› added 5 years ago

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TIL that in 1956 the USAF used interceptors armed only with unguided rockets to try and shoot down a runaway target drone. All 208 rockets missed, starting bush fires as well as hitting buildings and cars in a nearby town. In total over 1,000 acres of land was burnt but there were no fatalities.

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b6Md9 TIL Abe Vigoda, who played Salvatore Tessio in the Godfather, was not mentioned during the In Memoriam segment at the Oscars after he died.
e0rbD TIL only 5 films have won the Academy Award for Best Picture without being nominated for Best Director. The Green Book (2018) Argo (2012), Driving Miss Daisy (1989), Grand Hotel (1932), and Wings (1927).
5V95B TIL Belgium is the only country in the world that flies an unconstitutional flag. The flag should be red, yellow and black, but in practice the order is reversed. Nobody has bothered correcting the constitution.
xm9D TIL in 1975 a Missouri construction worker heard of a device pitched to the US Army that would steer the rear wheels of a vehicle if the front axle broke. He modified it to work permanently and installed it on his 1974 Ford F-250, called it ‘Bigfoot’, and thus created the monster truck.
0wwOR TIL that in 1995 authorities of the People's Republic of China abducted the 6 year old Panchen Lama of Tibet, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima. He has not been seen or heard from since.