Apollo 13 Launched……
April 11, 1970…….
Two days later an oxygen tank exploded, leading to famous expression, “Houston, we’ve had a problem here“. The mission to land on the Moon was aborted. The crew was able to overcome limited power, loss of cabin heat, shortage of potable water, and the need to make makeshift repairs to the carbon dioxide removal system and return safely to Earth six days later. Note: The actual phrase was “Okay, Houston, we’ve had a problem here”, spoken by Jack Swigert. After being asked to repeat the transmission Jim Lovell responded with “Uh, Houston, we’ve had a problem”. In the 1995 movie Apollo 13, the line was shortened to the more dramatic, “Houston, we have a problem”.
Civil War Begins……
April 12, 1861……
The American Civil War begins when the Confederacy fires upon Fort Sumter, South Carolina. Confederate batteries fired on the fort for 34 straight hours. The fort fell to Confederate forces the following day.
Billy the Kid Sentenced to Hang……
April 13, 1881……
The notorious outlaw Billy the Kid is sentenced to hang for the murder of Sheriff William J. Brady during the Lincoln County Cattle War. He escaped by killing two deputies, but was killed by Sheriff Pat Garrett three months later.