What Happened On This Day – May 15
1948 Egypt, Syria, Transjordan and Iraq invade Israel
The First Arab-Israeli War was initiated by Israel's proclamation of independence on the day before the invasion. It lasted nearly 10 months and caused thousands of casualties on both sides.
1940 The first McDonald's fast food restaurant opens
Maurice “Mac” and Richard “Dick” McDonald opened “McDonald's Bar-B-Q” in San Bernardino. Today, McDonald's is the world's largest fast food chain.
1930 The first airline stewardess goes on duty
Ellen Church and her team served snacks on a United Airlines flight from Oakland to Chicago. The flight attendants were also responsible for refueling the aircraft, handling luggage, and checking tickets.
1928 The first Mickey Mouse film is screened
The 6-minute film “Plane Crazy” directed by Walt Disney shows Mickey trying to fly an airplane in reference to Charles Lindbergh. Today, Mickey Mouse is one of the world's most recognized cartoon characters and the official mascot of the Walt Disney Company.
1718 The world's first machine gun is patented
British lawyer, James Puckle, invented the 25.4 mm caliber “Puckle Gun” for the use on ships. It was designed for two bullet types: round bullets for Christians and (more damaging) square bullets for Turks.
Births On This Day – May 15
1987 Andy Murray
Scottish tennis player
1981 Patrice Evra
French footballer
1948 Brian Eno
English singer-songwriter, keyboard player, producer
1856 L. Frank Baum
American author
1773 Klemens von Metternich
German/Austrian politician, 1st State Chancellor of the Austrian Empire
Deaths On This Day – May 15
2012 Carlos Fuentes
Mexican author
1978 Robert Menzies
Australian politician, 12th Prime Minister of Australia
1967 Edward Hopper
American painter
1956 Austin Osman Spare
English painter, magician
1886 Emily Dickinson
American poet
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