What Happened on August 19, 1960

Historical Events

Event of Interest

American CIA pilot Francis Gary Powers convicted of spying by USSR (U-2 incident); sentence to 3 years in prison plus 7 in a labor camp, he served 17 months before being exchanged for a captured Soviet KGB spy

  • Soviet Sputnik 5 carries 2 dogs, 2 rats, 40 mice, 1 rabbit and fruit flies into space, 1st animals to return alive from orbit
  • The first commercial atomic energy reactor, owned by the Yankee Atomic Electric Company, achieves a self-sustaining nuclear reaction in Rowe, Deerfield River, Massachusetts

Famous Birthdays

  • Bobby Hebert, American sportscaster and NFL quarterback (Atlanta Falcons), born in Cut Off, Louisiana
  • Morten Andersen, Danish Pro Football HOF placekicker (5 × First-team All-Pro; 7 × Pro Bowl; NO Saints, Atlanta Falcons; NFL record most games played: 382), born in Copenhagen, Denmark
  • Ron Darling, American baseball pitcher (NY Mets), born in Honolulu, Hawaii

Famous Deaths

  • Lewis Bernstein Namier, English historian, dies at 72
Died in 1960 1960 Highlights

About August 19, 1960

Day of the Week: Friday
How Long Ago? 63 years, 8 months and 9 days
Leap Year: Yes

Generation: Baby Boomer
Chinese Zodiac: Rat
Star Sign: Leo

Music Charts

  • US #1 Song: It's Now Or Never - Elvis Presley with The Jordanaires
  • UK #1 Song: Apache - The Shadows