Historical Events
Gone With The Wind's Eight Oscars
12th Academy Awards: "Gone With The Wind" wins eight Oscars, Robert Donat & Vivien Leigh also win
Demaret's One Stroke Win
American golfer Jimmy Demaret wins his third PGA Tour event within an 8-day span, taking the St. Petersburg Open by one stroke from Byron Nelson
- Detroit's Cecil "Tiny" Thompson becomes first goaltender in NHL history to play 40 (or more) games for 12 straight seasons; milestone comes in a 3-1 Red Wings loss at Toronto
- Finland initiates Winter War peace negotiations
- Frederic from G & S "Pirates of Penzance" finally released by pirate
McDaniel 1st African American Oscar
Hattie McDaniel becomes 1st African American woman to win an Oscar for "Gone With The Wind"
Famous Birthdays
- Billy Turner Jr., American thoroughbred trainer (Triple Crown 1977 Seattle Slew), born in Rochester, New York (d. 2021)
- Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople (1991- ), born in Zeytinliköy, Imbros, Turkey
- Gretchen Christopher, American singer (The Fleetwoods), born in Olympia, Washington
Famous Deaths
- Edward Frederic Benson, English novelist, dies at 72
Died in 1940 1940 Highlights
About February 29, 1940
Day of the Week: Thursday
How Long Ago? 84 years, 1 month and 24 days
Leap Year: Yes
Generation: Silent Generation
Chinese Zodiac: Dragon
Star Sign: Pisces
