Top 5 Historical Events on May 4
As we progress through the month of May, let’s explore the top 5 events that happened on May 4 throughout history. These remarkable moments have left a lasting impact on our world.
1. The First Successful Flight of the Wright Flyer (1904)
The Wright brothers reached a major accomplishment on May 4, 1904, when they successfully flew the Wright Flyer II for the first time near Huffman Prairie, east of Dayton, Ohio. This was a major leap from their first attempts in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, on December 17, 1903. The Kitty Hawk flights had shown that powered flight was possible, but the tests in Dayton, Ohio, established positive control and supplied the information and hands-on practice necessary for the perfection of the principles of flight control that were absolutely fundamental in the succeeding years of aviation.
Based on the lessons they had learned from their earlier experiments, the Wrights made numerous improvements on the Wright Flyer for its successor. Key among these changes were enhancements to the stability and control systems. Pilots of the new aircraft could fly longer and had the ability to make turns, rates of climb, and descents as they desired. On this day, Orville and Wilbur began to master the complex mechanics of controlling a powered airplane directly, as a pilot would understood the term, thereby launching the era of Modern Aviation. The success of the Wright Flyer II in 1904 was an important step toward the development of the first practical airplane. The years of work that had preceded this flight would culminate in the creation of the Wright Flyer III the following year which has the place in History as the world’s first practical aircraft.
2. The Kent State Shootings (1970)
The Kent State shootings, a tragic and pivotal moment in American history, took place May 4, 1970 on the campus of Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. Demonstrating against the United States’ invasion of Cambodia during the Vietnam War, students and protestors gathered for a mass protest. Ohio National Guard members, armed with rifles, opened fire on unarmed college students. As a result of this incident, four students died of their injuries, and nine others were injured for life.
The young learners at Kent State were just a little piece of the overall wave of college campus protests that swept the entire nation expressing their dissent against the Vietnam War when it expanded into Cambodia. The situation there had escalated over several days, ending finally with the state’s governor calling in the National Guard to make peace. Tensions reached a fever pitch on May 4, when Guardsmen fired into the unarmed crowd, killing four and fueling national outrage.
Following the shootings, a nationwide student strike quickly unfolded, in turn pressuring scores of colleges and universities to close down with campus demonstrations. The crisis at Kent State radically reformed the American public’s sentiment toward the U.S. participation in Vietnam, and emerged as a representation of the profound political and social discord of the period. The words “Four Dead in Ohio,” forever enshrined in the song “Ohio” by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, became a chorus of protest against the war and a permanent prompt of the fateful episodes of May 4, 1970.
3. The Birth of Audrey Hepburn (1929)
On May 4th of 1929, Audrey Hepburn was born in the capital of Belgium, Brussels. Throughout the twentieth century, not only did she become one of the most loved and iconic actresses but as well as a philanthropist. Hepburn was a plus in the beauty department, but what makes her so unforgettable are the elegance and grace. During Audrey’s childhood, World War II happened. Therefore, she encountered many suffering and that experience made her pledge her life to UNICEF and was forever known as a philanthropist.
Hepburn’s movie profession flourished within the 1950s and 1960s, characterised by performances that showcased her vary and depth as an actress. She featured in a mix of roles which have since develop into classics, together with the captivating and vivacious Holly Golightly in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” the regal Princess Ann in “Roman Holiday”—for which she received an Academy Award for Greatest Actress—and the spellbinding Eliza Doolittle in “My Truthful Girl.” Her singular mixture of vulnerability and energy, coupled together with her refined presence, made her a staple with each audiences and critics.
In addition to her accomplishments in film, Hepburn’s legacy also includes her extensive work as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF, where she spent much of her later life helping impoverished children in the most desperate parts of the world.
Born on May 4, 1929, Audrey Hepburn was a legendary British actress and humanitarian. Known for her iconic roles in films like “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” and “Roman Holiday,” Hepburn’s timeless elegance and philanthropic work continue to inspire generations.
4. The Battle of the Coral Sea (1942)
The Battle of the Coral Sea occurred from May 4-8, 1942, and was one of the most significant of the war in the Pacific theater. This battle was the first in which Japanese ships did not sight American ships, and vice versa. The engagement took place between aircraft launched from carriers, and was fought by air. The forces involved were the United States Navy and Air Force, and the Imperial Is Japanese Navy.
The conflict developed as part of a Japanese attempt to capture Port Moresby in New Guinea, which would have handed Japan command of the seas north of Australia and isolated Australia from allied assistance. In response, American and Australian forces cooperated to intercept the Japanese fleet in the Coral Sea. The battle was distinguished by several days of heavy air fighting, which both sides inflicted severe damage on each other. The U.S. aircraft carrier Lexington was sunk, and the USS Yorktown took heavy damage, while the Japanese carrier Shōkaku was heavily damaged, and the light carrier Shōhō was sunk.
Though a tactical draw, the Battle of the Coral Sea was a strategic win for the Allies—it stopped the Japanese sea advance on Port Moresby, saving an important Allied base and keeping supply lines to Australia open. This battle also made the Battle of Midway, about a month later and even bigger, even more decisively an American win, further shifting the balance of naval power in the Pacific from the Japanese to the Americans.
5. The Birth of Randy Travis (1959)
Randy Travis, born May 4, 1959 in Marshville, North Carolina, was one of the most influential figures in country music. With his unique baritone voice and traditional style, Travis was instrumental in restoring country music’s roots during the 1980s and moving away from the pop-country fusion that had dominated the genre.
Travis had his breakthrough with his 1986 album “Storms of Life,” an album which sold millions of copies and put out hit singles like “On the Other Hand” and “Diggin’ Up Bones.” His music resonated with fans in a deep way, not just because it sounded good, but because Travis wrote lyrics that explored themes such as love, redemption, and heartbreak. Over his career, Randy Travis won several awards, including many Grammy Awards, and in 2016 was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Travis has contributed a ton to country music, showing a whole generation of musicians the value of honoring tradition country sounds. Health issues which have made it hard for him to perform over the past few years, hasn’t stopped Travis from being an idol and a legend in the music business, someone who changed his genre.
