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BBC ON THIS DAY | 17

F18 Hornet aircraft landing on the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk 1991: 'Mother of all Battles' begins

Operation Desert Storm begins as Gulf War Allies send hundreds of planes on bombing raids into Iraq - Saddam Hussein remains defiant.

Huge crack in road following Kobe earthquake 1995: Earthquake devastates Kobe
A massive quake destroys whole areas of Japan's industrial heartland, leaving many hundreds of people dead.

A gas explosion stops cars in their tracks 1994: Massive earthquake hits Los Angeles
An earthquake measuring 6.6 on the Richter scale devastates Los Angeles in the USA, killing more than 20 people.

Gary Gilmore 1977: Gilmore executed by firing squad
Gary Gilmore, the convicted murderer, is executed by firing squad in the Utah state prison, Salt Lake City.

Frank Bough and Selina Scott 1983: BBC wakes up to morning TV
People have been switching on their televisions a little earlier than usual to catch Britain's first breakfast news programme.

 Around this Day
Top Story 2002: UK declared free of foot-and-mouth
Top Story 1973: Nixon orders ceasefire in Vietnam
Top Story 2001: DR Congo President Kabila shot
Top Story 1991: Iraqi Scud missiles hit Israel
Top Story 1966: Indira Gandhi takes charge in India
Top Story 1961: John F Kennedy sworn in as US president
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