“A president either is constantly on top of events or, if he hesitates, events will soon be on top of him. I never felt that I could let up for a moment.” – Harry S. Truman
Events • 6.75 Richter scale earthquake in Ecuador kills 6,000 and destroys 50 towns • Soviet
1949 Woody • Berlin Airlift officially comes to an end on May 12th • The Communist People’s Republic of China is proclaimed under Mao Tse Tung. • Republic of China / Taiwan on the island of Formosa comes into being following
1949 Lincoln
Union tests its fi rst atomic bomb • North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) established • Federal Republic of Germany officially founded • Indonesia gains its independence from Netherlands
the defeat by Mao Tse Tung • The Geneva Convention is agreed providing an agreement on the treat-
1949 Ford
ment of prisoners • RCA perfects a system for broadcasting color television • First Polaroid camera sold for $89.95 • President Harry S. Truman authorizes $16 million in aid for Palestinian refugees • The Emmy Awards fi rst presented • First Volkswagen Beetle sold in the U.S. • The fi rst car with a Porsche badge is shown at the International Automobile Show in Geneva (Porsche 356) • De-Havilland Comet. fi rst commercial passenger jet airliner, test fl ight • Apartheid made official policy of National party in South Africa
• Newfoundland joins Canada Confederation • NBA comes into being
Technology • The fi rst automatic street lights are installed in New Milford, Connecticut • 45 rpm record introduced • The world’s fi rst commercially available computer, “The Ferranti Mark 1” is released
1949 Vespa
“. . . if I had it to do over again, there is one thing I would change. I would make it (success) happen maybe ten years sooner. Ten years is a good stretch of scuffling. But I scuffled for 17 years before it happened and 17 is a bit much.” – Frankie Laine 36 May 15, 2012 THE MILITARY PRESS
1949 Mercury
Cost of living Average cost of new house $7,450 1949 Oldsmobile Average wages per year $2,950 Cost of a gallon of gas 17 cents Average cost of a new car $1,420 Minimum hourly wage 70 cents per hour Bacon per pound 50 cents Kitchen table and chairs $100
Popular Culture • George Orwell’s book “1984” is published • 45 rpm discs are introduced • “A Your Adorable” by Perry Como • “Mule Train” by Frankie Laine
• Twelve O’Clock High • Frank Sinatra stars in “On The Town” with Gene Kelly • Rodgers and Hammerstein debut the musical “South Pacific” on Broadway
1949 Kurtis
Chip: Gee, Gabey, why d’ya wanna chase girls all the time? Gabey: I’ll tell ya when your voice changes, junior. For advertising information, call (858) 537-2280
May 15, 2012 THE MILITARY PRESS 37