Bertha Landes became the first female mayor of a major city (Seattle) in the US.
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The United States Air Force firebombed Tokyo, Japan, killing over 100,000 civilians.
Astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus recorded his first observation after witnessing a moon eclipse with a distant star.
The Soviet spacecraft Sputnik 9 was launched into orbit.
Dutch astronomer Johannes Fabricius discovered sunspots.
Lieutenant Hiroo Onoda became the last Japanese soldier to surrender, 29 years after WWII ended.
