Historical Events
- Apr 1 Jan Dieters, Dutch politician, resistance fighter, and a leading member of Communist Party of the Netherlands, is arrested by the Nazis
- Apr 4 WWII: US Army Air Force bomber 'Lady Be Good' fails to return to Soluch, Libya base after its maiden flight; presumed lost at sea, wreck was discovered in desert 15 years later [1]
Poon Lim's 133 Day South Atlantic Odyssey
Apr 5 Chinese steward Poon Lim is found off the coast of Brazil by a Brazilian fisherman family after being adrift for 133 days, after British ship SS Benlomond was torpedoed by a German U-boat
- Apr 5 Mortsel, Belgium: Allies target Minerva car factory, used for repairing Luftwaffe planes for bombing raid; collateral damage from missed targets kills 936 civilians, Belgium's greatest loss of WWII
- Apr 6 British & US armies link up in Africa during WW II
- Apr 6 British offensive at Wadi Akarit, South Tunisia
- Apr 6 Lou Jansen, leader of illegal Dutch political party (CPN) arrested
Axis Conference
Apr 7 Adolf Hitler & Benito Mussolini met for an Axis conference in Salzburg
- Apr 7 British and US troops make contact at Wadi Akarit, South-Tunisia
- Apr 7 German Lt colonel Claus von Stauffenberg seriously wounded at allied air raid
- Apr 7 NFL adopts free substitution rule; helmets made mandatory and 10-game schedule for all teams approved
- Apr 8 1943 NFL Draft: Frank Sinkwich from University of Georgia first pick by Detroit Lions
- Apr 8 Hakuun Yasutani Roshi, founder of Sanbo Kyodan, receives dharma
- Apr 8 Stanley Cup Final, Boston Garden, Boston, MA: Detroit Red Wings beat Boston Bruins, 2-0 for a 4-0 series sweep and their 3rd SC Championship
FDR Inflation Measures
Apr 8 U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt, in an attempt to check inflation, freezes wages and prices, prohibits workers from changing jobs unless the war effort would be aided thereby, and bars rate increases to common carriers and public utilities.
- Apr 10 12 Jewish patients of Herren Loo-Lozenoord escape Nazis
- Apr 10 General Montgomery occupies Sfax, Tunisia
- Apr 11 American helicopter designer Frank Piasecki, Vertol founder, flies his 1st (single-rotor) craft [1]
- Apr 12 Allies conquer Soussa, North-Africa
- Apr 12 Dutch Catholic University Nijmegen closed
- Apr 13 Catholic University Nijegen closes
- Apr 13 FDR dedicates the Jefferson Memorial in honor of former President Thomas Jefferson
- Apr 13 Nazis discover mass grave of Polish officers near Katyn
US Decrypt Yamamoto Plans
Apr 14 American intelligence intercepts and decrypts a JN-25 message detailing forthcoming visit by Japanese Navy Marshal Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto to Balalae Airfield, near Bougainville in the Solomon Islands; results in his plane shot down 4 days later [1]
Assault on Tunis
Apr 14 Generals Alexander, Eisenhower, Anderson and Bradley discuss assault on Tunis
LSD
Apr 16 Swiss scientist Dr. Albert Hofmann discovers the psychedelic effects of LSD
- Apr 17 Japanese Navy Marshal Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto flies from Truk to Rabaul, tracked by US fighter aircraft after intelligence intercepts his itinerary [1]
- Apr 17 SS General Jürgen Stroop arrives in Warsaw
Operation Vengeance Kills Yamamoto
Apr 18 Operation Vengeance: US Army Air Force P-38G fighter aircraft from Kukum Field on Guadalcanal ambush and shoot down the transport bomber aircraft of Isoroku Yamamoto, commander-in-chief of the Imperial Japanese Navy and mastermind behind the Pearl Harbor attack [1]
- Apr 19 47th Boston Marathon won by Gerard Cote of Canada in 2:28:25.8; his 2nd of 4 wins in the event
- Apr 19 Bicycle Day - Swiss chemist Dr. Albert Hofmann deliberately takes LSD for the first time
Warsaw Ghetto Uprising
Apr 19 Jews refuse to surrender the Warsaw Ghetto to SS officer Jürgen Stroop, who then orders its destruction, beginning the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising
Stengel Hit by Taxi
Apr 20 Braves manager Casey Stengel is struck by a taxi, fractures a leg
- Apr 22 German counterattack in North Tunisia
