Bloody hell. I got through the site early yesterday for various reasons then was busy with other things and then there's this post and 2-3 pages of discussion. Anyway trying to catch up and comments below.
1966
January
January 1: The reverberations of the revelation of the interstellar signal echo around the world, preoccupying governments and civil society alike and leading to a number of spontaneous public meetings in several countries by more excitable elements. Notable astronomers and space scientists are sought after for comment and explanation by myriad press agencies and most decry any immediate thought of full contact or threat. By the end of the day, the governments of the great powers issue a statement through the League of Nations that they will coordinate with each other on an appropriate response. - Well that should definitely be the news of the decade, if not the century, in part for reasons already discussed. Even concern that those aliens are more advanced, let alone either evidience of that or that their heading this way would really put the cat among the pigeons.
January 3: Independence of the Upper Volta from France. - this is a few years later than OTL which probably reflexes the greater duration of the European empires here.
January 4: Orion 4 reaches the fastest recorded speed achieved by an Earthly vessel as it forges out for the Jovian system, arousing an extra level of interest due to the most recent developments. - most definitely the case. Albeit that something for the exploration of the outer solar system is still somewhat less advanced than any inter-stellar vessel. Unless of course the latter is say a generation ship that has seen serious decay during its travel or was a desperate escape mission, from a dying world.
January 5: First transmission of electricity from the new nuclear power station on Philip Island, Victoria, Australia. - Fron a quick look on wiki this is something that didn't occur OTL.
January 6: The US Coast Guard rescue the crew and passengers of a cruising schooner near Bimini; in the process, they observe what appear to be the submerged ruins of large stone buildings.
January 8: South Vietnamese and French forces launch a new offensive sweep against Viet Cong base areas in the Mekong Delta, supported by Marine Royale carrier aircraft. - I had forgotten but assuming its still French forces providing most of the support for the south here although as mentioned elsewhere the US and the British commonwealth having roles.
January 10: Very heavy rains lead to the largest flooding in Brazilian history, causing mudslides that sweep away entire neighbourhoods in Rio de Janeiro. - Hope this didn't happen OTL but could be a distinct possibility.
January 11: Conclusion of the quarantine of the village of Barwell in accordance with the Midwich Protocol. - Oh S**t!! I wonder how this will work out not to mention the existence of such protocols suggests its happened before.
January 14: Debut of Batman on ABC, a semi-fictionalised action comedy based on the activities of certain caped superheroes from Gotham City, NJ. -
January 15: Combat debut of a new Soviet jet fighter over North Vietnam flown by Soviet “volunteers”, shooting down 6 USAF F-4 Phantoms. - Now that could be a nasty escalation, as well as an unpleasant shock for the USAF.
January 16: Communist sympathising Bolivian Army units launch a series of attacks on loyalist camps, supported by KGB advisors. A separate insurgency supported by Chinese agents has been ongoing since 1964. - Sounds very messy here. It was in Bolivia that Che Guevara died although that wasn't until 67 OTL so sounds like probably not greatly similar to OTL. Other than having a Chinese imperial dynasty supporting communism, albeit in a distant foreign country. Not a very wise move at all.
January 17: A USAF B-52 collides with a KC-135 over Palomares, Spain, accidentally releasing four B-41 hydrogen bombs. - Well OTL dropped 4 bombs, three on land and one into the sea, which I think was never located. Sounds like OTL.
January 19: An expedition lead by an intrepid young Belgian explorer locates Michael Rockefeller in Western New Guinea. - Interesting as checking he was killed in the region in 1961 so still alive and suspect he will find something? Also that he's referred to as Belgium. Does that mean no Nelson Rockefeller in US politics?
January 20: Formal establishment of the South Pacific Federation, a union of the British colonies of Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Nauru, Rarotonga, the New Hebrides, the Solomon Islands, the Union Islands, Savage Island, the Phoenix Islands and the Gilbert and Ellice Islands. - Sounds interesting if they can hold it together. Checking through rather to my surprise all those exist and were either British or NZ territories OTL.
