What Happened in June 1939

Historical Events

  • Jun 1 British submarine "Thetis" sinks in Liverpool Bay with all 99 aboard

Sports History

Jun 1 First major boxing match on US television is the heavyweight bout from NY's Yankee Stadium between former world champion Max Baer and Lou Nova; Nova wins by TKO in 11th round

  • Jun 1 First night MLB game takes place at Philadelphia's Shribe Park; Phillies lose 5-2 to Pittsburgh Pirates
  • Jun 1 Retired German Colonel-general Gerd von Runstedt returns to service
  • Jun 3 "Beer Barrel Polka" by Will Glahe hits #1 on the pop singles chart
  • Jun 3 71st Belmont: James Stout riding Johnstown wins in 2:29.6
  • Jun 6 NY Giants beat Reds 17-3, with 5 HRs in 4th inning
  • Jun 6 NY supreme court justice J F Crater legally declared dead
  • Jun 6 The ship MS St. Louis, carrying 907 Jewish refugees from Europe, begins sailing back to the continent after it was refused entry into America. Approximately a quarter of those on board would perish in the Holocaust.

British Royal Visit

Jun 7 George VI and Elizabeth become the 1st king and queen of Britain to visit USA

  • Jun 10 MGM cartoon character Barney Bear debuts

Event of Interest

Jun 11 King and Queen of England taste 1st "hot dogs" at FDR's party

  • Jun 12 Baseball Hall of Fame is dedicated in Cooperstown, New York
  • Jun 12 Shooting begins on Paramount Pictures' Dr. Cyclops, the first horror film photographed in three-strip Technicolor.

US Golf Open

Jun 12 US Open Men's Golf, Philadelphia Cricket Club: Byron Nelson wins by 3 strokes from Craig Wood and 7 ahead of Denny Shute in a 36-hole playoff to claim the second of his 5 major titles

  • Jun 17 44th Women's French Championships: Simonne Mathieu beats Jadwiga Jedrzejowska (6-3, 8-6)

French Open Men's Tennis

Jun 17 French Championships Men's Tennis: American collegiate champion Don McNeill beats countryman Bobby Riggs 7-5, 6-0, 6-3

  • Jun 17 Last public guillotining in France. Eugen Weidmann, a convicted murderer, is guillotined in Versailles outside the prison Saint-Pierre
  • Jun 20 Test flight of 1st rocket plane using liquid propellants

Lou Gehrig Retires

Jun 21 NY Yankees announce Lou Gehrig's retirement after doctors reveal he has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Meeting of Interest

Jun 22 Princess and future Queen Elizabeth meets future husband Prince Philip of Greece (Midshipman Mountbatten, RN)

Sports History

Jun 23 Bronko Nagurski beats Lou Thesz in Houston, to win National Wrestling Association world heavyweight title

  • Jun 23 France turns over Sanjak of Alexandretta (Hatay) to Turkey
  • Jun 23 US Congress establishes US Coast Guard Reserve (renamed US Coast Guard Auxiliary 1941) as uniformed volunteer units supporting the Coast Guard
  • Jun 24 Pan Am's 1st US to England flight
  • Jun 27 1st night game at Cleveland Municipal Stadium (Indians 5, Tigers 0)

Cricket History

Jun 27 Brilliant West Indies batsman George Headley scores 107 to follow his 106 in the 1st innings in 1st cricket Test v England at Lord's; England still wins by 8 wickets

  • Jun 27 Brooklyn Dodgers tie Boston Bees, 2-2 in 23 innings; called on account of darkness after 5 hours 15 minutes

Boxing Title Fight

Jun 28 Joe Louis beats Tony Galento by TKO at 2:29 in round 4 at Yankee Stadium, NYC in his 7th heavyweight boxing title defense

  • Jun 28 Pan Am opens southern route transatlantic air service (Dixie Clipper)
  • Jun 28 Yanks hit 13 HRs, sweep A's 23-2 & 10-0
  • Jun 29 4th Dutch government of Prime Minister Hendrikus Colijn falls
  • Jun 29 Dixie Clipper completes 1st commercial plane flight to Europe

