What Happened on July 27

War Desk

1942 — Auchinleck Holds Axis at El Alamein

Eighth Army halts Axis advance 106 kilometers (66 miles) from Alexandria, but counter-attacks fail and offensive is halted for rebuilding

EL ALAMEIN, Egypt, July 27 — General Claude Auchinleck has halted the Axis invasion of Egypt at the First Battle of El Alamein, blocking the road to the Nile Delta after weeks of retreat.

Taking direct command of the Eighth Army on June 25, Auchinleck relieved Lieutenant-General Neil Ritchie and steadied the battered force just 106 kilometers (66 miles) from Alexandria. The front now rests on a narrow gap between the sea and the Qattara Depression, an impassable salt marsh 40 miles (64 kilometers) south of El Alamein.

The desert terrain funnels any attack into a frontal assault, and Axis positions have been held through July. British artillery has fired night after night into the enemy lines. But Eighth Army counter-attacks this month failed, and Auchinleck tonight called them off at the end of July to rebuild his strength.

The battle, which began July 1, has cost both sides heavily. The fighting is not over; the guns along this line are still hot. Yet the Axis drive on Egypt has been stopped, and the Suez Canal is no longer under immediate threat.

• The First Battle of El Alamein (1–27 July 1942) halted the Axis advance into Egypt.
• Axis positions near El Alamein were only 106 km (66 mi) from Alexandria.
• General Claude Auchinleck relieved Lieutenant-General Neil Ritchie and assumed direct command of the Eighth Army on 25 June 1942.
• The Qattara Depression, 40 mi (64 km) south of El Alamein, was impassable, forcing any attack to be frontal.
• Eighth Army counter-attacks in July 1942 failed, and Auchinleck called off attacks at the end of July to rebuild.

Foreign Desk

1953 — Korean Armistice Signed; Fighting Ends

Ceasefire at 22:00 today; DMZ created near 38th parallel.

PANMUNJOM, July 27 — The Korean War armistice was signed today, ending three years of fighting. The ceasefire takes effect at 22:00 local time, establishing a 4-kilometer-wide (2.5-mile) demilitarized zone near the 38th parallel. Signatories included Lieutenant General William Harrison Jr. and General Mark W. Clark for the UN Command, Kim Il Sung and General Nam Il for the Korean People's Army, and Peng Dehuai for the Chinese People's Volunteers. The DMZ has since separated North and South Korea.

• The armistice was signed by Lieutenant General William Harrison Jr. and General Mark W. Clark for the UNC, Kim Il Sung and General Nam Il for the KPA, and Peng Dehuai for the PVA.
• The armistice came into force at 22:00 local time on 27 July 1953, establishing the Korean Demilitarized Zone near the 38th parallel.
• South Korea never signed the Armistice Agreement due to President Syngman Rhee's refusal to accept failing to unify Korea by force.
• The armistice established a ceasefire and finalized repatriation of prisoners of war, with a Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission chaired by Indian General K. S. Thimayya.
• The DMZ, a buffer zone intersecting the 38th parallel, has separated North and South Korea since the armistice was signed.

Music Beat

1983 — Madonna's Debut Album Out Today on Sire

Self-titled LP sets dance-pop standard

NEW YORK, July 27 — Madonna's self-titled debut album is released today by Sire Records, setting the standard for dance-pop. Produced with Reggie Lucas and remixed by John "Jellybean" Benitez, it has spawned five singles: "Everybody," "Burning Up," "Holiday," "Lucky Star," and "Borderline."

• Madonna's debut album was released on July 27, 1983, by Sire Records.
• The album peaked at number eight on the Billboard 200 and was certified five-times platinum by the RIAA.
• Five singles were released from the album: 'Everybody', 'Burning Up', 'Holiday', 'Lucky Star', and 'Borderline'.
• Madonna worked with producer Reggie Lucas, but later brought in John 'Jellybean' Benitez to remix the album.
• The album has sold an estimated 10 million copies worldwide.

Chronicle

1214 — King Philip Triumphs at Bouvines

King Philip II wins a decisive victory at Bouvines.

BOULOGNE, July 27 — On a Sunday when none expected battle, King Philip II of France won a decisive victory at Bouvines, near a bridge on a tributary of the River Lys. Philip was unhorsed by Flemish pikemen, saved only by his mail armor. Otto IV fled.

• The Battle of Bouvines was fought on 27 July 1214 near the bridge at Bouvines on a tributary of the River Lys.
• Philip II's army numbered about 7,000 troops, while the allied forces had around 9,000.
• Philip was unhorsed by Flemish pikemen and saved only by his mail armor.
• Otto IV was carried off the field by his wounded and terrified horse, causing the allied rout.
• The Count of Flanders was severely wounded and taken prisoner during the battle.

Foreign Desk

1955 — Austria Free Again as Occupation Pact Takes Force

Allied troops to quit by October; Vienna pledges perpetual neutrality.

VIENNA, July 27 — Austria is once more a sovereign nation. The Austrian State Treaty came into force today, formally ending the Allied occupation that has divided the country since 1945. Signed May 15 at the Schloss Belvedere by the Allied powers and Austria, the pact re-establishes an independent, democratic republic. Full freedom is not yet complete; the last occupation troops will leave Austria on October 25. In return, Austria has promised perpetual neutrality, forswearing military alliances and foreign bases on its soil. The agreement’s full title: 'Treaty for the re-establishment of an independent and democratic Austria, signed in Vienna on 15 May 1955.'

