Today in History

Today is Saturday, Jan. 27, the 27th day of 2018. There are 338 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On Jan. 27, 1943, some 50 bombers struck Wilhelmshaven in the first all-American air raid against Germany during World War II.

On this date:

In 1756, composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Salzburg, Austria.

In 1880, Thomas Edison received a patent for his electric incandescent lamp.

In 1888, the National Geographic Society was incorporated in Washington, D.C.

In 1901, opera composer Giuseppe Verdi died in Milan, Italy, at age 87.

In 1913, the musical play "The Isle O' Dreams," featuring the song "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling" by Ernest R. Ball, Chauncey Olcott and George Graff Jr., opened in New York.

In 1945, during World War II, Soviet troops liberated the Nazi concentration camps Auschwitz and Birkenau in Poland.

In 1951, an era of atomic testing in the Nevada desert began as an Air Force plane dropped a one-kiloton bomb on Frenchman Flat.

In 1967, astronauts Virgil I. "Gus" Grissom, Edward H. White and Roger B. Chaffee died in a flash fire during a test aboard their Apollo spacecraft. More than 60 nations signed a treaty banning the deploying of nuclear weapons in outer space.

In 1973, the Vietnam peace accords were signed in Paris.

In 1984, singer Michael Jackson suffered serious burns to his scalp when pyrotechnics set his hair on fire during the filming of a Pepsi-Cola TV commercial at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

In 1998, first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, on NBC's "Today" show, charged the sexual misconduct allegations against her husband, President Bill Clinton, were the work of a "vast right-wing conspiracy."

In 2001, 10 people were killed when a plane bringing people home from Oklahoma State University's basketball game against Colorado crashed in a field outside Denver.

Ten years ago: Former Indonesian president Suharto, a U.S. Cold War ally whose military regime killed hundreds of thousands of left-wing opponents, died in Jakarta at age 86. Gordon B. Hinckley, the 15th president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, died in Salt Lake City, Utah, at age 97. Novak Djokovic fended off unseeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (2) in the Australian Open final, earning his first Grand Slam title. Evan Lysacek won his second straight title at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Five years ago: Flames raced through a crowded nightclub in southern Brazil, killing 242 people. The NFC blew past the AFC 62-35 in the Pro Bowl. Novak Djokovic beat Andy Murray 6-7 (2), 7-6 (3), 6-3, 6-2 to become the first man in the Open era to win three consecutive Australian Open titles. Max Aaron won his first title at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Omaha, Nebraska.

One year ago: President Donald Trump barred all refugees from entering the United States for four months -- and those from war-ravaged Syria indefinitely -- declaring the ban necessary to prevent "radical Islamic terrorists" from entering the nation. The politically ascendant anti-abortion movement gathered for a triumphant rally on the National Mall, rejoicing at the end of an eight-year Obama presidency that participants said was dismissive of their views. French actress Emmanuelle Riva ("Hiroshima Mon Amour") died in Paris at age 89.

Today's Birthdays: Actor James Cromwell is 78. Actor John Witherspoon is 76. Rock musician Nick Mason (Pink Floyd) is 74. Rhythm-and-blues singer Nedra Talley (The Ronettes) is 72. Ballet star Mikhail Baryshnikov is 70. Latin singer-songwriter Djavan is 69. Political commentator Ed Schultz is 64. Chief U.S. Justice John Roberts is 63. Country singer Cheryl White is 63. Country singer-musician Richard Young (The Kentucky Headhunters) is 63. Actress Mimi Rogers is 62. Rock musician Janick Gers (Iron Maiden) is 61. Actress Susanna Thompson is 60. Political and sports commentator Keith Olbermann is 59. Rock singer Margo Timmins (Cowboy Junkies) is 57. Rock musician Gillian Gilbert is 57. Actress Tamlyn Tomita is 55. Actress Bridget Fonda is 54. Actor Alan Cumming is 53. Country singer Tracy Lawrence is 50. Rock singer Mike Patton is 50. Rapper Tricky is 50. Rock musician Michael Kulas (James) is 49. Actor-comedian Patton Oswalt is 49. Actor Josh Randall is 46. Country singer Kevin Denney is 40. Tennis player Marat Safin is 38. Neo-soul musician Andrew Lee (St. Paul & the Broken Bones) is 32. Rock musician Matt Sanchez (American Authors) is 32. Actor Braeden Lemasters is 22.

Thought for Today: "Who never doubted, never half believed. Where doubt is, there truth is -- it is her shadow." -- Gamaliel Bailey, American abolitionist (1807-1859).