Ford-Ferguson 9N Tractor

Jun 29 Ford introduces the revolutionary Ford-Ferguson 9N tractor incorporating Harry Ferguson's three-point hitch system

  • Jun 30 Heinkel He 176 rocket plane flies for 1st time, at Peenemunde
1939 History

Famous Birthdays

  • Jun 1 Cleavon Little, American actor (Blazing Saddles; Toy Soldiers), born in Chickasha Oklahoma (d. 1992)
  • Jun 2 Charles Miller, American rock-funk flutist, saxophonist, and singer (War - "Why Can't We Be Friends?"; "Low Rider"), born in Olathe, Kansas (d. 1980)
  • Jun 2 Janie Bradford, American songwriter for Motown ("Money (That's What I Want)"), born in Charleston, Missouri
  • Jun 3 David Stock, American composer (Rosewood Reflections), and conductor (Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble, 1976-99), born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (d. 2015)
  • Jun 3 Ian Hunter [Patterson], British rock singer (Mott the Hoople - "All The Young Dudes"; "Roll Away The Stone"; solo - "Just Another Night"), born in Oswestry, England
  • Jun 3 Steve Dalkowski, American baseball player and inspiration for Bull Durham film, born in New Britain, Connecticut (d. 2020)

Joe Clark (84 years old)

Jun 5 16th Prime Minister of Canada (1979-80), born in High River, Alberta

  • Jun 5 Margaret Drabble, British author (Needle's Eye), born in Sheffield, England
  • Jun 6 Doug Hart, American NFL defensive back (NFL champion 1965, 66, 67; Super Bowl 1967, 68; Green Bay Packers), born in Handley, Texas (d. 2020)
  • Jun 6 Gary U.S. Bonds [Anderson], American blues singer and songwriter (New Orleans), born in Jacksonville, Florida
  • Jun 6 Louis Andriessen, Dutch composer (Reconstruction), born in Utrecht, Netherlands (d. 2021)
  • Jun 6 Marian Wright-Edelman, American activist and health care president (Children's Defense Fund), born in Bennettsville, South Carolina
  • Jun 6 Nganani Enos J Mabuza, South African leader (Inyandza National Movement), born in Barberton, South Africa (d. 1997)
  • Jun 6 Richard "Popcorn" Wylie, American R&B and soul pianist, bandleader, songwriter, and record producer, born in Detroit, Michigan (d. 2008)
  • Jun 7 Eri Klas, Estonian conductor (Netherlands Radio Symphony; Aarhus Symphony; Estonian National Opera, 1975-95), and educator, born in Tallinn, Estonia (d. 2016)
  • Jun 7 Yuli Turovsky, Russian-Canadian cellist (Borodin Trio, 1976-91), conductor (I Musici de Montreal Chamber Orchestra, 1983-2011), and teacher, born in Moscow, USSR (d. 2013)
  • Jun 8 Bernie Casey, American actor (Boxcar Bertha, Rent-a-Cop), born in Wyco, West Virginia (d. 2017)
  • Jun 8 Bob Goodman, American International Boxing HOF promoter (VP & Matchmaker Madison Square Garden 1985-94; Don King Productions; Garden State Boxing), born in New York City (d. 2023)
  • Jun 8 Herb Adderley, American Pro Football HOF cornerback (Super Bowl 1967, 68, 71; 5 x Pro Bowl; 4 × First-team All-Pro; Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 2020)
  • Jun 8 Laurence Cook, American jazz drummer, percussionist, and avant garde composer, born in Boston, Massachusetts
  • Jun 8 William "Bill" Watrous, American jazz trombonist, born in Middletown, Connecticut (d. 2018)
  • Jun 9 Charles Webb, American writer (The Graduate), born in San Francisco, California (d. 2020)
  • Jun 9 David Hobbs, British racing driver, born in Royal Leamington Spa, England
  • Jun 9 Dick Vitale, American basketball sportscaster (ESPN), born in Passaic, New Jersey
  • Jun 9 Ileana Cotrubaş, Romanian soprano, born in Galați, Romania
  • Jun 10 Alexandra Stewart, Canadian actress (In Praise of Older Women), born in Montreal, Quebec
  • Jun 11 Barry Porter, British lawyer and Conservative Party politician (d. 1996)
  • Jun 11 Bernard Purdie, American jazz and session drummer, born in Elkton, Maryland
  • Jun 11 Christina Crawford, American actress and author (Mommie Dearest), born in Los Angeles, California