January 23: Esso places orders for four very large supertankers with Armstrong-Whitworth, Swan Hunter, Palmers and Hawthorn Leslie. This is seen as one of the most prominent signs thus far of the success of the regional industrial development strategy championed by the Barton Labour government, with Anglo-Saxon Petroleum and British Oil in discussions with shipyards on Merseyside and Clydeside. - Well the Britosh shipyards seem in markedly better condition than OTL. Don't know if those two companies existed OTL and the 1st sounds like an alternative to OTL Shell?
January 24: Colonial authorities on Easter Island report that several new huge moai statues have appeared overnight, whilst others seem to have moved. - Again fits in with the mystersism of the DE universe.
January 25: A USAF SR-71 crashes during a training flight over New Mexico; both pilots survive the accident and ejection, safely parachuting to the ground. - Not reported OTL but probably won't have been anyway.
January 26: A man is arrested in Glenelg, Adelaide for the attempted kidnapping of three small children. - Well better than OTL when they disappeared.
January 28: British and Indian Army forces launch a series of raids on rebel forces in Burma supported by RAF bombers from aerodromes in Malaya. - Any reason why the air support is coming from Malaya rather than India? Unless their operating in the southern tail of Burma I would have thought India would be closer.
January 30: French diplomats begin a new round of talks with German and Italian delegations in Geneva on the question of political cooperation and reduction of non-tariff barriers. - Forgetting but is there a EEC in DE. Sounds like its not but could be trying to move towards something like its early stages. No mention of Benelux yet however.
January 31: The US Selective Service System announces sweeping changes to exceptions provided under current conscription legislation in the light of mobilisation for the war in Vietnam and additionally raising the monthly call up to 125,000 men. - A lot of men but quite capable with the larger US population.
February
February 1: British Prime Minister Stanley Barton gives a speech on relations with Europe and European policy at Dover, stating that the hands of Britannia were ever extended across the Channel, but that she remained with Europe, but not of it. This is seen as a clear rebuke to certain elements on the liberal right of the Labour Party, who have been increasingly vocal in their support of certain aspects of Liberal foreign policy. - Again sounds like a reference to British distance to a precursor to the EEC.
February 3: An anthropological expedition arrives in Upper Volta to investigate the astronomical knowledge of the Dogon people. - Ah heard about this a long while ago, with their apparent knowledge of the 2ndary star in the Sirius system which isn't visible to the naked eye from Earth. Sounds from the wiki article that there is far more doubt over the origins of the knowledge than when I saw it reported in a TV programme, albeit several decades back now.
February 4: Conclusion of the British Army’s MACV competitive tests on Salisbury Plain. - Not sure what MACV stands for? Suspect its military air cushioned vehicle, i.e. a militarised hovercraft? Know the US deployed such vessels and know it was considered at the time.
February 5: An opinion column in Le Monde discusses the political landscape of France after de Gaulle, arguing that the length of his time in office diminished the political talent pool of his successors. - Sound all too likely.
February 6: Discovery of the Lost Dutchman Mine in the Superstition Mountains of Arizona. - A small differene to OTL.
February 8: President Kennedy, General Secretary Stalin and Prime Minister Barton arrive in Geneva for an emergency summit meeting of the world’s great powers. International media are shocked by the sudden arrival of the Imperial Chancellor of China, the notorious Fu Manchu. - I suspect this is because of a certain broadcast being received.
February 10: British agents operating a midget submarine disguised as a whale successfully taps a Soviet submarine telephone in the White Sea. - Now that sounds distinctly Bondish.
February 11: Launch of Kosmos 4 from lunar orbit for the Jovian system. The Jupiter race is on. No manned landings going to occur, at least not unless there's a serious disaster.
February 12: Several clashes along the Sino-Korean border along the Yalu River result in heavy forces being brought up by both sides and an inconclusive artillery duel. - Lordroel has already commented on this.
February 14: An article in the Washington Post decries the increasingly frenetic nature of modern pop music and its popularity amongst the young. -
February 15: A Columbian priest fighting with ELN rebels, Camilo Torres, miraculously survives injuries sustained in a firefight with government troops. - Sounds again like the supernatural element in the DE rearing its head again. Definitely a better outcome for him than his OTL death.
February 16: France conducts an underground hydrogen bomb test in the Algerian Sahara with a yield of 4.8 megatons. - I know they did that historically but had lost Algeria by this time OTL.
February 17: Aeroflot Flight 65, a Tupolev Tu-114, crashes as it takes off from Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow, killing 26 of the 48 passengers and crew on board. - Can't find any reference to this happening OTL so a difference? Seems to have been reliable according to its wiki entry. Was there anyone significant aboard?
February 18: Five light aircraft carriers are ordered by the Royal Navy, joining the recently commissioned Arion and Phoenix and four sister ships under construction in the latest manifestation of British naval rearmament. - Well the RN is definitely doing better than OTL.
February 21: Completion of the trainable 1000ft Queen Elizabeth II radio telescope at Jodrell Bank Observatory. - This sounds not OTL and would be a prett big project. I wonder if its going to play a part in contacting the newcomers?
February 22: Rioting and disorder in Aden leads to the death of four British soldiers and 56 Arabs. - No there was trouble in Aden during this period leading up to the British withdrawal but suspect that won't he happening in DE.
February 23: Large sea serpents are spotted off the coast of Miami, leading to the beaches being closed. - As long as their busy eating Great Whites.
February 24: Independence of the Gold Coast from Britain. - Again a delayed event compared to OTL where it happened in 1957 IIRC.
February 25: Tsarevich Peter is commissioned into the Royal Horse Guards despite Soviet protests. -
- As Lordroel says hope we manage to keep him alive.
February 27: A large explosion devastates a Royal Syrian Air Force base north of Damascus; authorities blame Israeli agents. - Could be or could be something to do with the coup that occurred OTL.
February 28: Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie opens the Pan African Congress in Monrovia. - Was this OTL as I know Ethipoia was active in the OAU and the like?
March
March 1: US monthly spending on the war in Vietnam tops $6 billion for February alone, with over 582,000 American troops currently deployed and a further 195,000 reinforcements scheduled to be deployed this year. - Well that's definitely larger than OTL. Which would fit in with the larger and more militarised DE world.
March 2: The Grand Vizier of Ottoman Turkey presents the 1966/67 defence budget to the Meclis-i Umumî, featuring a 19% rise in spending and funding for a range of powerful new weapons systems. - Now does that worry the Soviets more than it worries the Greeks?
March 3: Launch of the Argentine battleship Argentina at Vickers. -
March 4: A public survey on attitudes to magic finds that 38% of British adults have a negative view of it. - the big question might be does that mean 62% support it or are there a lot of undecided? Especially since magic would presumably include religious beliefs?
March 5: President Kennedy signs the Social Security Amendment Act, mandating a 15% rise in old age and disability survivor benefits. -
March 6: The Revolutionary Party wins a surprise majority in the Guatemalan election, sparking the arrest of several dozen opposition politicians and increasing instability. This is the cause of some alarm for local US diplomats and CIA officers. - Does sound suspitious. Probably also of concern for Britain due to Belize.
March 7: Death of famous Marxist Leon Trotsky in Brazil at the age of 87. - A somewhat longer life than OTL.
March 8: Syria moves an armoured division to the Israeli border in response to recent tensions. - Which makes me think is there going to be a 7 Day's War equivalent here? Seems unlikely with Israel being a full Commonwealth member and Britain still having a considerable presence in the region.
March 9: Prime Minister Barton announces an amendment of the '50 Year Rule' on government records to allow the release of historical material on the Great War. - Now what might emerge here then. Although since its already 1966 it would only speed up things a bit.
March 10: Formation of four combined Dutch-Belgian corps in the latest military cooperation between the two states. -
March 11: Indonesia takes delivery of 50 medium range ballistic missiles from the Soviet Union. - Now that could be very worrying. Especially with Indonesian territorial designs and the importance of the maritime trade route through the region.
March 12: Opening of the deep sea port of Paradip on the eastern coast of India. - No reference to this. Is this DE only?
March 13: An earthquake measuring 9.0 on the Richter scale takes place in the seas between the Japanese island of Yonaguni and Formosa, causing a powerful localised tsunami. USN rotodynes taking part in subsequent search and rescue operations report identifying some extremely anomalous submerged objects off the southeast tip of Yonaguni. - Are we finding another ancient civilisation here?
March 15: The last missing hydrogen bomb lost in the Palomares accident is located by USN divers, trained dolphins and naval sorcerers. - Now that's a difference to OTL.
March 16: Establishment of a single daylight saving time standard across the continental United States. - Does that mean there's only one time-zone or do you mean each time-zone changes to DST at the same date? The former would seem to be impractical given the size of the US, especially on DE. - Ah see its the latter and occurred a bit later OTL.
March 17: The first four Light Anti-Submarine Warfare Frigates are laid down in Britain, the United States, Canada and Australia in coordinated ceremonies. -
March 18: Mr. John Roarke, a mysterious sorcerer, receives permission from the French colonial government to open a specialist holiday resort near Tahiti. - Interesting.
March 19: Release of the first Action Man plastic toy figurines in Britain, based on the successful G.I. Joe line in the United States -
March 20: The World Cup Trophy is mysteriously stolen from an exhibition hall in London by a blackclad, masked figure. - I know it was stolen OTL but more details here. Wonder if Pickles will still have his hour of fame?
March 21: Signing of the International Convention on Fishing and Preservation of the Living Resources of the High Seas in Geneva. -
March 24: US scientists report a number of breakthroughs in experiments with solar energy transferance from orbiting satellites to Earth. - Now that could be very, very useful. Especially given how cheap solar energy would be from orbit. Of course there is also a potential military capacity which could be horrifying.
March 25: The Ecuadorian government is overthrown in a popular revolt that seizes control of the capital city of Quito. King Luis IV, currently undergoing treatment for gout in the United States, issues a statement deploring the uprising. - Now will there be another non-monarchy state or will it fall back under the king's control?
March 27: Pickles the dog finds the World Cup Trophy wrapped in newspaper in a South London garden. His owner receives a £5,000 reward and Pickles is awarded a silver medal by the National Canine Society and a year's supply of free dog food and nominated for Dog of the Year. - Yes!
March 28: Canadian George Chuvalo beats Cassius Clay in a close, contentious fight in Toronto, claiming the World Heavyweight Championship. - Well that will be a difference. The fact its so close and contentious suggests there will be a rematch.
March 29: Announcement of a live action film adaption of The Lord of the Rings at a press conference in London. A trilogy of movies are to be made, with filming to take place in Britain, Europe and a variety of locations across the Empire and the direction team to be lead by David Lean. - Yes!
March 30: Stanley Barton gives a speech at the Federation of British Industries on the need for a 'New Industrial Revolution' with Britain at its forefront, focusing on emergent new technologies in electronics, nuclear energy, space, robotics and advanced manufacturing. - Echos of the white heat of technology here. Hopefully this time they will consider the human factor properly but could lead to a much better economical and social future for Britain.
March 31: A high speed interplanetary rocketship takes off from Mars on a supply mission to the SS Dreadnought as it prepares for a journey to the Jovian system from its current location in the asteroid belt; its general location within the solar system puts it at a distinct disadvantage to the Orion 4. - Sounds like Dreadnought is some way off Jupiter's location in its orbit.
April
April 2: Thousands of anti-government protesters march through the streets of Da Nang, South Vietnam. - Think that's as OTL.
April 3: Buckingham Palace announces that Queen Elizabeth II has given birth to twin boys. - I did note in your comments to Lordroel that you were increasing the royal family.
April 4: Unrest erupts in Hong Kong, ostensibly over an increase in ferry boat fares. - Was this historical? If not wondering about that ostensibly.
April 5: Soviet Prime Minister Kosygin announces that the USSR would henceforth measure economic successes by the level of profits rather than by the achievement of production quotas. - That would be a significant change, and probably something of an imprvement although could lead them down another dead end.
