Category Archives: 1910s

U.S. begins NYC to DC airmail service 100 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 15 1918)


Video: 'The First U.S. Air Mail Flight (1918) - 1976 Commemorative Clip'

(Wednesday, May 15, 1918, first flight from Belmont Park at 11:30 a.m. EDT) — The United States officially established airmail service between New York and Washington, D.C. today, using six converted United States Army Air Service Curtiss JN-4HM “Jenny” biplanes flown by Army pilots between Washington, D.C. (Washington Polo Grounds) and New York City (Belmont Park) with an intermediate stop in Philadelphia (Bustleton Field). Continue reading U.S. begins NYC to DC airmail service 100 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 15 1918)

First Mother’s Day observed in U.S. 110 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 10 1908)


Video: 'The History of Mother's Day'

(Sunday, May 10, 1908)Mother’s Day, a celebration honoring motherhood and family life, was observed for the first time in the United States today when Anna Jarvis held a memorial for her mother at St Andrew’s Methodist Church in Grafton, West Virginia. Continue reading First Mother’s Day observed in U.S. 110 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 10 1908)

Germany’s ‘Red Baron’ flying ace shot down and killed 100 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 21 1918)


Video: 'The Red Baron - Manfred von Richthofen I WHO DID WHAT IN WW1?'

(Sunday, April 21, 1918, just after 11:00 a.m. local time)Manfred von Richthofen, the German fighter pilot known as the “Red Baron” who was credited with 80 air combat victories during World War I, was himself shot down and killed today while in action over Morlancourt Ridge near the Somme River. He was 25. Continue reading Germany’s ‘Red Baron’ flying ace shot down and killed 100 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 21 1918)

Britain’s Royal Air Force founded 100 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 1 1918)


Video: 'The Royal Air Force: Past and Present (Part One 1912-1937)' (Apr. 1, 1918, at 11:58)

(Monday, April 1, 1918; during World War I) — Britain’s Royal Air Force (RAF), the oldest independent air force in the world, came into being today as the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Naval Air Service were merged into a single, independent entity. Continue reading Britain’s Royal Air Force founded 100 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 1 1918)

Germany launches Spring Offensive on Western Front 100 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 21 1918)


Video: '1. Weltkrieg - Westfront 1918/1 (Januar bis Juni)' ('Spring Offensive' first 4 videos; Mar. 21, 1918, begins on second video at 4:45)

(Thursday, March 21, 1918, artillery bombardment began at 4:40 a.m. local time; on the Western Front during World War I) — Germany launched its Spring Offensive on the Western Front today with Operation Michael, hoping to defeat the Allies before the overwhelming human and materiel resources of the United States could be fully deployed. Continue reading Germany launches Spring Offensive on Western Front 100 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 21 1918)

Wilson signs first law establishing daylight saving time 100 years ago today (Mar 19 1918)


Video: 'Daylight Saving Time Explained'

(Sunday, March 19, 1918) — President Woodrow Wilson today signed the first law establishing daylight saving time in the United States, with clocks to be moved forward one hour from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October. Continue reading Wilson signs first law establishing daylight saving time 100 years ago today (Mar 19 1918)

First case of 1918 flu pandemic documented 100 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 11 1918)


Video: 'Influenza 1918 | PBS American Experience | Documentary 2017' (Mar. 11, 1918, at 6:51)

(Monday, March 11, 1918) — The first documented case of the 1918 flu pandemic, which would kill 50–100 million people worldwide, was made this morning when U.S. Army mess cook Private Albert Gitchell complained of a sore throat, fever and headache today at a hospital at Camp Funston, Fort Riley, Kansas, an American military facility that at the time was training American troops during World War I. Continue reading First case of 1918 flu pandemic documented 100 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 11 1918)

Russia signs separate peace treaty with Central Powers 100 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 3 1918)


Video: 'The Great War episode 5 Mutiny'(Treaty of Brest-Litovsk at 52:57)

(Sunday, March 3, 1918, 4:00-5:30 p.m. local time) — The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, a peace treaty between the new Bolshevik government of Soviet Russia and the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Ottoman Empire), was signed today at the Brest-Litovsk fortress in what is now Brest, Belarus, ending Russia’s participation in World War I and defaulting on all of Imperial Russia’s commitments to the Triple Entente alliance. Continue reading Russia signs separate peace treaty with Central Powers 100 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 3 1918)

SS Tuscania torpedoed off Irish coast 100 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 5 1918)


Video: 'American Survivors Of Torpedoed Transport 'tuscania' (1914-1918)'

(Tuesday, February 5, 1918, approximately 6:40 p.m. GMT) — The Cunard liner SS Tuscania, which was transporting about 2,000 American troops to Europe, was torpedoed by a German U-boat tonight in the Irish Sea with the loss of approximately 210 of the troops and crew. Continue reading SS Tuscania torpedoed off Irish coast 100 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 5 1918)

Wilson outlines Fourteen Points for lasting peace 100 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 8 1918)


Video: 'Wilson's 14 Points & League of Nations Explained'

(Tuesday, January 8, 1918, noon EST) — U.S. President Woodrow Wilson outlined his Fourteen Points, a statement of principles for peace that was to be used for negotiations to end World War I, before a joint session of Congress today in Washington, D.C. Continue reading Wilson outlines Fourteen Points for lasting peace 100 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 8 1918)