Discover September 20 in history: the Waal crossing at Nijmegen, Paoli, Legio I Italica, Surveyor 2 and Magellan’s fleet departing Spain.
Tag: september 20
September 20, 1519 | Magellan’s Fleet Leaves Spain to Circle the World
On September 20, 1519, Magellan’s five ships sailed from Sanlúcar. One returned under Elcano after the first circumnavigation—a voyage of discovery, empire and survival.
September 20, 1966 | Surveyor 2 Launches for the Moon—and Begins to Fail
Surveyor 2 launched for the Moon on September 20, 1966. A single failed thruster sent the lander spinning, turning an Apollo precursor into an engineering lesson.
September 20, AD 66 | Legio I Italica Receives Its Eagle
On September 20, AD 66, Nero gave Legio I Italica its eagle and standards. The new legion’s planned eastern conquest never came—but its identity endured for centuries.
September 20, 1777 | The Battle of Paoli and the Making of a Massacre
On the night of September 20, 1777, British troops routed Anthony Wayne’s camp at Paoli. The battle’s violence—and the politics of memory—made it a Patriot rallying cry.
September 20, 1944 | The Waal Crossing and the Liberation of Nijmegen
On September 20, 1944, U.S. paratroopers crossed the Waal under fire and captured Nijmegen’s bridges—a tactical victory inside Operation Market Garden’s larger failure.
September 20 | Festival of King Amenhotep I – Theban Valley Celebrations
On September 20, the ancient Egyptians celebrated the Festival of King Amenhotep I in the Theban Valley. Honoring the deified pharaoh, the event featured offerings, processions, and devotion from the necropolis workers of Deir el-Medina.
September 20, 1973 | Billie Jean King – The Battle of the Sexes in the Houston Astrodome
On September 20, 1973, Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs in the “Battle of the Sexes.” Watched by 90 million people, her straight-sets win became a defining moment for gender equality in sports and beyond.
September 20, 1989 | USAir Flight 5050 – The LaGuardia Airport Runway Crash
On September 20, 1989, USAir Flight 5050 crashed during takeoff at LaGuardia Airport, overrunning the runway into Bowery Bay. Two passengers died, and the tragedy exposed critical flaws in cockpit coordination and training.