April 6: Laying down of a large British starship in Lunar orbit. - Now the word starship is either an error or very ambitious.
April 7: Decommissioning of last light cruiser in Royal Navy service, HMS Belfast. - Does she still get saved or do we have other, larger historical warships taking that slot?
April 8: All 494 passengers and crew aboard MS Viking Princess are saved after a fire sweeps the liner in the Caribbean Sea. - Can't see any reference so is this a DE only event?
April 9: Israel and the United States sign an extensive defence order including 120 F-4 Phantoms, 32 C-130 Hercules transports, 100 M-107 175mm self propelled howitzers and 600 M113 armoured personnel carriers. - Probably a big step up in US spending and influence in the country?
April 10: Research wizards report that the project to transfer all the books and written materials contained within the Great Library of Alexandria to arcane microfiche should be completed by 1995. - Now that would be interesting. What language would they be in, Greek, English or something else or multiple versions?
April 11: The inaugural Singapore Grand Prix is won by Graham Hill. -
- Hopefully he avoid the OTL fate.
April 15: The Sultan of Araby arrives in London for high level talks regarding Arabian oil royalties agreements. - Well that's someone other than the Saudi monarchy of OTL and than he's coming to London rather than Washington makes clear the greater British influence in the area.
April 16: ODESSA head Wilhelm Hitler orders the initiation of Unternehmen Sonnenaufgang. - This has already been commented on by Lordroel. Now is he any less insane than OTL?
April 17: Liberal Party leader Alfred Rutherford calls for a Royal Commission on Unidentified Flying Objects. - Again probably influenced by the message.
April 21: The formal opening of Parliament is televised live, in full, and in colour for the first time by the BBC. - Well much earlier colour TV entry into Britain.
April 22: Gurkha Lance-Corporal Rambahadur Limbu is awarded the Victoria Cross for extraordinary valour in an engagement in Sarawak against Indonesian forces in November 1965. -
April 23: RAF Fairey Delta IIs shoot down three North Vietnamese MiG-17s whilst escorting Avro Vulcans on a raid over North Vietnam. - Definitely a greater British involvement.
April 24: TASS reports that an Armenian woman, ostensibly aged 267, is the world's oldest living female with a natural and non-magic lifespan. - Again definitely a change. If accurate - we are talking about Tass here - that could indicate a mixed heritage?
April 26: A group of renegade royal guards attempt to assassinate the Sultan of Oman whilst he inspected troops at an army camp, but are foiled by his personal sorcerer. - They can be very useful - provided you can trust them. That does seem to be a NOTL incident.
April 27: A 17 year old American girl stows away aboard the Royal Navy submarine HMS Walrus in Baltimore, only being discovered once the boat was five hours out to sea. - Now that's definitely a breach of security and very difficult to see happening unless she had internal aid. Was the motive personal?
April 29: A crazed half-orc attempts to stab Kaiser Wilhelm IV at a military parade in Berlin before being cut down by his bodyguards. - Now that won't go down well for human-orc relations.
April 30: Formation of the Royal Navy's first combat hovercraft squadron as part of the modernisation of Coastal Forces. - Good
May
May 1: President Kennedy’s war cabinet formally approves a plan prepared by US Joint Chiefs of Staff for an invasion of Cambodia to sever Viet Cong supply lines. - That turned into a disaster OTL but will it go different here?
May 2: Foundation of the Society for Creative Anachronism. -
May 5: England defeat Scotland 3-2 at Empire Stadium to claim the Imperial Cup. - Well that's slightly different from OTL Home Internationals when England won their last match against Scotland 4-3. Ironically the only point they dropped was against Wales which was the only point Wales scored. However suspect here its a markedly larger tournament.
May 9: Arcane naturalists report that all efforts to stop the northward migration of fire ants into Colombia have failed - Well it was worth a try.