Jackie Stewart (84 years old)

Jun 11 Scottish auto racer (27 x F1 Grand Prix wins, World F1 C'ship 1969, 71, 73), team owner (Stewart GP) and broadcaster (ABC's Wide World of Sports, NBC Sportsworld, BBC), born in Milton, Scotland

  • Jun 11 Rachel Heyhoe Flint, English cricket batter (22 Tests, 23 ODOs; captain 1966-78; inaugural Women's World Cup 1973), businesswoman and philanthropist, born in Wolverhampton, England (d. 2017)
  • Jun 11 Wilma Burgess, American country-pop singer ("Baby"; "Misty Blue"), born in Orlando, Florida (d. 2003)
  • Jun 12 Frank McCloskey, American politician, U.S. House of Representatives from Indiana (1983-95), born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (d. 2003)
  • Jun 12 Geoff Griffin, South African cricket fast bowler (2 Tests; first RSA Test hat-trick 1960), born in Greytown, Natal Province, South Africa (d. 2006)
  • Jun 13 Siegfried Fischbacher, German American entertainer and magician (Siegfried and Roy), born in Rosenheim, Germany (d. 2021) [1] [2]
  • Jun 13 Tom Cheek, American sportscaster (Voice of the Toronto Blue Jays), born in Pensacola, Florida (d. 2005)
  • Jun 14 John F. MacArthur, American evangelist and author, born in Los Angeles, California
  • Jun 14 Steny Hoyer, American politician (Rep-D-MD, 1981-), born in New York City
  • Jun 14 Tom Matte, American football running back (Super Bowl 1971; Pro Bowl 1968, 69; NFL rushing TD leader 1969; Baltimore Colts), born in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania (d. 2021)
  • Jun 15 Brian Jacques, British author, born in Liverpool, England (2011)
  • Jun 15 Ward Connerly, American political activist (affirmative action), born in Leesville, Louisiana
  • Jun 16 Billy "Crash" Craddock, American country singer ("Boom Boom Baby"; "Rub It In"), born in Greensboro, North Carolina
  • Jun 17 Donald Anderson, British Labour Party politician, born in Swansea, Wales
  • Jun 17 Hanna Johansen, Swiss writer, born in Bremen, Germany
  • Jun 17 James Gadson, American drummer and session musician, born in Kansas City, Missouri

Lou Brock (1939-2020)

Jun 18 American Baseball Hall of Fame outfielder (6 × MLB All-Star; World Series 1964, 67; 8 × NL stolen base leader; St Louis Cardinals), born in El Dorado, Arkansas

