This Day in History: March 28

1910: The first seaplane in history takes off

In 1910, French inventor Henri Fabre's Canard (Fabre Hydravion) made history as the first floatplane to take off from water under its own power, flying a distance of 457 meters.

1939: Spanish Civil War ends, Madrid falls to the Nationalists headed by Francisco Franco

On April 1, 1939, the Spanish Civil War officially ended after nearly three years of fighting, with the Nationalists, led by Francisco Franco, emerging victorious. The fall of Madrid on March 28, 1939, marked the end of the war and the beginning of Franco's dictatorship in Spain.

1963: Alfred Hitchcock's movie The Birds is released

Alfred Hitchcock's thriller film, The Birds, was released in 1963. The movie follows the story of a small California town attacked by a large number of birds, causing chaos and destruction.

1969: Greek poet Giorgos Seferis speaks out against the military junta

In 1969, Greek poet and Nobel Prize laureate, Giorgos Seferis, publicly denounced Greece's right-wing Regime of the Colonels on the BBC World Service. His statement was a brave act of opposition against the repressive regime.

1979: Three Mile Island nuclear power plant experiences a partial meltdown and radioactive leak

On March 28, 1979, the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania, United States, experienced a partial meltdown and radioactive leak, making it the worst commercial nuclear accident in the country's history. This event raised serious concerns about the safety and environmental impact of nuclear power.

1990: Jesse Owens receives the Congressional Gold Medal

In 1990, African American athlete Jesse Owens received the Congressional Gold Medal for his outstanding achievements in the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. Despite competing during the reign of Adolf Hitler's Nazi regime, Owens dominated the games, winning four gold medals and becoming a symbol of hope and equality.

1854: Great Britain and France declare war on Russia, expanding the Crimean War

The Crimean War, fought from 1853 to 1856, was a conflict between Russia and an alliance of France, Britain, and the Ottoman Empire. In 1854, Great Britain and France declared war on Russia, further expanding the scope of the conflict and leading to significant battles such as the Siege of Sevastopol and the Battle of Balaclava.

364: Roman Emperor Valentinian I appoints his brother Flavius Valens co-emperor

In the year 364, Roman Emperor Valentinian I appointed his younger brother Flavius Valens as co-emperor, dividing the rule of the Roman Empire between them. This decision would have significant consequences for the future of the empire, as Valens would go on to rule the Eastern Roman Empire during a time of great turmoil and invasion by barbarian tribes.

1946: Cold War: The United States State Department releases the Acheson-Lilienthal Report, outlining a plan for the international control of nuclear power.