May 12: USAF F-4 Phantoms engage Imperial Chinese Air Force fighters north of Hanoi whilst escorting B-47 Stratojets bombing airfields as part of Operation Rolling Thunder, shooting down four supersonic jets of a new unknown design in exchange for the loss of two of their own number. - Again that is presumably a DE event as I don't think Communist China ever supported N Vietnam that directly?
May 14: The Ministry of Defence announces an increase in monthly draft call-ups to 75,000 men. - Apart from the continuation of conscription that is a markedly larger commitment for Britain, given relative population than for the US.
May 16: Royal Assent is granted to the Merchant Navy Act of 1966, providing for extensive taxation concessions, preferential Imperial shipping support and loans for the replacement of older merchant ships with new tonnage from British and Commonwealth shipyards. - Now that's a more interventions policy.
May 17: Over 13 million French public and private sector workers begin a 24-hour strike against government wage policies. - Is this a precursor to the OTL 1968 unrest?
May 18: The British Air Ministry, Canadair and Hawker-Siddeley announce a joint licenced production agreement for F-4 Phantom IIs for the RAF and RCAF in a deal worth over 500 million pounds for more than 1000 aircraft. - That's a big project.
May 19: NORAD tracks an unidentified flying object that crosses the continental United States in less than half an hour at an altitude of over 250,000 feet. - I told you we shouldn't be testing secret a/c over the US! Again people will be thinking of that Christmas message from the stars.
May 20: The famous Hope Diamond is stolen whilst on display in Chicago. - Well that didn't happen OTL.
May 21: Amelia Earhart begins the first stage of a promotional flying tour of each of the United States of America. - She's still going strong.
May 22: Jackie Stewart wins the Monaco Grand Prix. -
May 23: The self-determination referendum in Dutch Western New Guinea Indy results in a conclusive vote for independence above union with Indonesia. - Well that will upset Jakata.
May 24: The Mary Ellen Carter, a tramp steamer that was sunk in a 1965 storm, is risen from the sea off the coast of Newfoundland after an association of her former crew paid for her salvage operation. - Well I can find reference to a song in 1979 on this subject but no reference to it being based on an historical vessel?
May 26: A relayed televisual link up with the command crew of Orion 4 en route to Jupiter is watched by over 90 million Americans. -
May 28: The Japanese Cabinet approves an extensive programme of increases to the defence budget, chief of which is the acquistion of long range strike bombers, a modern missile system and nuclear submarines. - Well that might go down well [not] with some of its neighbours considering recent history.
May 31: A strange steamship runs aground during a terrific storm at Whitby, with investigators confused as to the absence of any crew. - The only thing I can think of here is a later return to the region by a notorious Transylvanian!
June
June 1: A summit meeting in Athens between U.S. Secretary of State Atticus Finch, Soviet Foreign Minister Gromyko, British Foreign Secretary Patrick Gordon Walker, French Foreign Minister Georges Pompidou and Grand Secretary of Foreign Affairs Prince Zaito of China... - Presume this still relates to the message.
June 2: An article is published in The Lancet on a new revolutionary method to restore sight to the blind. - That would be good.
June 4: Several US journalists investigating the national silver shortage abruptly resign their positions and move abroad. - That doesn't sound good.
June 5: The Emperor of Mexico ceremonially opens a new large tank plant in Tlaxcala. - A definitely stronger Mexico.
June 8: A massive tornado comes close to Topeka, Kansas before being somehow neutralised by a flying cape-clad man. - He gets about.
June 12: 99.96% of votes cast in the elections for the Supreme Soviet are in favour of the CPSU listed candidates. - Ah good. An obviously fair and honest election.
June 13: The U.S. Supreme Court rules against the plaintiff 5-4 in Miranda v. Arizona. - I take it this is going the other way compared to OTL so a suspect doesn't have the same rights as OTL.
June 14: Airing of the first episode of Star Trek, a futuristic space opera, on NBC. It charts the journeys of the starship USS Enterprise as it explores the vastness of space. -
Only a question is will there be some British equivalent here?
June 16: The Vatican holds a conference on the growing international vampire threat, with one proposal calling for the establishment of the first new military order in centuries. - Well that's definitely a difference to OTL.
