What Happened On This Day – December 15
2009 Maiden flight of Boeing 787 Dreamliner
Considered to be one of Boeing's most fuel-efficient airplanes, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner has suffered from problems associated with its lithium-ion batteries.
1978 US recognizes China
30 years after the creation of the People's Republic of China, President Jimmy Carter announced that the United States would formally recognize the communist country starting January 1, 1979. The announcement also called for the severing of relations with Taiwan, a position that was quickly reversed under protests.
1939 Premier of the Gone with the Wind
The award winning film was adapted from the Pulitzer winner Margaret Mitchell's book by the same name.
1933 Twenty-first Amendment to U.S. Constitution comes into effect
Ratified on December 5 of the same year, the amendment repealed the prohibition on alcohol in the United States which had come into force on January 17, 1920, when the 18th amendment took effect.
1791 U.S. Bill of Rights becomes law
The first 10 amendments to the Constitution of the United States are known as the Bill of Rights. They became law after Virginia ratified the amendments.
Births On This Day – December 15
1986 Junsu
South Korean singer-songwriter, actor
1979 Eric Young
Canadian wrestler
1928 Friedensreich Hundertwasser
Austrian/New Zealand painter, architect, designed the Kuchlbauer Tower, Waldspirale
1907 Oscar Niemeyer
Brazilian architect, designed the United Nations Headquarters, Cathedral of Brasília
37 Nero
Roman Emperor
Deaths On This Day – December 15
2013 Harold Camping
American broadcaster, author
2011 Christopher Hitchens
English/American journalist, author
2010 Bob Feller
American baseball player
1966 Walt Disney
American animator, director, screenwriter, producer, co-founded The Company
1950 Vallabhbhai Patel
Indian activist, politician, 1st Deputy Prime Minister of India