1939

The foreign ministers of Germany and Italy, Joachim von Ribbentrop and Galeazzo Ciano, signed a “Pact of Steel” committing their two countries to a military and political alliance.

1960

The strongest earthquake recorded struck southern Chile. The magnitude 9.5 quake claimed 1,655 lives, left 2 million homeless and triggered a tsunami responsible for over 230 additional deaths.

1962

Continental Airlines Flight 11, en route from Chicago to Kansas City, Missouri, crashed near Unionville, Missouri, after a passenger ignited dynamite on board the plane, killing all 45 occupants of the Boeing 707.

1985

U.S. sailor Michael L. Walker was arrested aboard the aircraft carrier Nimitz, two days after his father, John A. Walker Jr., was apprehended by the FBI; both were later convicted of spying for the Soviet Union.

1992

After a reign lasting nearly 30 years, Johnny Carson hosted his final episode of NBC’s “Tonight Show.”

Birthdays

Actor-filmmaker Richard Benjamin is 87. Songwriter Bernie Taupin is 75. Singer Morrissey is 66. Singer Johnny Gill is 59. Actor Brooke Smith is 58. Model Naomi Campbell is 55. Actor Sean Gunn is 51. Actor Ginnifer Goodwin is 47. Actor Maggie Q is 46. Tennis player Novak Djokovic is 38.