What is past is prologue

May 27, 1941 - The German battleship Bismarck is sunk in the Atlantic by the Royal Navy. - One of the largest battleships ever commissioned (the largest at the time), The Bismarck weighed almost 50,000 tons and was over 820 feet long. After playing a major role in the sinking the pride of the Royal Navy, the HMS Hood, the Bismarck was made a priority for the Royal Navy and Winston Churchill. Her engagement with the HMS Hood in the Battle of Denmark Strait would ultimately be her only success. Once she was hunted and spotted by the Royal Navy, she was sunk, though the actual reason for her sinking remains a bit of a mystery. Many thought she was just so shot up by bombs and torpedoes that she just sank but upon closer inspection when its wreckage was discovered by National Geographic explorer Robert Ballard, the torpedo damage had not affected the inner most parts of the ship that would’ve caused it to sink like a normal ship. It is believe that the destruction of the Bismarck can be attributed to not only the terrible bombardment it took from the Royal Navy but also its poor design that left it structurally unsound. 

May 27, 1941 - The German battleship Bismarck is sunk in the Atlantic by the Royal Navy.

- One of the largest battleships ever commissioned (the largest at the time), The Bismarck weighed almost 50,000 tons and was over 820 feet long. After playing a major role in the sinking the pride of the Royal Navy, the HMS Hood, the Bismarck was made a priority for the Royal Navy and Winston Churchill. Her engagement with the HMS Hood in the Battle of Denmark Strait would ultimately be her only success. Once she was hunted and spotted by the Royal Navy, she was sunk, though the actual reason for her sinking remains a bit of a mystery.

Many thought she was just so shot up by bombs and torpedoes that she just sank but upon closer inspection when its wreckage was discovered by National Geographic explorer Robert Ballard, the torpedo damage had not affected the inner most parts of the ship that would’ve caused it to sink like a normal ship. It is believe that the destruction of the Bismarck can be attributed to not only the terrible bombardment it took from the Royal Navy but also its poor design that left it structurally unsound. 

May 27, 1937 - The Golden Gate Bridge opens; first to pedestrian traffic and then to automobiles later in the week. - The steel suspension bridge is 1.7 miles long and spans across the opening of San Francisco Bay to the Pacific Ocean. It has been named one of the modern Wonders of the World by the American Society of Civil Engineers. The Frommers travel guide calls the Golden Gate Bridge “possibly the most beautiful, certainly the most photographed, bridge in the world.” morbid side fact: More people commit suicide by jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge than at any other landmark or one spot in the world. The official number isn’t really known but many counts have it at around 1,300 with 1 at least every two weeks. Most people who jump of the bridge die on impact with the water since it is a 245 ft fall to the water but those who don’t usually either drown or die of hypothermia. Some have survived though. One man jumped, suffered some cracked vertebrae, but still managed to swim to shore and get in his car and drive himself to the hospital. One woman jumper, on the other hand, survived only to go and succeed on a second try.

May 27, 1937 - The Golden Gate Bridge opens; first to pedestrian traffic and then to automobiles later in the week.

- The steel suspension bridge is 1.7 miles long and spans across the opening of San Francisco Bay to the Pacific Ocean. It has been named one of the modern Wonders of the World by the American Society of Civil Engineers. The Frommers travel guide calls the Golden Gate Bridge “possibly the most beautiful, certainly the most photographed, bridge in the world.”

morbid side fact: More people commit suicide by jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge than at any other landmark or one spot in the world. The official number isn’t really known but many counts have it at around 1,300 with 1 at least every two weeks. Most people who jump of the bridge die on impact with the water since it is a 245 ft fall to the water but those who don’t usually either drown or die of hypothermia. Some have survived though. One man jumped, suffered some cracked vertebrae, but still managed to swim to shore and get in his car and drive himself to the hospital. One woman jumper, on the other hand, survived only to go and succeed on a second try.

May 27, 1930 - the Chrysler Building in New York City opens to the public. - Rising 1,050 ft from street to the top of the Antenna, the Chrysler Building was built to be the biggest, most spectacular building in the world. Unfortunately, it only held that crown for one year until the Empire State Building was completed. Over the years other buildings have taken the world’s tallest crown but for a time the Chrysler building was #2 in New York, until the World Trade Center knocked it down to 3rd and then after 2001 it returned to it’s 2nd spot until the Bank of America tower was completed and knocked it back down to 3rd.

May 27, 1930 - the Chrysler Building in New York City opens to the public.

- Rising 1,050 ft from street to the top of the Antenna, the Chrysler Building was built to be the biggest, most spectacular building in the world. Unfortunately, it only held that crown for one year until the Empire State Building was completed. Over the years other buildings have taken the world’s tallest crown but for a time the Chrysler building was #2 in New York, until the World Trade Center knocked it down to 3rd and then after 2001 it returned to it’s 2nd spot until the Bank of America tower was completed and knocked it back down to 3rd.

