Video: ‘National Geographic: Secret Weapon Of The Confederacy’
(Wednesday, February 17, 1864, 8:45 p.m.; during the American Civil War) — The H. L. Hunley, a submarine of the Confederate States of America, became the first submarine to engage and sink a warship, the USS Housatonic, at Charleston Harbor, Charleston, South Carolina. Five Union sailors were lost. Soon after, Hunley sank, killing all eight of her third crew.
Video: 'Operation Hailstone, by Steve Evans'
(Thursday, February 17, 1944; part of World War II, Pacific War) — Operation Hailstone, a massive naval air and surface attack by the United States Navy against the Japanese naval and air base at Truk Lagoon, Japan’s main base in the central Pacific, began today in support of the Eniwetok invasion.
Video: 'WW2: U.S. Marines Take Eniwetok (1944)'
(Thursday, February 17, 1944; Part of World War II, Pacific War) — Following the American success in the Battle of Kwajalein to the southeast, the Battle of Eniwetok began today on Eniwetok Atoll in the Marshall Islands. Capture of Eniwetok would provide an airfield and harbor to support Allied attacks on the Mariana Islands to the northwest.
Video: MADAMA BUTTERFLY - "La Scala 17/02/1904"
(Wednesday, February 17, 1904) — Giacomo Puccini’s opera Madama Butterfly had its world premiere today at La Scala in Milan, Italy, presented in two acts. After this disastrous premiere, Puccini withdrew the opera and substantially rewrote it, this time in three acts.
