1948

Jan 18, 1948 - Ghandi broke a 121-hour fast after halting Moslem-Hindu riots.

Feb, 1948 - The U.S. Air Force initiated Project Blue Book to investigate the numerous civilian and military reports of mysterious unidentified flying objects (UFOs). It was originally known as Project Sign. A year later the unit was reorganized and renamed Project Grudge. Finally, in 1952, Project Grudge was upgraded and given the code name Project Blue Book. It was terminated in 1969.

Feb 2, 1948 - The United States and Italy signed a pact of friendship, commerce and navigation.

Feb 7, 1948 - Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower resigned as Army chief of staff and was succeeded by Gen. Omar Bradley.

March, 1948 - US House approve Marshall Plan, 318-75; Senate 69-17.

March 18, 1948 - Philips began experimental TV broadcasting.

April 1, 1948 - The Berlin Airlift began. Pres. Truman countered the Soviet blockade of Berlin with a successful airlift, and beat Thomas E. Dewey in the elections

April 3, 1948 - Truman sign Marshall Plan bill into law.

May 1, 1948 - The People's Democratic Republic of Korea (North Korea) was proclaimed. The border between North and South Korea was sealed when Kim Il Sung established his communist regime.

May 14, 1948 - The independent state of Israel was proclaimed in Tel Aviv under Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion as British rule in Palestine came to an end

June 12, 1948 - Maj Saul leaves and Col Kindervater assumes command of CAMP ATTERBURY.

June 21, 1948 - The first successfully produced microgroove 33 1/3 rpm, long-playing, records were unveiled by Dr. Peter Goldmark of Columbia Records. Plans to phase out 78's followed.

June 25, 1948 - "The transport division of the Soviet military administration is compelled to halt all passenger and freight traffic to and from Berlin tomorrow at 0600 hours because of technical difficulties. West Berlin will receive electricity only between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m...."  Berlin Blockade begins following day

June 26, 1948 - The Berlin Airlift began in earnest as the United States, Britain and France started ferrying supplies to the isolated western sector of Berlin, after the Soviet Union cut off land and water routes. The Soviets had been harassing the French, British and American authorities in Berlin for weeks, trying to force them from the city. Finally, when all surface routes to the city were blockaded, it became clear that an airlift through the Allied sectors was the only way to re-supply the 2 million West Berliners

July 15, 1948 - President Truman was nominated for another term of office by the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.

July 26, 1948 - President Truman signs Executive Order 9981, providing for desegregation in the Armed Forces. 

Aug 15, 1948 - The Republic of Korea [South Korea] was proclaimed.

Aug 16, 1948 - Famed home-run slugger George Herman "Babe" Ruth died at age 53 in New York City

Sept 9, 1948 - The People's Democratic Republic of Korea (North Korea) was created.

Sept 10, 1948 - Mildred Gillars, accused of being Nazi wartime radio broadcaster "Axis Sally," was indicted in Washington, D.C., on treason charges.

Sept 25, 1948 - Iva Toguri D'Aquino (b.1916), a Japanese-American suspected of being wartime radio propagandist "Tokyo Rose," arrived in SF aboard the General Hodges and was taken away by FBI agents. On Sep 9, 1949, she was found guilty of speaking into a microphone concerning the loss of US ships. She was sentenced to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. She was released in 1956 and pardoned by Pres. Ford in 1977.

Oct

Nov 2, 1948 - President Truman was elected 33rd president in an upset.

Nov 3, 1948 - The Chicago Tribune printed the headline "Dewey defeats Truman."

Nov 12, 1948 - Hideki Tojo, former Japanese premier and military dictator through World War II, and several other World War II Japanese leaders were sentenced to death by an international war crimes tribunal

Dec 21, 1948 - Seishiro Itagaki, Japanese General and minister of War, was hanged.