/f/todayilearned
TIL British Airways Flight 9 flew through a cloud of volcanic ash causing all four engines to stop. Captain Eric Moody told the passengers that, “We have a small problem. All four engines have stopped. We are all doing our damnedest to get them going again. I trust you are not in too much distress.”
theaviationgeekclub.comSubmitted by Firesondiego t3_yok1a0
TIL In 1943, a Luftwaffe pilot came across a crippled B-17 trying to make it home after a bomb run. Instead of shooting it down, the German pilot escorted it home. The pilots met up 50 years later and became friends, and both died within a few months of each other
en.wikipedia.orgSubmitted by Free-Permit-1188 t3_yog3fc
TIL that in 1518, in the small French town of Strasbourg, a young woman named Frau Troffea started dancing uncontrollably in the street. Her dancing continued for days & on the 3rd day, her shoes were soaked with blood. She attracted 30+ people to join her, which catalyzed the Dancing Plague of 1518
en.wikipedia.orgSubmitted by DilankaMcLovin t3_yo8976
Submitted by SlowShoes t3_ynto5d
TIL in 1987, Arizona governor Evan Mecham revoked the executive order recognizing MLK Day in the state. He told black organizers "You folks don't need another holiday. What you folks need are jobs." Then an awkwardly-worded ballot to recognize the holiday failed, so the NFL moved SB 27 out of Tempe.
en.wikipedia.orgSubmitted by R4G t3_yn1ymv
TIL that when he was 27 years old, Grover Cleveland met Frances Folsom, the infant daughter of his good friend Oscar Folsom. When Oscar died in 1875, Cleveland became Frances's guardian. Ultimately, the two married in 1886; Cleveland was 49 and Folsom was 21.
en.wikipedia.orgSubmitted by FranklinDRoosevelt32 t3_ym082d
TIL about millionaire Wellington Burt, who died in 1919 and deliberately held back his enormous fortune. His will denied any inheritance until 21 years after the death of his last surviving grandchild. The money sat in a trust for 92 years, until 12 descendants finally shared $110 million in 2011.
theguardian.comSubmitted by bfm211 t3_ylitvu