Historical Events
French History
Aug 2 Clermont-Ferrand sentences General Charles de Gaulle to death in absentia
- Aug 2 KL-House of saxon & commandos focus on Gross Rosen, Silesia
- Aug 3 German occupiers in France impose censorship rules on film, requiring approval prior to exhibition, and forbidding depiction of German losses in WWI
- Aug 3 Italian troops invade British Somalia
- Aug 3 James Thurber and Elliott Nugent's stage comedy "The Male Animal" closes at the Cort Theater. NYC, after 243 performances
- Aug 3 Lithuanian SSR is accepted into USSR
- Aug 3 Seaplane Clare makes 1st British passenger flight to the US
- Aug 5 "Acquaintance" blows-up Zandvoortse synagogue
- Aug 5 St Louis Brown's pitcher John Whitehead no-hits Detroit Tigers, 4-0 in 6 innings (rain shortened)
- Aug 6 Estonia is annexed into Soviet empire
- Aug 6 German occupiers in Belgium impose censorship rules on film making and exhibition
- Aug 7 Alsace Lorraine is annexed by the Third Reich (Germany) during World War II
- Aug 7 Churchill recognizes De Gaulle's French government in exile
- Aug 7 Largest amount paid for a stamp ($45,000 for 1 1856 British Guiana)
- Aug 8 31 German aircraft shot down over England
Aufbau Ost
Aug 8 German "Aufbau Ost" directive is signed by Wilhelm Keitel, to mobilize German forces in the East before the start of Operation Barbarossa and the invasion of the Soviet Union
Eagle Day
Aug 13 Battle of Britain: Hermann Goering's "Adlertag" (Eagle Day) offensive happens, intending to destroy the Royal Air Force; 47-48 German aircraft shot down, the RAF loses 25 planes
Event of Interest
Aug 16 Pioneering 'Blood for Britain' program sending blood plasma for WWII wounded from the US, headed by Charles R. Drew, officially begins in Britain
Germany Blockades Britain
Aug 17 Adolf Hitler orders a total blockade of Great Britain
- Aug 18 Battle of Britain: The air battle known as "The Hardest Day" occurs; Luftwaffe lose approximately 69 aircraft and the RAF lose 68 in one of the largest ever air battles
Event of Interest
Aug 20 British PM Churchill says of Royal Air Force, "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few"
- Aug 20 First Polish fighter squadrons fight alongside allies in the Battle of Britain
Murder of Interest
Aug 20 Louis Buchalter is indicted on murder charges in Los Angeles for the killing of Harry Greenberg, a mob associate of casino owner Meyer Lansky and mobster Bugsy Siegel
- Aug 23 German Luftwaffe begins night bombing on London
Dutch History
Aug 23 Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands dismisses Dutch Prime Minister Dirk Jan de Geer
- Aug 24 Luftwaffe bombs London
Baseball History
Aug 24 Red Sox left fielder Ted Williams pitches the last 2 innings in a 12-1 loss to Detroit Tigers, Williams allows 3 hits & 1 run
- Aug 25 First British night bombing of Germany (Berlin)
- Aug 25 Lithuania, Latvia & Estonia incorporated into Soviet Union
- Aug 26 Chad is the first French colony to join the Allies under the administration of Félix Éboué, France's first black colonial governor
- Aug 26 RKC soccer team forms in Waalwijk
- Aug 27 Caproni-Campini CC-2, experimental jet plane, maiden flight (Milan)
- Aug 28 French colonies Cameroon and Congo-Brazzaville support Gen De Gaulle
- Aug 29 7th NFL Chicago All-Star Game: Green Bay 45, All-Stars 28 (84,567)
- Aug 31 1st edition of illegal opposition newspaper Free Netherlands
- Aug 31 German occupiers in Netherlands begin soap rationing
- Aug 31 RAF Fighter Command loses 39 aircraft against Luftwaffe's 41
- Aug 31 US National Guard assembles
Famous Birthdays
- Aug 1 Mervyn Kitchen, English cricketer and umpire, born in Nailsea, Somerset
- Aug 3 John W. Carlin, American politician (40th Governor of Kansas), born in Salina, Kansas
- Aug 3 Joseph Dorfman, Israeli composer, born in Odessa, Ukraine (d. 2006)
- Aug 3 Lance Alworth, American College/Pro Football HOF wide receiver (Uni of Arkansas; Super Bowl 1971 Dallas Cowboys; 6 × First-team All-AFL; 7 × AFL All-Star; SD Chargers), born in Houston, Texas
Martin Sheen (83 years old)
Aug 3 American actor (Badlands, The West Wing), born in Dayton, Ohio
- Aug 4 (Rosemary Timothy) "Timi" Yuro, American R&B and soul singer-songwriter ("Hurt"), born in Chicago, Illinois (d. 2004)
- Aug 4 Karel Vachek, Czech director (Moravska Hellas, Elective Affinities), born in Tišnov, Czech Republic
- Aug 4 Larry Knechtel, American session piano and bass player (Simon and Garfunkel; Johnny Rivers), born in Bell, California (d. 2009) [1]
- Aug 5 Roman Gabriel, American College Football HOF and NFL quarterback (NC State Uni; NFL MVP & First-team All-Pro 1969; 4 x Pro Bowl; LA Rams, Philadelphia Eagles), born in Wilmington, North Carolina (d. 2024)
- Aug 6 Louise Sorel, actress (BS I Love You, Crimes of Passion), born in Los Angeles, California
- Aug 6 Mukhu Aliyev, Russian politician, President of Dagestan
- Aug 7 Jean-Luc Dehaene, Belgian Prime Minister (1992-99), born in Montpellier, France (d. 2014)
- Aug 7 Marlyn Mason, American actress (Making It, Peyton Place), born in San Fernando, California
- Aug 7 Tom Barlow, American politician (Rep-D-Kentucky), born in Washington, D.C. (d. 2017)
- Aug 8 Dilip Sardesai, Indian cricketer (high scoring Indian batsman of 60's)
- Aug 8 Fred Miller, American football defensive tackle (Super Bowl 1970 Baltimore Colts; Pro Bowl 1967, 68, 69), born in Homer, Louisiana (d. 2023)
- Aug 10 Barbara Mills, British barrister (first female Director of Public Prosecutions), born in Chorleywood, England (d. 2011)
- Aug 10 Bobby Hatfield, American rocker (Righteous Brothers - "Unchained Melody"), born in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin (d. 2003)
- Aug 10 Michael “Tunes” Antunes, American rock and blues saxophonist (John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band), and actor (Eddie And The Cruisers), born in New Bedford, Massachusetts
- Aug 10 Richard Wells, British Chief Constable (South Yorkshire - in charge after Hillsborough disaster)
- Aug 10 Sid Waddell, English darts commentator (the 'Voice of Darts'; Grenarda, BBC, Sky Sports), born in Alnwick, Northumberland, England (d. 2012)
- Aug 11 Kip King, actor (Charlie & Company), born in Chicago, Illinois
- Aug 12 Alexander Yossifov, Bulgarian conductor and composer (Back To The Beginning), born in Sofia, Bulgaria (d. 2016)
- Aug 12 Eddie Barlow, South African cricket all-rounder who played 30 Tests, 6 x 100, HS 201, 40 wickets; Transvaal, Eastern Province, Derbyshire CC, born in Pretoria, South Africa (d. 2005)
- Aug 12 Michael Brunson, English journalist, newscaster and actor (Never Say Die), born in Norwich, England
- Aug 12 Rod Bernard, American "swamp pop" singer ("Allons Danser Colinda"), born in Opelousas, Louisiana. (d. 2020)
- Aug 13 Ann Armstrong Dailey, American founder (Children's Hospice International), born in San Francisco, California
- Aug 13 John Stokes, Irish pop bassist, harmonica player, and singer (The Bachelors - "Diane"), born in Dublin, Ireland
- Aug 13 Tony Cloninger, American MLB pitcher and coach (2 Grand Slams in one game), born in Cherryville, North Carolina (d. 2018)
- Aug 14 (Darrell) "Dash" Crofts, American singer (Seals & Crofts - "Summer Breeze"; "Diamond Girl"), born in Cisco, Texas
- Aug 14 Galen Hall, American Football Coach (University of Florida, Orlando Thunder, Rhein Fire), born in Altoona, Pennsylvania
- Aug 14 Judith Kazantzis, English poet and feminist, born in Oxford, England (d. 2018)
- Aug 15 Gudrun Ensslin, German terrorist (Founder of Red Army Faction), born in Bartholomä, Germany (d. 1977)
- Aug 15 Rita Shane, American soprano, born in The Bronx, New York (d. 2014)
- Aug 16 (Thomas) "Sean" Bonniwell, American rock guitarist and singer-songwriter (The Music Machine - "Talk, Talk"), born in San Jose, California (d. 2011)
- Aug 16 Alix Dobkin, American folk and feminist singer-songwriter (Lavender Jane Loves Women), born in New York City (d. 2021)
- Aug 16 Bruce Beresford, Australian film director (Driving Miss Daisy; Tender Mercies), born in Paddington, Australia
- Aug 17 David Price, American politician, (Rep-D-North Carolina 1987-95, 1997-2023), born in Erwin, Tennessee
- Aug 17 Thomas Williams, American ice hockey player (Olympic gold 1960), born in Duluth, Minnesota (d. 1992)
- Aug 18 Joan Joyce, American softball pitcher (Hall of Fame 1983), born in Waterbury, Connecticut
- Aug 19 Jill St John [Oppenheim], actress (Diamonds are Forever), born in Los Angeles, California
- Aug 19 Johnny Nash, American pop-reggae-soul singer-songwriter and record producer ("I Can See Clearly Now"), born in Houston, Texas (d. 2020)
- Aug 19 Roger Cook, British songwriter (with Roger Greenaway: "You've Got Your Troubles"; "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing", "Melting Pot"), singer (Blue Mink), and record producer, born in Fishponds, Bristol, England
- Aug 20 John Lantree, English rocker (The Honeycombs), born in Newbury, Berkshire
- Aug 20 Rex Sellers, Australian cricketer leg-spinner (bowled 5 overs in Tests), born in Bulsar, Gujarat, India
- Aug 20 Ronnie McKinnon, Scottish soccer defender (28 caps; Rangers FC 301 games), born in Glasgow, Scotland (d. 2023)
- Aug 20 Rubén Hinojosa, American politician (Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas), born in Edcouch, Texas
- Aug 21 Ana Isabel Anderson-Imbert, Argentinian rheumatologist, born in Buenos Aires
- Aug 21 Robert Camac, American horse trainer, born in Wilmington, Delaware (d. 2001)
- Aug 22 Antony Crosthwaite-Eyre, English publisher and multi-millionaire
- Aug 22 David R. Vance, American horse trainer, born in Logansport, Indiana
- Aug 22 George Reinholt, American actor (Steve-Another World, One Life to Live), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 2013)
- Aug 22 John Banham, British director-general (CBI)
- Aug 23 Richard Sanders, American actor (WKRP in Cincinnati - "Les Nessman"), born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
- Aug 23 Thomas A. Steitz, American Biochemist (2009 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for ribosome discoveries), born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (d. 2018)
- Aug 23 Tony Bill, American actor (What Really Happened to the Class of '65), born in San Diego, California
- Aug 23 Vicki Brown, British pop, rock session vocalist, and contemporary classical singer, born in Liverpool, England (d. 1991)
- Aug 24 Francine Lalonde, Canadian politician (Member of Parliament for La Pointe-de-l'Île), born in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec (d. 2014)
- Aug 24 Tony Secunda, English rock band manager (The Moody Blues), born in Epsom, Surrey, England (d. 1995)
- Aug 25 José Van Dam, Belgian operatic bass-baritone (Francois d'Assisif), born in Brussels, Belgium
- Aug 26 Don LaFontaine, American voice actor (d. 2008)
- Aug 26 Nik Turner, British jazz-rock fusion saxophonist, flute player, singer, and composer (Hawkwind), born in Oxford, England (d. 2022)
- Aug 27 (Warren Harding) "Sonny" Sharrock, American jazz guitarist (Last Exit), born in Ossining, New York (d. 1994)
- Aug 27 Brooksley Born, American attorney, first female president of the Stanford Law Review, and public official (Commodity Futures Trading Commission Chair, 1996-99; Profiles in Courage Award, 2009), born in San Francisco, California [1]
- Aug 27 David Hart, gen-sect (National Association of Head Teachers)
- Aug 28 (Bhekizizwe) Joseph Shabalala, South African singer, songwriter, founder and musical director of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, born in Ladysmith, South Africa (d. 2020) [1] [2]
- Aug 28 Ken Jenkins, American actor (Scrubs - Dr. Bob Kelso), born in Dayton, Ohio
- Aug 28 Roger Pingeon, French cylist (Tour de France 1967 champion), born in Hauteville-Lompnes, France (d. 2017)
- Aug 28 William Cohen, US Secretary of Defense (1997-2001), (Sen (R) Maine, 1979-97), born in Bangor, Maine
- Aug 29 Bennie Maupin, American jazz saxophonist, flute player, and bass clarinetist (Herbie Hancock; Miles Davis; Lee Morgan), born in Detroit, Michigan
- Aug 29 Earl Gros, American NFL running back (Green Bay), born in Lafourche Parish, Louisiana (d. 2013)
- Aug 29 James Brady, U.S. press secretary (wounded during Reagan assassin attempt), born in Centralia, Illinois (d. 2014)
- Aug 29 Wim Ruska, Dutch judoka champion (Olympic gold 1972), born in Amsterdam
- Aug 31 Alain Calmat, French figure skater (Olympic silver 1964), born in Paris, France
- Aug 31 Jack Thompson [John Payne], Australian actor (Breaker Morant, The Man from Snowy River), born in Sydney, New South Wales
- Aug 31 Wilton Felder, American jazz-fusion saxophonist and bassist (The Crusaders), born in Houston, Texas (d. 2015)
Famous Weddings
- Aug 25 1st parachute wedding: Reverend Homer Tomlinson marries Arno Rudolphi and Ann Hayward while all are suspended in parachutes
Mike Wallace
Aug 30 American CBS news correspondent Mike Wallace (22) weds Norma Kaphan in Brookline, Massachusetts; divorce in 1948
Vivien Leigh & Laurence Olivier
Aug 31 "Wuthering Heights" actor Laurence Olivier (33) weds "Gone With The Wind" actress Vivien Leigh (26)
Vince Lombardi
Aug 31 Football player and coach Vince Lombardi (27) weds Marie Planitz at Our Lady of Refuge Church in Bronx, New York
Famous Deaths
- Aug 3 Willard Hershberger, American baseball catcher (Cincinnati Reds), commits suicide at 30
- Aug 4 Vladimir Jabotinsky, founder of Revisionist Zionism, dies
- Aug 5 Frederick Cook, American explorer, claimed to have 1st discovered North Pole, dies at 75
- Aug 8 Johnny Dodds, American early jazz clarinetist, dies at 48
- Aug 11 Alfred Zamara Austrian harpist, composer, and teacher, dies at 77
- Aug 13 George C. Pearce, American actor (The Shadow Sinister, British Agent, Valiant), dies at 75
Henri Desgrange (1865-1940)
Aug 16 French cyclist, journalist and founder of the Tour de France, dies at 75
- Aug 17 Billy Fiske, US RAF pilot and 1st American serviceman killed in action in World War II, dies at 29
Walter Chrysler (1875-1940)
Aug 18 American automotive pioneer (Chrysler Corporation) and thoroughbred breeder, dies at 65
- Aug 21 Ernest Thayer, American poet who wrote the famous baseball poem "Casey", dies at 77
- Aug 21 Hermann Obrecht, Swiss jurist, member of the Swiss Federal Council, dies at 58
Leon Trotsky (1879-1940)
Aug 21 Ukrainian-Russian Marxist revolutionary, political theorist and founder of the Red Army, assassinated at 62 by an ice-pick wielding Ramón Mercader
J. J. Thomson (1856-1940)
Aug 30 English physicist who discovered the electron (Nobel 1906), dies at 83
- Aug 31 George Gauthier, French Canadian Roman Catholic Bishop of Montreal and rector of the Université de Montréal, dies at 68
- Aug 31 Johanna "Annie" Bakker, Dutch revue-artist, singer and actress, dies at 58