• The Austrian State Treaty was signed on 15 May 1955 in Vienna at the Schloss Belvedere by the Allied powers and Austria.
• The treaty officially came into force on 27 July 1955.
• The last Allied occupation troops left Austria on 25 October 1955 after the treaty.
• Austria promised perpetual neutrality, never joining military alliances or allowing foreign bases.
• The treaty's full title is 'Treaty for the re-establishment of an independent and democratic Austria, signed in Vienna on 15 May 1955'.

Metropolitan News

1919 — Chicago Race War Toll Rises; 38 Dead, 500 Hurt

South Side Beach slaying ignites thirteen days of rioting.

CHICAGO, July 27 — The long, hot summer of 1919 has reached its bloody climax. A race riot, begun when a Negro youth was stoned and drowned at a South Side beach, has left 38 dead and 537 injured, with fires and looting spreading across the city.

• The Chicago race riot began on July 27, 1919, when black youth Eugene Williams was stoned and drowned for swimming in a whites-only area.
• Chicago police refused to take action against the attackers, prompting 13 days of violence from young black men.
• The riot resulted in 38 deaths and extensive property damage across Chicago.
• White mobs during the riots were led by the ethnic Irish.
• A federal official told The New York Times that the violence stemmed from agitation by the I.W.W., Bolshevism, and radical movements.

Caribbean Desk

1990 — Abu Bakr's Coup Collapses After Six-Day Siege

Yasin Abu Bakr announced the overthrow of Trinidad and Tobago's government, then surrendered five days later.

PORT OF SPAIN, July 27 — Yasin Abu Bakr, leader of the radical Jamaat al Muslimeen, announced the overthrow of Trinidad and Tobago's government, then surrendered five days later. The siege left 24 dead before Abu Bakr and 114 followers surrendered under a pardon.

• Forty-two insurgents stormed the parliament, taking Prime Minister A.N.R. Robinson and most of his staff hostage.
• Seventy-two insurgents stormed a local police station at 6:00 PM as leader Yasin Abu Bakr announced the government was overthrown.
• The coup attempt lasted six days, with 24 people killed during the siege.
• Abu Bakr and 114 followers were granted presidential pardons, later retracted, but no one served jail time.

Aviation

1949 — Comet Jet Airliner Flies

First production jet transport soars for 31 minutes over Hatfield.

LONDON, July 27 — The world's first commercial jet airliner, the de Havilland Comet, made its maiden flight today. Chief test pilot John 'Cats Eyes' Cunningham, the famed night-fighter ace, kept the four-engined aircraft aloft for 31 minutes from Hatfield Aerodrome.

• The de Havilland Comet prototype's maiden flight took place on 27 July 1949 from Hatfield Aerodrome and lasted 31 minutes.
• At the controls was de Havilland chief test pilot John 'Cats Eyes' Cunningham, a famous night-fighter pilot of World War II.
• The Comet was the world's first commercial jet airliner, featuring four de Havilland Ghost turbojet engines in the wing roots.
• The prototype was registered G-ALVG just before being publicly displayed at the 1949 Farnborough Airshow.

Aviation Desk

1943 — Colonel Pilots First Plane Into Hurricane, Flies Through Eye Off Texas

Army Air Forces officer makes daring storm flight with British pilots' challenge as goad.

BRYAN, Texas, July 27 — Col. Joe Duckworth, a United States Army Air Forces pilot, flew his AT-6 Texan trainer into the heart of the Surprise Hurricane today, making the first reconnaissance flight into a storm of its kind.

Duckworth accepted a bet from British pilots that he could not do it, and succeeded. Lt. Col. Ralph O'Hair went along; the two became the first hurricane hunters. O'Hair said the ride was "like being tossed about like a stick in a dog's mouth."

The pair flew without permission, believing headquarters would reject the mission.

• Colonel Joe Duckworth bet British pilots he could fly his AT-6 Texan trainer into the hurricane and succeeded.
• Lt. Colonel Ralph O'Hair accompanied Duckworth, and together they became the first hurricane hunters.
• O'Hair compared the flight to 'being tossed about like a stick in a dog's mouth.'
• The reconnaissance flight observed an eye feature with a width of 9–10 miles.
• Duckworth and O'Hair flew without permission, believing headquarters would not approve the mission.

Foreign Desk

1955 — Bulgarian Jets Down Israeli Airliner; 58 Dead

Lockheed Constellation shot down over Petrich in second fatal shooting of civilian plane.

TEL AVIV, July 27 — The wreckage of an El Al airliner lies scattered near Petrich, Bulgaria, tonight, after two MiG-15 fighters shot the plane down when it strayed into Bulgarian airspace. All 58 persons aboard were killed.

The aircraft, a Lockheed Constellation registered 4X-AKC, was operating Flight 402 from London to Tel Aviv. It had left Vienna at 2:53 a.m. and was told to stay on Amber 10 airway over Yugoslavia and Greece. It was the deadliest Constellation crash to date, claiming 7 crew and 51 passengers. The incident deepens East-West tension, already high.

• The Lockheed Constellation, registered 4X-AKC, operated El Al Flight 402 from London to Tel Aviv via Vienna and Istanbul.
• On 27 July 1955, the flight strayed into Bulgarian airspace and was attacked by two Bulgarian MiG-15 jet fighters.
• The airliner crashed near Petrich, killing all 7 crew and 51 passengers on board.
• It was the deadliest crash involving a Lockheed Constellation up to that time.
• The flight had departed Vienna at 02:53 and was instructed to stay on the Amber 10 airway over Yugoslavia and Greece.