- Apr 22 RAF shoots down 14 German transport planes over Mediterranean Sea
- Apr 23 British & US offensive directed at Tunis and Bizerta
- Apr 25 The Demyansk Shield for German troops in commemoration of Demyansk Pocket instituted
- Apr 27 Soviet Union breaks contact with Polish government exiled in London
Pilecki Escapes
Apr 27 Witold Pilecki escapes from Auschwitz after having voluntarily been imprisoned there to gain information about the Holocaust
Present Laughter
Apr 29 Noël Coward's comic play "Present Laughter" premieres in London
- Apr 29 US 34th Division occupies Hill 609, North Tunisia
- Apr 30 Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp for Jews forms
- Apr 30 Dutch strike against forced labor in Nazi Germany's war industry
- Apr 30 Noël Coward's play "This Happy Breed" premieres in London; written in 1939, production was delayed by WWII
Famous Birthdays
- Apr 2 Larry Coryell, American jazz guitarist (11th House), born in Galveston, Texas (d. 2017)
- Apr 3 Artie Traum, American folk guitarist, songwriter, producer, and filmmaker, born in The Bronx, New York (d. 2008)
- Apr 3 Doreen Tracey, British-born American performer (Mickey Mouse Club-Mouseketeer), born in St Pancras, London (d. 2018)
- Apr 3 John Hughes, Scottish soccer striker (8 caps; Celtic 255 games), born in Coatbridge, Scotland (d. 2022)
- Apr 3 Jonathan Lynn, English writer and actor (Greedy, Bar Mitzvah Boy), born in Bath, England
- Apr 3 Mario Lavista, Mexican composer and writer, born in Mexico City (d. 2021)
- Apr 3 Richard Manuel, Canadian rock pianist and vocalist (The Band - "The Shape I'm In"; "Tears Of Rage"), born in Stratford, Ontario (d. 1986)
- Apr 4 Ian Robertson, British museum director (National Army Museum)
- Apr 5 Masahiko 'Fighting' Harada, Japanese boxer (world flyweight, bantamweight champion), born in Tokyo, Japan
- Apr 5 Max Gail, American Emmy Awrad winning actor (Barney Miller - "Wojo"; D.C. Cab: General Hospital; 42), born in Detroit, Michigan
- Apr 6 Gerhard Grimmer, German cross-country skier (World C'ship gold GDR 50km, 4×10km relay 1974), born in Katharinaberg, Czech Republic (d. 2023)
- Apr 6 Harry Conroy, trade unionist
- Apr 6 Joaquin Agostinho, Portuguese cyclist
- Apr 6 Roger Cook, investigative journalist/broadcaster
- Apr 6 Susan Tolsky, American actress (Madame's Place; Here Come The Brides), born in Houston, Texas (d. 2022)
- Apr 7 Dennis Amiss, cricketer (prolific English batsman)
- Apr 7 Mick Abrahams, British rock guitarist (Jethro Tull, 1967-68; Blodwyn Pig, 1969-70), born in Luton, England
- Apr 7 Roberta Shore [Schourop], American actress (The Virginian), and singer, born in Monterey Park, California
- Apr 8 Carol Lavell, American equestrian dressage (Olympic bronze 1992, 96), born in Newport, Rhode Island
- Apr 8 James Herbert, English horror writer (The Rats), born in London, England (d. 2013)
- Apr 8 Michael Bennett, American theater director and choreographer (Chorus Line), born in Buffalo, New York (d. 1987)
- Apr 8 Robby Weaver, American actor (Stone), born in Los Angeles, California
- Apr 8 Tony Banks, English politician (Labour), born in Belfast (d. 2006)
- Apr 8 William Garth Morrison, British Chief scout of UK and Overseas territories (d. 2013)
- Apr 9 Terry Knight [Knapp], American rock singer, manager, and record producer (Grand Funk Railroad), born in Lapeer, Michigan (d. 2004)
- Apr 11 Egbert Dommering, Dutch lawyer
- Apr 11 John Montagu, 11th Earl of Sandwich, British entrepreneur, politician and nobleman
- Apr 12 Charles Ludlam, American playwright and actor (Big Easy), born in New York City (d. 1987)
- Apr 13 Billy Kidd, American alpine skier (World C'ship gold combined 1970; Olympic silver slalom 1964), born in Burlington, Vermont
- Apr 13 Guy Stevens, British record company executive (Sue; Island), band manager (Mott the Hoople; Procol Harum), and record producer (The Clash - London Calling), born in East Dulwich, England (d. 1981)
- Apr 14 Clarice Elaine Gaylord, American director of research grants (EPA)
