Historical Events
- German pocket battleship Graf Spee scuttled by its crew off Uruguay
Famous Birthdays
- Charles V. Bush, African-American pioneer (1st African-American US Air Force Academy Graduate and US Supreme Court Page), (d. 2012)
- Eddie Kendricks, American singer-songwriter (The Temptations - "The Way You Do the Things You Do"; "Just My Imagination"), born in Union Springs, Alabama (d. 1992)
- James Booker, American R&B musician (Gonzo), born in New Orleans, Louisiana
- Novella Nelson, American actress (Antwone Fisher, Purlie, Chiefs), born in Brooklyn, New York (d. 2017)
About December 17, 1939
Day of the Week: Sunday
How Long Ago? 84 years, 4 months and 2 days
Leap Year: No
Generation: Silent Generation
Chinese Zodiac: Rabbit
Star Sign: Sagittarius
