On this day: June 14
Man Survives Separate Bear and Mountain Lion Attacks in One Day
On June 14, 2014, a man in Montana survived two separate predatory attacks — first evading a grizzly bear and later being mauled by a mountain lion — sustaining injuries that required hospitalization but not fatal harm.
U.S. stages its largest peacetime military exercise on June 14, 1982
On June 14, 1982, the United States launched what was reported as its largest peacetime military exercise, involving tens of thousands of personnel, extensive naval and air components, and multinational participation intended to test readiness and strategic coordination during the Cold War.
Early Reported Case of a Cult Leader Declaring Divine Status (June 14, 1951)
On June 14, 1951, records describe an instance in which a group leader publicly proclaimed himself divine, an early postwar example of charismatic authority shifting into claims of divine rank. Contemporary accounts vary on details and context, and historians treat the episode as part of broader mid-20th-century religious and social movements rather than a singular origin point.
Crash of the de Havilland Comet: first commercial jet disaster kills passengers
On June 14, 1954, a de Havilland Comet operated by BOAC broke apart and crashed near Naples, killing all aboard; the accident was the first fatal crash of a commercial jetliner and led to major changes in aircraft design and investigation methods.
1884 Exposure Reveals Widespread Food Adulteration in Britain
On June 14, 1884, investigative reporting and chemical analysis brought to light systematic adulteration of staple foods—milk, bread, beer and condiments—prompting public outcry and accelerating calls for regulatory reform.
Pioneering Facial Reconstruction Surgery Performed in 1917
On June 14, 1917, surgeons performed one of the first widely documented successful facial reconstruction operations on a British soldier wounded in World War I, marking an important milestone in reconstructive surgery amid wartime necessity.
Thousands Flee Rwanda as Genocide Intensifies
In mid-June 1994, the mass killings and targeted violence in Rwanda accelerated, forcing tens of thousands of civilians to flee their homes across the country and into neighboring states amid collapsing order and limited international intervention.
Early documented outbreak of foodborne illness reported in 1883
On June 14, 1883, physicians in Germany recorded an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis linked to contaminated canned food — one of the earliest recognized incidents of modern food poisoning tied to industrial food preservation.
Rangers End 54-Year Stanley Cup Drought With 1994 Victory
On June 14, 1994, the New York Rangers captured the Stanley Cup, their first championship since 1940, ending a 54-year title drought that had been a defining narrative of the franchise and its fans.
Investigators Identify Suspects in Pan Am Flight 103 Bombing
On June 14, 1991, investigators announced that evidence pointed to Libyan intelligence involvement and identified suspects tied to the December 21, 1988, bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland.