Day Tripping: February 26

Radar, Radicalism, and Racial Profiling

Welcome to my daily feature where each day on the calendar marks a part of our shared history.

A Discovery In Detection

Robert Watson-Watt demonstrated RADAR which in case you didn’t know, stands for Radio Detection and Ranging, for the first time in 1935. Originally developed to anticipate incoming storms, Watt realized his method for bouncing radio waves could detect more than just the weather. Watt and his assistant, A.F. Wilkins set up a demonstration for British brass where an RAF plane was passed over a field three times.

On each pass, Watt’s RADAR system detected the approaching aircraft in advance. Britain’s secret weapon allowed the military to gain advanced knowledge of enemy aircraft without committing its own outmanned fleet to reconnaissance missions. The discovery was credited with being a significant contributor to saving Britain’s WWII effort.

A Precursor To Disaster

A rental van full of explosives was detonated in the parking garage of the World Trade Center in New York City in 1993. The explosion killed six people and injured one thousand more, but there was little critical structural damage to the buildings. Fifty thousand people were safely evacuated on that day and many were treated for smoke inhalation.

The perpetrators were arrested after a massive manhunt conducted by the FBI, one who was attempted to a get refund on his rental van deposit. As we know, unfortunately, this would not be the last act of terrorism on this site.

Tragic Pursuit

Trayvon Martin, a seventeen-year-old high school student, was visiting relatives in a gated community of Sanford, Florida in 2012 when he was shot and killed by a neighbourhood watchman. George Zimmerman was driving through the community when he spotted Martin returning from a convenience store on foot, fatally shooting the unarmed boy.

Zimmerman had phoned the local police dispatch and reported the youth as suspicious-looking and wearing a hoodie. He reported to police that he was following Trayvon when asked, and though the police told Zimmerman that wasn’t necessary, he continued anyway. After Zimmerman hung up with police dispatch, he got into a violent altercation with Martin before shooting him. Zimmerman was acquitted of murder and no other charges were laid.

Musical Milestones

1955 — The 45rpm record outsells the old 78rpm disc for the first time.

1966–-These Boots Are Made For Walking sung by Nancy Sinatra goes to number #1 in America.

Narratives

Playwright Victor Hugo is born in 1802, and Hedda Gabler by playwright Henrik Ibsen premieres in Oslo in 1891.

Remembrance

1936 — During an attempted coup by Japanese Imperial officers, two former Prime Ministers, Takahashi Korekiyo and Saitō Makoto, and General Jōtarō Watanabe were all killed. The scene is remembered today as The February 26 Incident.

Notable Births

1829 — German-born clothing designer who founded the 1st company to manufacture blue jeans, Levi Strauss.

1932 —The one, the only man in black, Johnny Cash.

Thanks for taking the time to read this article dedicated to the days of our history. I hope to see you tomorrow for another instalment.

K. Barrett Katie Wallace Maria Rattray Joseph M. Learned Maryam Merchant Dr Mehmet Yildiz Tree Langdon Myriam Ben Salem Phil Truman Chelsea Mandler MAT Terry Mansfield Hollie Petit, PhD. Terry Trueman Dr Preeti Singh John Gruber Bill Abbate James G Brennan James G Brennan