Today in History: 29 May 1914

Canada: The RMS Empress of Ireland Sinks in the Gulf of St. Lawrence

On this day in 1914, 1024 people died when the ocean liner RMS Empress of Ireland sunk in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada. It had collided in the early hours of the morning with the Norwegian collier ‘Storstad.’

Launched in 1906, the Empress of Ireland often crossed between Quebec in Canada and Liverpool in England. It had not long departed on another crossing when the accident occurred. There was a heavy fog which resulted in both ships not being able to see the other.

For more visit:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RMS_Empress_of_Ireland_(1906)

Today in History: 27 May 1967

USA: The USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) Launched

On this day in 1967, the US Navy aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) (John F. Kennedy-class aircraft carrier) was launched and was commissioned on the 7th September 1968. It was the last conventionally powered aircraft carrier built for the US Navy. ‘Big John,’ as it is known, was named after former US president John F. Kennedy. The carrier was decommissioned on the 1st August 2007. The carrier’s name will be carried by the future Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy (CVN-79).

For more visit:
– http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_John_F._Kennedy_(CV-67)
– http://www.navysite.de/cvn/cv67.htm
– http://www.uscarriers.net/cv67history.htm