CRASH

1968 JURECKO DANIEL E. CORPUS CHRISTI TX.
EXPLODE NO SIGN SUBJ NEAR CRASH

1969 BRASHEAR WILLIAM J. CHULA VISTA CA.

1969 MUNDT HENRY G. ABILENE TX.

1972 LEAVER JOHN M. JR. ARLINGTON MA.

1972 TAYLOR EDMUND B. JR. LIMA OH.

POW / MIA Data & Bios supplied by
the P.O.W. NETWORK. Skidmore, MO. USA.

On this day...
0535 John II ends his reign as Catholic Pope
0615 St Boniface IV ends his reign as Catholic Pope
0685 St Benedict II ends his reign as Catholic Pope
1360 Treaty of Brétigny signed by English & French
1429 French troops under Joan of Arc rescues Orléans
1450 Jack Cade's Rebellion-Kentishmen revolt against King Henry VI
1521 Parliament of Worms installs edict against Marten Luther
1541 Hernando de Soto discovers Mississippi River
1624 Hung king Bethlen Gábor & emperor Ferdinand II sign Treaty of Vienna
1639 William Coddington founds Newport RI
1660 English parliament asks King Charles II to resigns
1721 Michelangiolo dei Conti replaces Pope Clement XI, as Innocent XIII
1741 France & Bavaria sign Covenant of Nymphenburg
1784 Only known deaths by hailstones in US (Winnsborough SC)
1792 British Captain George Vancouver sights, names Mount Rainier WA
1792 US establishes military draft
1794 US Post Office established
1823 "Home Sweet Home" 1st sung (London)
1834 Charles Darwin's expedition returns to the Beagle
1834 Prussia, Austria & Russia sign classified accord about Belgium
1840 Alexander Wolcott patents Photographic Process
1842 Versailles to Paris train catches fire; 50 die
1846 1st major battle of Mexican War fought at Palo Alto TX
1847 Robert Thompson patents rubber tire
1858 John Brown holds antislavery convention
1861 Richmond VA, is named the capital of the Confederacy
1862 Valley Campaign: Federals repulsed at Battle of McDowell VA
1863 Confederación Granadina becomes Estados Unidos de Colombia
1864 Actions at Stony Creek/Nottoway Bridge VA (Drewry's Bluff)
1864 Atlanta Campaign: Severe fighting near Dalton
1864 Battle of Antietam VA (Spotslyvania Court House, Laurel Hill)
1866 Australian Rules Football is created
1871 English-US treaty ends Alabama dispute
1877 1st Westminster Dog Show held
1878 Paul Hines makes baseball's 1st unassisted triple play
1879 George Selden files for 1st patent for a gasoline-driven automobile
1881 Henry Morton Stanley signs contract with Congolian monarch
1882 David Belasco's "La Belle Russe" premieres in NYC
1885 Sarah Ann Henley survives 76-meter jump from Clifton Bridge, Avon, England
1886 Atlanta pharmacist (Jacob's Pharmacy) Dr John Styth Pemberton invents Coca Cola (contained cocaine)
1895 China cedes Taiwan to Japan under Treaty of Shimonoseki
1896 Yorkshire Cricket all out for 887 against Warwickshire
1897 22nd Preakness: T Thorpe aboard Paul Kauvar wins in 1:51¼
1900 250 grave robbers shot to death
1900 John McGraw & Wilbert Robinson sign with Cardinals
1901 In their long-delayed American League home opener, Boston defeats Philadelphia 12-4
1902 Mount Pelée erupts, wipes out St Pierre, Martinique, kills 30,000
1906 Philadelphia A's pitcher Chief Benders plays outfield & hits 2 homeruns
1907 Boston's Big Jeff Pfeffer no-hits Cincinnati Reds, 6-0
1907 Tommy Burns beats Jack O'Brien in 20 for heavyweight boxing title
1909 Albert Raines runs world record marathon (2:46:04.6)
1915 41st Kentucky Derby: Joe Notter aboard Regret wins in 2:05.4
1916 German munitions bunker in Fort Douaumont explodes
1919 1st transatlantic flight take-off by a navy seaplane
1919 Appingedam soccer team forms
1920 46th Kentucky Derby: Ted Rice aboard Paul Jones wins in 2:09
1921 Sweden abolished capital punishment
1923 Hobbs scores his 100th 100, 116 vs Somerset at Bath
1924 Arthur Honegger's "Pacifica 231" premieres
1924 Memel territories given to Lithuania
1924 Workers at Werkspoor in Amsterdam strike against 3rd wage cut
1925 51st Preakness: Clarence Kummer aboard Coventry wins in 1:59
1925 French colonial army beats Rifkabylen in Morocco
1926 1st flight over North Pole (Bennett & Byrd)
1926 A Philip Randolph organizes Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters
1926 Fire breaks out in Fenway Park
1929 Jan Mayen island, 500 km NNE of Iceland, incorporated into Norway
1929 New York Giant Carl Hubbell no-hits Pirates, 11-0
1931 Operette "Land of Smiles" premieres in London
1935 Cincinnati Red Ernie Lombardi doubles in 6th, 7th, 8th & 9th beat Phils 15-4
1936 Jockey Ralph Neves unexpectedly revived after being declared dead after a fall; His wife fainted when he returned to the track
1937 63rd Kentucky Derby: Charley Kurtsinger on War Admiral wins 2:03.2
1938 Stravinsky's "Dumbarton Oaks" premieres in Washington DC
1941 German Q-ship Pinguin sinks in Indian Ocean
1942 1st twilight game in 24 years, the Dodgers top Giants 7-6 raising $60,000 for Navy Relief Fund
1942 Battle of Coral Sea ends; Aircraft carrier Lexington sunk by Japanese air attack
1942 German summer offensive opens in Crimea
1943 69th Preakness: Johnny Longden aboard Count Fleet wins in 1:57.4
1943 Admiral Cunningham of British fleet: "Sink, burn & destroy; let nothing pass"
1944 1st eye bank opens (NYC)
1944 33 communist resistance fighter sentenced to death
1944 U-575 sinks Asphodel
1945 Canadian troops move into Amsterdam
1945 Chinese counter attack at Tsjangte, supports by 14th air fleet
1945 General Von Keitel surrenders to Marshal Zhukov near Berlin
1945 V-E Day; Germany signs unconditional surrender, WWII ends in Europe
