On this Day

1947, India and Pakistan became independent after some 200 years of British rule.


1057 Macbeth, the King of Scotland, was slain by the son of King Duncan.


1769 Napoleon Bonaparte was born on the island of Corsica.


1935 Humorist Will Rogers and aviator Wiley Post were killed when their airplane crashed near Point Barrow, Alaska.


1939 "The Wizard of Oz" premiered at Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood.


1944 Allied forces landed in southern France during World War II.


1945 The Allies proclaimed V-J Day, one day after Japan agreed to surrender unconditionally.


1948 The Republic of Korea (South Korea) was proclaimed.


1969 The Woodstock Music and Art Fair opened in upstate New York.



http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/20090815.html?th&emc=th