What Happened On This Day – April 5
1998 The world's largest suspension bridge opens to traffic
The Akashi Kaikyō Bridge in Japan features the world's longest central span, measuring 1991 meters (6532 ft).
1986 A bomb kills 3 people in the “La Belle” discotheque in West Berlin
The attack on the nightclub, which was frequented by U.S. soldiers, was later blamed on the Libyan secret service. In retaliatory strikes, at least 15 people were killed in Libya.
1955 Winston Churchill resigns as U.K. Prime Minister
Churchill was instrumental in initiating the alliance between the U.K., the U.S., and the Soviet Union against nazi Germany. His political career spanned half a century.
1951 Ethel and Julius Rosenberg are sentenced to death
The U.S. couple was accused of passing information about nuclear weapons on to the Soviet Union. It later emerged that Ethel was not involved in her husband's activities. Both were executed in 1953.
1895 Oscar Wilde loses his criminal libel case triggered by accusations of homosexuality
The Marquess of Queensbury had left his calling card in the Albemarle club with the added inscription “For Oscar Wilde posing Somdomite”.
Births On This Day – April 5
1937 Colin Powell
American general, politician, 65th United States Secretary of State
1917 Robert Bloch
American author
1912 John Le Mesurier
English actor
1908 Bette Davis
American actress
1900 Spencer Tracy
American actor
Deaths On This Day – April 5
1997 Allen Ginsberg
American poet
1994 Kurt Cobain
American singer-songwriter, guitarist
1976 Howard Hughes
American engineer, director
1975 Chiang Kai-shek
Chinese military leader, politician, President of the Republic of China
1928 Roy Kilner
English cricketer
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