Sir Christopher Lee is born on May 27, 1922

Sir Christopher Lee is born on May 27, 1922

Vincent Price (May 27, 1911 – October 25, 1993)

Vincent Price (May 27, 1911 – October 25, 1993)

Helena Bonham Carter is born on May 26, 1966

Helena Bonham Carter is born on May 26, 1966

May 26, 1940 - The Evacuation of Allied Troops from Dunkirk Begins. - The evacuations will last nine days and will result in the evacuation of 338,226 Allied soldiers.

May 26, 1940 - The Evacuation of Allied Troops from Dunkirk Begins.

- The evacuations will last nine days and will result in the evacuation of 338,226 Allied soldiers.

Peter Cushing (May 26, 1913 – August 11, 1994) - Star Wars, Sherlock Holmes, Van Helsing, Dr. Frankenstein, and Doctor Who; these are all roles played by the great, great Peter Cushing. If the words “Hammer Horror” mean anything to you, then Cushing is definitely no stranger to you and you already know this man was one of the greats. Sure, he never really did the sort of high class work of a Lawrence Oliver or Alec Guinness but that didn’t matter. He was the warrior for the forces of good against the best Dracula we’ve ever had, Christopher Lee. I would say “in my opinion” to that but I’m afraid that’s just a proven fact. For me, there are few actors that have shaped my love of a genre of film (Horror) than Peter Cushing.

Peter Cushing (May 26, 1913 – August 11, 1994)

- Star Wars, Sherlock Holmes, Van Helsing, Dr. Frankenstein, and Doctor Who; these are all roles played by the great, great Peter Cushing. If the words “Hammer Horror” mean anything to you, then Cushing is definitely no stranger to you and you already know this man was one of the greats. Sure, he never really did the sort of high class work of a Lawrence Oliver or Alec Guinness but that didn’t matter. He was the warrior for the forces of good against the best Dracula we’ve ever had, Christopher Lee. I would say “in my opinion” to that but I’m afraid that’s just a proven fact. For me, there are few actors that have shaped my love of a genre of film (Horror) than Peter Cushing.

Sir Matt Busby (May 26, 1909 – January 20, 1994) - Originally from a small mining town called Orbiston in Scotland, Busby actually played for two of Manchester United’s greatest rivals, Liverpool and Manchester City, before he became manager of United. His managerial stats for United are: First Division (5): 1951–52, 1955–56, 1956–57, 1964–65, 1966–67 FA Cup (2): 1947–48, 1962–63 FA Charity Shield (5): 1952, 1956, 1957, 1965, 1967 European Cup (1): 1967–68 Though to most he is most notable for being the manager of the so-called “Busby Babes” squad from 1955-1958. They were called the “babes” because they were a youthful team who had made their way from the youth team to the first team together under the tutelage of Busby and his assistant Jimmy Murphy. The team included such greats as Duncan Edwards, Billy Whelan, and Bobby Charlton. After a European Cup Tie in Belgrade, the plane carrying the whole team crashed on take off from a Munich airport. 8 of the players, along with 3 other club officials and 12 others died in the accident. Only Charlton, hero goalkeeper Harry Gregg (hero because he pulled many people out of the plane while it was on fire, including Busby), and Busby survived the crash. Busby barely survived though, suffering multiple injuries and receiving the Last Rites twice, before he recovered and was able to leave the hospital nine weeks later. He took the rest of the season off to recover before returning to lead the team again, the next season with a whole team based around his only surviving players.

Sir Matt Busby (May 26, 1909 – January 20, 1994)

- Originally from a small mining town called Orbiston in Scotland, Busby actually played for two of Manchester United’s greatest rivals, Liverpool and Manchester City, before he became manager of United. His managerial stats for United are:

  • First Division (5): 1951–52, 1955–56, 1956–57, 1964–65, 1966–67
  • FA Cup (2): 1947–48, 1962–63
  • FA Charity Shield (5): 1952, 1956, 1957, 1965, 1967
  • European Cup (1): 1967–68

Though to most he is most notable for being the manager of the so-called “Busby Babes” squad from 1955-1958. They were called the “babes” because they were a youthful team who had made their way from the youth team to the first team together under the tutelage of Busby and his assistant Jimmy Murphy. The team included such greats as Duncan Edwards, Billy Whelan, and Bobby Charlton. After a European Cup Tie in Belgrade, the plane carrying the whole team crashed on take off from a Munich airport. 8 of the players, along with 3 other club officials and 12 others died in the accident. Only Charlton, hero goalkeeper Harry Gregg (hero because he pulled many people out of the plane while it was on fire, including Busby), and Busby survived the crash. Busby barely survived though, suffering multiple injuries and receiving the Last Rites twice, before he recovered and was able to leave the hospital nine weeks later. He took the rest of the season off to recover before returning to lead the team again, the next season with a whole team based around his only surviving players.

John Wayne (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979)

John Wayne (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979)