TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2009

Today is Tuesday, September 15, the 258th day of 2009. There are 107 days left in the year.

1620 _ Mayflower departs from Plymouth, England, with 102 pilgrims

1821 _ Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua gain independence

1894 _ Japan defeats China in Battle of Ping Yang

1916 _ First tank used in war, ``Little Willies" at Battle of Flors, France

1917 _ Russia proclaimed a republic by Alexander Kerensky

1935 _ Nuremberg Laws deprive German Jews of citizenship and makes the swastika the official symbol of Nazi Germany

1950 _ During Korean conflict, U.N. forces land at Incheon

1959 _ Soviet Premier Khrushchev arrives in U.S. to begin a 13-day visit

1978 _ Muhammad Ali beats WBA heavyweight champion Leon Spinks

1982 _ First issue of ``USA Today" published by Gannett Co.