Bartolomeu de Gusmão, a Brazilian-Portuguese priest and inventor, demonstrates the first recorded ascent of a hot air balloon in Lisbon, Portugal. Although the balloon is small and unmanned, this event marks the beginning of human fascination with flight and serves as a precursor to modern aviation.
1709 - The First Known Hot Air Balloon Ascent
In one of the most famous heists in history, a gang of thieves robs a Royal Mail train near Bridego Railway Bridge in Buckinghamshire, England, making off with £2.6 million. The event becomes legendary due to the planning, execution, and subsequent capture of many of the criminals involved.
1963 - The Great Train Robbery in the UK
The Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley, the first submarine to successfully sink an enemy warship, is raised from the ocean floor off the coast of South Carolina, where it sank in 1864 during the American Civil War. Its recovery offers valuable insights into early submarine technology and Civil War history.
2000 - The Confederate Submarine H.L. Hunley is Raised
The German Luftwaffe begins its first air raids on British airfields during World War II, marking the beginning of the Battle of Britain. This aerial campaign would become one of the most important and intense battles of the war, with Britain's Royal Air Force defending against Nazi air attacks.
1940 - The Luftwaffe Begins Bombing British Airfields
Jacques Balmat and Dr. Michel-Gabriel Paccard make the first successful ascent of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in the Alps. This achievement marks the beginning of modern mountaineering and inspires future expeditions to scale some of the world’s most challenging peaks.