  • Jun 19 Al Wilson, American soul singer ("Show and Tell"; "The Snake"), born in Meridian, Mississippi (d. 2008)
  • Jun 19 Peter Duffell, Brits lt-general/minister of Defense
  • Jun 20 Budge Rogers, British rugby flanker (34 Tests England [7 as captain], 2 British & Irish Lions; Bedford RFC), born in Bedford, England
  • Jun 20 Ramakant Desai, Indian cricket fast bowler (28 Tests, 74 wickets, 1 x 50; Bombay), born in Bombay, India (d. 1998)
  • Jun 21 Charles Boone, American composer, born in Cleveland, Ohio
  • Jun 21 Rubén Berríos, Puerto Rican politician, born in Aibonito, Puerto Rico
  • Jun 22 Bobby Harrison, British rock drummer (Procol Harum, 1967), born in West Ham, England
  • Jun 22 Don Matthews, American football coach in the CFL
  • Jun 23 Bill Mahoney, Canadian ice hockey coach (NHL: Minnesota North Stars 1983-85), born in Peterborough, Ontario (d. 2021)
  • Jun 23 Charlie Spoonhour, American basketball coach (Southwest Missouri State, Saint Louis, UNLV), born in Mulberry, Kansas (d. 2012)
  • Jun 24 Henry Lawrence Garett III, American Secretary of the Navy (1989-92), born in Miami, Florida
  • Jun 25 Allen Fox, American tennis player, born in Los Angeles, California
  • Jun 25 Harold Melvin, American soul and R&B singer (The Blue Notes - "If You Don't Know Me By Now"), born in Philadelphia (d. 1997)
  • Jun 26 Ansar Ilgamovich, Russian cosmonaut, born in Satka, Russia
  • Jun 26 Chuck [Charles] Robb, American politician, 64th Governor of Virginia, born in Phoenix, Arizona
  • Jun 26 Smangaliso Mkhatshwa, South African Secretary-General (Bishops' Conference 1983-88), born in Barberton, Mpumalanga, South Africa
  • Jun 27 Neil Hawke, Australian cricket fast bowler (27 Tests, 91 wickets; South Australia CA), born in Adelaide, Australia (d. 2000)
  • Jun 27 R. D. Burman, Indian film score composer (1942: A Love Story), born in Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India (d. 1994)
  • Jun 28 Klaus Schmiegel, German-American chemist (invented Prozac), born in Chemnitz, Germany
  • Jun 29 Alan Connolly, Australian cricket fast bowler (29 Tests, 102 wickets; Victoria), born in Skipton, Australia
  • Jun 29 Ron Headley, West Indian cricket batsman (2 Tests; son of WI great George Headley; Worcestershire), born in Kingston, Jamaica
  • Jun 29 Sante Gaiardoni, Italian cyclist (Olympic gold 1000m time trial, 1000m sprint 1960; UCI Track World C'ship gold 1960, 63), born in Villafranca di Verona, Italy (d. 2023)
  • Jun 30 Eleanor Smeal, American cofounder of the Feminist Majority Foundation and president (National Organization for Women), born in Ashtabula, Ohio
  • Jun 30 John Fortune [John C. Wood], English satirist and comedian (Bremner, Bird and Fortune), born in Bristol, England (d. 2013)
  • Jun 30 Lindembergue Cardoso, Brazilian composer, and music educator (Brazilian Contemporary Music Ensemble), born in Livramento de Nossa Senhora, Bahia, Brazil (d. 1989)
Born in 1939

Famous Weddings

Jonas Salk

Jun 9 Medical researcher Jonas Salk (24) weds social worker Donna Lindsay

Maureen O'Hara

Jun 13 Actress Maureen O'Hara (19) secretly marries film producer George H. Brown in Harrow, England, before leaving for Hollywood (annulled 1941)


Famous Deaths

  • Jun 4 Tommy Ladnier, American jazz trumpeter (Lovie Austin; King Oliver; New Orleans Feetwarmers; Noble Sissle; Sidney Bechet), dies of a heart attack at 39
  • Jun 5 Elijah Beardsworth, British world quick shaving champion, dies
  • Jun 5 Frank van de Goes, Dutch writer and Marxist theorist, dies at 80
  • Jun 9 Owen Moore, Irish actor (She Done Him Wrong), commits suicide at 52
  • Jun 13 Arthur Coningham, Australian cricketer (one Test for Australia 1894), dies at 75
  • Jun 13 Volter Kilpi, Finnish writer (Suljetuilla Porteilla), dies at 64
  • Jun 16 Chick Webb, American jazz drummer and big band bandleader (introduced Ella Fitzgerald), dies of Pott's disease (tuberculosis of the spine), at 34
  • Jun 17 Eugene Weldman, the last person to be publicly guillotined in France, dies at 31. When asked if he had remorse for his victims he had killed, he replied, “Remorse, what for? I didn’t even know them”
  • Jun 18 Frans "Sas" van Aerschot, Flemish operetta actor (Paljas), dies at 73
  • Jun 19 Grace Abbott, American social worker (US Children's Bureau), dies at 60
  • Jun 25 Richard Seaman, British auto racer (German GP 1938), dies in a race accident in Belgian Grand Prix at 26
  • Jun 26 Ford Madox Ford [Hueffer], British novelist (The Good Soldier), critic, and journal editor (The Transatlantic), dies at 65
  • Jun 27 David Werner Amram, American lawyer, legal and Talmudic scholar, Zionist, and author (The Makers of Hebrew Books in Italy), dies at 73