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27 December
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1965: Sea Gem oil rig collapses
Four men are dead and nine are still missing after Britain's first North Sea drilling rig capsizes.
1985: Gunmen kill 16 at two European airports
At least 16 people are killed and more than 100 injured during twin terrorist attacks in Rome and Vienna.
1997: Loyalist leader murdered in prison
A leading protestant paramilitary, Billy Wright, is shot dead at the maximum security Maze prison in Northern Ireland.
1977: Star Wars fever hits Britain
Thousands of people flock to UK cinemas to watch the long-awaited blockbuster, Star Wars.
2004: Yushchenko wins Ukraine election re-run
Ukraine's "orange revolutionaries" celebrate as opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko is declared winner of the presidential election.
1960: France explodes third atomic bomb
The French move a step closer to developing a compact nuclear bomb after a third test in the Sahara desert.
Around this Day
24 December
Top Story
1962: Bay of Pigs prisoners fly to freedom
25 December
Top Story
1989: Romania's 'first couple' executed
26 December
Top Story
2004: Thousands die in Asian tsunami
28 December
Top Story
1980: Green light for breakfast television
29 December
Top Story
1998: Six die as huge waves smash into yachts
30 December
Top Story
1994: Gunman kills two women at abortion clinic
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World War II - 1939 to 1945
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A compilation of key stories as they broke throughout the war
Headlines delivered to your desktop - find out about RSS 
Articles, biographies and multimedia on historical events
Find out what Radio 4 has to offer history lovers