1946 Red Sox Johnny Pesky scores 6 runs in 1 game
1947 A movement among Card players to protest its 1st meeting with Jackie Robinson & the Dodgers is aborted by a talk from owner Sam Breadon
1948 Bradman scores 146 Australia vs Surrey, 174 minutes, 15 fours
1949 West German constitution approved
1950 Chiang Kai-shek asks US for weapons
1951 Dacron men's suits introduced
1951 US performs atmospheric nuclear test at Enwetak
1952 "Of Thee I Sing" opens at Ziegfeld Theater NYC for 72 performances
1952 "Shuffle Along" opens at Broadway Theater NYC for 4 performances
1952 Mad Magazine debuts
1953 WIPB TV channel 49 in Muncie IN (PBS) begins broadcasting
1954 1st shot-put over 60' (18.29 meter)-Parry O'Brien, Los Angeles CA
1956 John Osbornes "Look Back in Anger" premieres in London
1958 President Eisenhower orders National Guard out of Central HS, Little Rock
1958 Vice President Nixon is shoved, stoned, booed & spat upon by protesters in Peru
1959 3-deck Nile excursion steamer springs a leak panicking passengers who capsized ship; 200 drown just yards from shore
1960 USSR & Cuba resume diplomatic relations
1960 Wiffi Smith wins LPGA Betsy Rawls Peach Blossom Golf Open
1961 1st practical sea water conversion plant-Freeport TX
1961 Alan Shepard receives NASA Distinguished Service Medal, Washington
1962 "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" opens at Alvin Theater NYC for 965 performances
1962 1st Atlas Centaur Launch
1962 London trolley buses go out of service
1963 "Dr No" premieres in US
1963 JFK offers Israel assistance against aggression
1965 1st shut put over 70' (Randy Matson 70' 7")
1966 Kathy Whitworth wins LPGA Tall City Golf Open
1966 Last game at old Busch Stadium, St Louis Card lose 10-5 to San Fransisco
1966 Only homerun ever hit out of Baltimore's Memorial Stadium (Frank Robinson)
1967 Muhammad Ali is indicted for refusing induction in US Army
1968 Jim (Catfish) Hunter of Oakland pitches perfect game vs Twins (4-0)
1968 Pulitzer prize awarded to William Styron (Confessions of Nat Turner)
1969 Cambodia recognizes German Democratic Republic
1969 Pope Paul VI publishes constitution Sacra Ritum Congregation
1970 Beatles release "Let it Be" album
1970 Construction workers break up an anti-war rally in NYC's Wall Street
1970 NBA championship: Knicks beat Lakers, 113-99
1971 "Earl of Ruston" closes at Billy Rose Theater NYC after 5 performances
1971 Joe Frazier beats Muhammad Ali at Madison Square Garden
1972 Sabena aircraft at Lod International, Tel Aviv, captured by Palestinians
1973 Ernie Banks fills in for Cubs manager Whitey Lockman who is ejected during the game, thus technically becoming baseball's 1st black manager
1973 Indians holding South Dakota hamlet of Wounded Knee for 10 weeks surrender
1974 50 MPH speed limit in Britain lifted
1974 Canadian Government of Trudeau falls
1974 FC Magdenburg wins 14th Europe Cup II
1976 "1600 Pennsylvania Avenue" closes at Mark Hellinger NYC after 7 performances
1977 David Berkowitz pleads guilty in "Son of Sam" 44-caliber shootings
1977 Hollis Stacy wins LPGA Lady Tara Golf Classic
1978 ABC TV airs "The Stars Salute Israel at 30"
1978 Jan Stephenson wins LPGA Women's International Golf Tournament
1979 Radio Shack releases TRSDOS 2.3
1980 Sabres take only 15 shots, Islanders 22, in a playoff game
1980 World Health Organization announced smallpox had been eradicated
1981 Ron Davis pitches 10th consecutive strike out, 1 short of record
1983 Janet Coles wins LPGA Lady Michelob Golf Tournament
1984 France performs nuclear test at Muruora Island
1984 Minnesota Twins Kirby Puckett debuts with 4 singles
1984 Thames Barrier to stop flooding in London officially completed
1984 USSR announces it will not participate in Los Angeles Summer Olympics
1985 20th Academy of Country Music Awards: Alabama & Judds win
1985 France performs nuclear test at Muruora Island
1987 Gary Hart quits democratic presidential race (Donna Rice affair)
1988 "Oba Oba" closes at Ambassador Theater NYC after 46 performances
1988 Amateur referees work New Jersey Devil-Boston Bruin playoff games, as NHL referees walk-off, due to a restraining order brought by the Devils
1988 François Mitterrand elected President of France
1988 Juli Inkster wins LPGA Crestar Golf Classic
1988 Mike Tyson crashes his $183,000 Bently on Varick St in NYC
1989 Paul McCartney releases "My Brave Face" & "Ferry Cross the Mersey"
1989 US space shuttle STS-30 lands
1990 Cuyahoga County voters approve sin tax to build Cleveland Gateway
1991 CIA director William H Webster resigns
1993 16 year old Keron Thomas disguises himself as a motorman & takes NYC subway train & 2,000 passengers on a 3 hour ride
1993 ABC Masters Bowling Tournament won by Phil Ware
1993 Lennox Lewis beats Tony Tucker in 12 for heavyweight boxing title
1994 "Rise & Fall of Little Voice" closes at Neil Simon NYC after 9 performances
1994 500th commentary by Andy Rooney on 60 Minutes
1994 Colorado Silver Bullets (all-female pro baseball team) 1st game
1994 Ernesto Pérez Balladares elected President of Panamá
1994 José Maria Figueres becomes President of Costa Rica
1994 Laura Davies wins LPGA Sara Lee Golf Classic
1994 President Clinton announces US will no longer repatriate boat people
1996 New York Yankee Dwight Gooden wins his 1st American League game beating Tigers 10-3
1996 South Africa's Const Assembly adopts permanent post-apartheid constitution
1997 Tea Leoni & David Duchovny wed in Greenwich Village

