The Battle of Leyte Gulf was a naval battle of the Pacific campaign
of World War II, fought in the seas around the island of Leyte in the
Philippines from October 23 to October 26, 1944. The Japanese
intended to repel or destroy the Allied invasion of Leyte. Instead,
the Allied navies inflicted a major defeat on the outnumbered
Imperial Japanese Navy which finished it as a strategic force in the
Pacific War. The battle is often considered to be the largest naval
battle in history. Leyte Gulf was also the scene of the first use of
kamikaze aircraft by the Japanese. The Australian heavy cruiser HMAS
Australia was hit on 21 October, and organized suicide attacks by the
"Special Attack Force" began on 25 October.
Read the rest of this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Leyte_Gulf
Today's selected anniversaries:
1558 Elizabeth I ascended the English Throne.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_I_of_England)
1869 The Suez Canal was inaugurated in an elaborate ceremony.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suez_Canal)
1969 The SALT I negotiations between the Soviet Union and the
United States began in Helsinki.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SALT_I)
1970 Douglas Engelbart received the patent for the first
computer mouse.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/computer_mouse)
1973 Watergate scandal: In Orlando, Florida, US President
Richard Nixon tells 400 Associated Press managing editors
"I am not a crook."
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watergate_scandal)
Wikiquote of the day:
"When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will
know peace." ~ Jimi Hendrix
(
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Jimi_Hendrix)