THURSDAY, Aug. 8, 2024

1815-Napoleon Bonaparte set sail for exile on St. Helena

1929-First airship flight around the Earth flying eastward begins

1940-Battle of Britain began as Germany launches air attacks

1945-President Harry S. Truman signs U.N. Charter

1945-USSR declares war against Japan in WW II

1949-Bhutan, land of the Dragon, became an independent monarchy

1953-U.S. & South Korea initial a mutual security pact

1955-Geneva conference held to discuss peaceful uses of atomic energy

1966-South African Broadcasting bans Beatles (Lennon's anti-Jesus remark)

1985-Japan launches Planet A, a probe to Halley's comet

1988-Russian troops begin pull out of Afghanistan after nine-year war

1988-South Africa declares cease-fire in Angola

1991-Shiite Muslims release British hostage John McCarthy