August 21

This Day in History

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Lead Story
Hawaii becomes 50th state, 1959
American Revolution
Bloody Ban Tarleton born in Britain, 1754
Automotive
Olds Motor Works founded, 1897
Civil War
Guerillas massacre residents of Lawrence, Kansas, 1863
Cold War
Coup attempt against Gorbachev collapses, 1991
Crime
Outlaws attack Lawrence, Kansas, 1863
Theft of Mona Lisa is discovered, 1911
Disaster
Gas cloud kills Cameroon villagers, 1986
General Interest
Slave revolt erupts in Virginia, 1831
Lincoln-Douglas debates begin, 1858
Kenyatta freed, 1961
Hollywood
Dirty Dancing opens, 1987
Literary
Christopher Robin's birthday, 1920
Music
The Swing Era begins with Benny Goodman's triumphant Palomar Ballroom performance, 1935
Old West
Trial of Frank James begins in Missouri, 1883
Presidential
Eisenhower signs Hawaii statehood bill, 1959
Sports
Michael Phelps wins eighth medal, 2004
Vietnam War
Nhu's Special Forces attack the Buddhists, 1963
U.S. pilots given green light to go after anti-aircraft missiles in the North, 1965
Nixon meets with South Korean President, 1969
Antiwar protestors raid draft offices, 1971
World War I
Battles of the Frontiers fought near Ardennes and Charleroi, 1914
World War II
The seeds of the United Nations are planted, 1944

Vietnam War

Aug 21, 1965:

U.S. pilots given green light to go after anti-aircraft missiles in the North

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It is revealed by MACV headquarters (Headquarters Military Assistance Command Vietnam) in Saigon that U.S. pilots have received approval to destroy any Soviet-made missiles they see while raiding North Vietnam. This was a major change from previous orders that restricted them to bombing only previously approved targets.

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This Week in History, Aug 21 - Aug 27

Aug 21, 1963
Nhu's Special Forces attack the Buddhists
Aug 21, 1965
U.S. pilots given green light to go after anti-aircraft missiles in the North
Aug 21, 1969
Nixon meets with South Korean President
Aug 21, 1971
Antiwar protestors raid draft offices
Aug 22, 1962
Kennedy reports stalemate in Vietnam
Aug 22, 1967
Graduated bombing policy condemned
Aug 22, 1968
VC repudiates Johnson's peace overture
Aug 22, 1972
Demonstrators disrupt Republican National Convention in Miami Beach
Aug 23, 1966
U.S. cargo ship strikes a mine near Saigon
Aug 23, 1968
Communist forces renew offensive
Aug 24, 1963
Washington changes policy on support for President Diem
Aug 24, 1969
U.S. unit refuses commander's order
Aug 24, 1970
B-52s conduct heavy raids along the DMZ
Aug 25, 1967
McNamara concedes that bombing is less than effective
Aug 25, 1971
173rd Airborne Brigade departs Vietnam
Aug 26, 1964
Johnson receives Democratic nomination for president
Aug 26, 1967
Major George E. Day shot down over North Vietnam
Aug 26, 1968
Democratic National Convention opens in Chicago
Aug 27, 1970
Agnew meets with President Thieu in Saigon
Aug 27, 1972
U.S. aircraft conduct heavy raids on Hanoi and Haiphong

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