- Apr 15 "Mighty" Sam McClain, American soul and blues singer-songwriter, born in Monroe, Louisiana (d. 2015)
- Apr 15 Hugh Thompson Jr., American Vietnam War veteran who played a major role in ending the 1968 My Lai massacre, born in Atlanta, Georgia (d. 2006)
- Apr 15 Riem de Wolff, Indonesian-Dutch singer and guitarist (Blue Diamonds), born in Depok, Buitenzorg, Dutch East Indies (d. 2017)
Robert Lefkowitz (81 years old)
Apr 15 American physician (Nobel Prize for Chemistry), born in New York City
- Apr 15 Yvonne Vriens-Auerbach, Dutch politician (Member of Parliament (CDA). 1986-94), born in Tilburg, Netherlands (d. 2006)
- Apr 16 "Lonesome Dave" Peverett, British rock singer and musician (Foghat - "Slow Ride"; Savoy Brown, 1967-70), born in London, England (d. 2000)
- Apr 16 Ewald Vanvugt, Dutch author (Kiss of Delight, Seed of Love), born in 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands
- Apr 16 Johnny Watkins, Australian cricketer (NSW leg-spinner, bowled 6 overs for Aust), born in Newcastle, New South Wales
- Apr 16 Ruth Madoc, British singer and actress (Hi Di Hi), born in Norwich, Norfolk (d. 2022)
- Apr 17 Roy Estrada, American rock bassist (Mothers Of Invention), and convicted sex offender, born in Santa Ana, California
- Apr 18 Lesley Miller, American pop, session, and advertising jingle singer ("He Wore A Green Beret"; "Reach Out and Touch Someone"), born in Baltimore, Maryland
- Apr 19 Eve Graham [Beatson], Scottish pop singer (The New Seekers - "I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing"), born in Auchterarder, Perth and Kinross, Scotland
- Apr 19 Robert Yates, American auto racing team owner and engine builder (Yates Racing, NASCAR), born in Charlotte, North Carolina (d. 2017)
- Apr 20 Edie Sedgwick, American actress (Ciao Manhattan) and socialite, born in Santa Barbara, California (d. 1971)
- Apr 20 Ian Watson, British sci-fi author (Book of Being, Whores of Babylon), born in North Shields, England
- Apr 20 John Eliot Gardiner, English conductor, born in Fontmell Magna, Dorset
- Apr 20 Michael Greer, American actor (Bobby Gentry Show), born in Galesburg, Illinois (d. 2002)
- Apr 21 Hannes Viljoen, South African rugby union winger (3 caps; Natal), born in Elliot, South Africa (d. 2021)
- Apr 22 Louise Glück, American poet and 12th US Poet Laureate (2020 Nobel Prize for Literature), born in New York City
- Apr 22 Mel Carter, American pop singer ("Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me"), born in Cincinnati, Ohio
- Apr 22 Steve Dunne, New Zealand cricket umpire (39 Tests; 100 ODIs), born in Dunedin. Otago
- Apr 23 Bob van Toll, Dutch actor and director (Pastorale 1943), born in Rotterdam, Netherlands (d. 2005)
- Apr 23 Carmen von Thyssen, Spanish philanthropist and art collector, born in Barcelona, Spain
- Apr 23 Hervé Villechaize, French-American actor (Fantasy Island - Ze plane! Ze plane!), born in Paris (d. 1993)
- Apr 23 Hugh Davies, English composer, born in Exmouth, Devon (d. 2005)
- Apr 23 Si Kahn, American folk and bluegrass singer-songwriter (Aragon Mill), and civil rights activist, born in State College, Pennsylvania
- Apr 23 Tony Esposito, Canadian Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender (6 x NHL All Star; Vezina Trophy 1970, 72, 74; Chicago Blackhawks), born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario (d. 2021)
- Apr 24 Richard Sterban, American country singer (Oak Ridge Boys - "Elvira"), born in Camden, New Jersey
- Apr 25 Tony Christie [Fitzgerald], British pop singer (I Did What I Did For Maria), born in Conisbrough, England
- Apr 26 Gary Wright, American rock singer and keyboardist (Spooky Tooth - It's All About; solo - "Dream Weaver"), born in Cresskill, New Jersey (d. 2023) [1]
- Apr 26 Peter Zumthor, Swiss architect (Royal Gold Medal 2013), born in Basel, Switzerland
- Apr 27 Eugene Polyakov, Russian balletmaster (Paris Opera Ballet), born in Moscow (d. 1996)
- Apr 27 Helmut Marko, Austrian auto racer (24 Hours of Le Mans 1971), born in Graz, Austria
