Day Tripping: May 21

Fires, Flyers, and More Flyers

Wind Blown Blaze

Just after noon in 1917, a fire broke out in the 4th Ward of Atlanta, Georgia. A strong breeze is partly what accounted for the blaze spreading throughout the city, burning 300 buildings and forcing more than 10,000 people to evacuate their homes. Firefighters were stretched so far across the city as the wind blew from the South, that The Great Fire of Atlanta burned for over ten hours as leapt Northward through town.

Damage was also widespread due to 85% of homes at the time being built with wood shingles, an ordinace that was changed in the aftermath. Remarkably, only one person died during the inferno.

A Flying First

The Spirit of St Louis touched down safely in Paris, France as Charles Lindbergh completed the first solo, non-stop air crossing of the Atlantic Ocean in 1927. Flying his aircraft following the Earth’s curviture, Lindbergh’s flight from New York lasted 34 hours; one reason many believed it couldn’t be done. Twelve hours passed before the aircraft cleared St. John’s, Newfoundland, the furthest Eastern point on the North American continent.

Hailed as an international hero, Charles Lindbergh was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, and a $25,000 prize from the Army and Navy Club of America.

Another Flying First

Exactly five years to the day after Lindbergh’s historic flight, Amelia Earhart became the first women to complete a solo non-stop flight across the Atlantic. Her sixteen hour journey took the aviator from Newfoundland over the North Atlantic to Londonderry in Northern Ireland. This remarkable feat cannot be overstated for various reasons, not the least of which was for a woman to accomplish it in the 1930’s.

Earhart also utilized her superior flying skills when she was forced to fly at dangerously low altitudes because of ice formation on the aircraft, and because her altimeter failed three hours into the flight. Amelia was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross by the U.S. Congress, and she continued to be a pioneer of aviation and champion for women until her disappearance five years later.

Musical Milestones

Performing his first of eight shows in Leningrad, Elton John became the first star from the West to tour the Soviet Union in 1979.

Narratives and Remembrance

Ten days after his death in 1981, Bob Marley was buried with full state honours of Jamaica in St. Ann’s, the place of his birth. His casket was carried to the top of the highest hill where a temporary mausoleum held his red Gibson Les Paul, a bible opened to Psalm 23, and a supply of the ‘herb of life’ left there by his widow.

Notable Births

1951 — Originally a comedian by trade, Al Franken was one of the rare politicians to resign his seat following sexual misconduct accusatiions.

1952 — “I pity the fool” who doesn’t know Mr. T,

K. Barrett Katie Wallace Maria Rattray 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 ScienceDuuude Marcus Liam Ireland Claire Kelly Noorain Hassan, BMS Amy Pierovich David Acaster Nora Thewriteyard David Perlmutter Joe Luca

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