Holidays
Note: Some Holidays are only applicable on a given "day of the week"

Helston, England : Furry Day
México : Hidalgo Day
Missouri : Harry S Truman's Birthday (1884)
Norway : Liberation Day
Ribe, Denmark : Stork Day
World : V-E Day, Victory in Europe (1945)
US : Mother's Day, give her a call today - - - - - ( Sunday )
Ireland : Feis Ceoil music festival (1897) - - - - - ( Monday )
US : Native American/Indian Day - - - - - ( Saturday )
Czechosolovakia : Liberation Day/National Holiday

Religious Observances
Orthodox : Latest possible Orthodox Easter
Roman Catholic : Commemoration of Apparition of St Michael the Archangel
Anglican : Commemoration of Dame Julian of Norwich
Christian : Solemnity of the Ascension
Islam : calendar leap day (Dhûl-Hijjah 30, 1417 AH)

Religious History
1373 English mystic Julian of Norwich, 31, by her own account, received a series of sixteen revelations, while in a state of ecstasy lasting five hours. Her book, "The Sixteen Revelations of Divine Love," was written 20 years later as the fruit of her meditations on this experience. Little else is known of her life.
1816 The American Bible Society was organized in the Dutch Reformed Church on Garden Street in NY City. The non-profit society was instituted to promote wider circulation of the Scriptures by publishing Bibles without notes or comments.
1845 At a three-day convention in Augusta, GA, the Southern Baptist Convention was formed by 300 representatives from Baptist churches in Georgia, Virginia and South Carolina.
1939 English apologist C.S. Lewis wrote in a letter: 'The process of living seems to consist in coming to realize truths so ancient and simple that, if stated, they sound like barren platitudes.'
1948 American missionary and martyr Jim Elliot wrote in his journal: 'Either take me to be with Thee, Savior, or put out the life of this old man as I draw near Thee in the flesh. Consume me, Fiery Lover, as Thou dost choose.'

Thought for the day :
"Better three hours too soon than a minute too late."

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