- Apr 28 Jacques Dutronc, French singer (Il est cinq heures, Paris s'éveille), born in Paris, France
- Apr 28 John Oliver Creighton, American NASA astronaut (STS 51G, 36, 48), born in Orange, Texas
- Apr 28 The Fantastic Johnny C [Johnny Corley], American singer ("Boogaloo Down Broadway"), born in Greenwood, South Carolina
- Apr 29 Austin Robertson Jr., Australian Football HOF forward (WANFL record 1211 goals Subiaco FC; South Melbourne; WA 10 games), born in Perth, Australia (d. 2023)
- Apr 29 Duane Allen, American country singer (Oak Ridge Boys - "Elvira"), born in Taylortown, Texas
Ian Kershaw (80 years old)
Apr 29 English historian (wrote seminal biographies of Adolf Hitler), born in Oldham, England
- Apr 30 Bob Livingston, American politician (Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Louisiana), born in Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Apr 30 Bobby Vee [Velline], American pop singer ("Devil Or Angel"; "Take Good Care Of My Baby"), born in Fargo, North Dakota (d. 2016)
- Apr 30 David King, British graphic designer (album cover art for Jimi Hendrix and The Who), photographer (I Am King), and historian (The Commissar Vanishes), born in Isleworth, England (d. 2016)
- Apr 30 Frederick Chiluba, 2nd President of Zambia (1991-2001), born in Kitwe, Northern Rhodesia (d. 2011)
Famous Weddings
John Glenn
Apr 6 US Marine Corps aviator and astronaut John Glenn (21) weds high school sweetheart Anna Margaret Castor
Peter Cushing
Apr 10 Actor Peter Cushing (29) weds actress Violet Helene Beck in London, England
Claire Trevor
Apr 17 Actress Claire Trevor (34) weds Navy lieutenant Cyclos William Dunsmoore in Tijuana, Mexico
Famous Deaths
- Apr 3 Conrad Veidt, German actor (Casablanca, Cabinet of Dr Calgary), dies from a heart attack at 50
- Apr 4 Hartzell "Tiny" Parham, American jazz pianist, theater organist, and bandleader, dies at 43
- Apr 4 Oskar Schlemmer, German painter, sculptor and choreographer (Triadisches Ballett), dies at 54
- Apr 4 Raoul Laparra, French composer, dies during a bombing raid in WWII at 66
- Apr 5 Aleš Hrdlička, Austro-Hungarian anthropologist and curator (US National Museum), dies at 74
- Apr 6 Jimmy Collins, American Baseball HOF 3rd baseman (World Series 1903 Boston Americans; NL HR leader 1898 Boston Beaneaters) and manager (Boston Americans 1901–06), dies at 73
- Apr 7 Alexandre Millerand, President of France (b. 1859)
- Apr 7 Jovan Dučić, Herzegovinian Serb poet (Blue Legends), dies at 72
- Apr 8 Paul Colin, Belgian journalist/collaborator, executed
Richard Sears (1861-1943)
Apr 8 American tennis player (US Nat C'ship 1881-87), dies at 81
- Apr 14 Asser B. Kleerekoper, Dutch journalist, translator, and politician (Second Chamber of Parliament- (SDAP), 1914-32), dies at 62
- Apr 14 Geoffrey Turton Shaw, English organist, composer, and educator, dies at 63
- Apr 15 Aristarkh Lentulov, Russian artist, dies at 61
- Apr 15 Raffaele Casimiri, Italian composer, and musicologist dies at 62
Isoroku Yamamoto (1884-1943)
Apr 18 Japanese World War II Japanese Imperial Navy Admiral and Commander-in-Chief of the combined fleet who led the attack on Pearl Harbor, killed in action at 59 by a US ambush after the "Magic" code-breaking team intercepted and decoded his flight plan
- Apr 19 Alexander Schmorell, German resistance fighter, beheaded
- Apr 19 Gustave Doret, Swiss composer, dies at 76
- Apr 19 Willy Graf, German resistance fighter, beheaded
- Apr 25 Vladimir Ivanovich Nemirovich-Danchenko, playwright/director, dies
- Apr 29 Joseph Achron, Lithuanian-American concert violinist and composer (Golem Suite), dies at 56
- Apr 29 Karl Adrian Wohlfart, Swedish composer, dies at 68
- Apr 29 Sidney Keyes, English poet (Foreign Gate), dies fighting during WWII at 20
- Apr 30 Beatrice Potter Webb, British sociologist, economist (founded London School of Economics) and writer (My Apprenticeship), dies at 85
- Apr 30 Etty Hillesum, Dutch diarist, dies in Auschwitz
- Apr 30 Leo Smit, Dutch composer, dies in Sobibór extermination camp at 42
- Apr 30 Otto Jespersen, Danish linguist, dies at 82