June 18: A joint Interpol-Silver League investigative team uncover a group of mad scientists engaged in unholy experiments beneath Munich. The leader is none other than the notorious Doctor Frankenstein, who narrowly escapes capture through the use of a concealed jetpack. - Ditto
June 19: Large scale fighting breaks out across Algeria as rearmed FLN groups attack a range of French targets throughout the major cities and countryside. - So there's still a lot of unrest for independence.
June 21: Australian Opposition Leader Arthur Calwell is assassinated by a 19 year old gunman after addressing a rally in Sydney. - Well that's killed him off 7 years earlier than OTL. Since he was an unsuccessful leader, losing three elections does that mean that the Labour party might have more success here?
June 22: A sealed meeting of the Politburo results in some sort of confrontation between different factions and the emergence of a new ruling tetrarchy of General Secretary Stalin, Premier Alexei Kosygin Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet Alexei Sergeyev and new KGB Chairman Yuri Andropov. - Such groups often prove to be unstable in autocratic states.
June 23: Shock and outrage spreads throughout Australia in reaction to the assassination of Arthur Calwell with a strong backlash against far right groups associated with the young killer. - Good.
June 24: The U.S. Senate votes unanimously in favour of 34 collected requirements for automobile safety of new car production. -
June 25: Scientists and wizards across the world are left mystified by an inexplicable event replicating the Aurora Borealis across the world in the early morning. In the aftermath, a number of children demonstrate signs of strange new extrasensory powers. - Again we're in Midwich Cookcoo territory here.
June 26: A new highly effective mumps vaccine is introduced in the United States. -
June 27: Professor Nikola Tesla, usually highly reclusive, arrives at the White House for a meeting with President Kennedy and the National Security Council. - Again I suspect this is in relation to our new neighbours.
June 28: FBI agents, Templars and Church of America paladins conduct a coordinated raid on the fishing village of Collinsport, Maine after a lengthy investigation. - I was thinking this might be a H. P. Lovecraft/Cthulhu reference but there was a "gophic Horror soap opera" set in this fictional port.
June 29: The BBC authorises the production of a television series on the history of civilisation and adaptions of Our Island Story and The King’s England. -
July
July 1: Nigeria formally becomes a self-governing independent Dominion of the British Empire. -
July 3: France conducts an underground hydrogen bomb test in the South Pacific at Mururoa Atoll. - Well that sounds like OTL but interesting they are switching to testing here when they still have Algeria unless they think its politically too sensitive to continue there.
July 5: McDonalds shares begin public trading on the New York Stock Exchange - Bad for the world's health.
July 8: Horst Fischer, former doctor at Auschwitz, is guillotined in Leipzig after being convicted of war crimes. -
July 10: A terrible and unnatural heatwave begins across the Midwest United States, killing hundreds from heat stroke and other associated illnesses. - Nasty.
July 11: Grand opening of the World Cup with hosts England playing the Soviet Union at Empire Stadium, winning an enthralling game 3-2. - Now that's a difference from OTL and not likely to win us any support if there's a Russia linesman in the final.
July 13: Scotsman Angus Barbieri completes a 385 day long diet consisting only of tea, coffee, soda water and vitamins. He loses 276 pounds over this period and causes the closure of his father's fish and chip shop. - Well that has a down and an up set.
July 16: Jack Brabham wins the British Grand Prix, narrowly defeating Stirling Moss and Graham Hill. - Well there's a define British/Australian dominance here.
July 18: The first multinational joint units of the Scandinavian Defence Union begin training at Bodo Fortress in Northern Sweden. - Again a small but interesting difference.
July 19: Lieutenant Dieter Dengler becomes the first US POW to escape from a North Vietnamese prison camp, being rescued by a USAF search-and-rescue helicopter. -
July 21: Sir Winston Churchill publishes his History of the Thirty Years’ War. - So he's not only alive but wearing much, much better than OTL.
July 23: Reports are received by the Icelandic Ministry of Agriculture of thousands of dead rabbits being found across the country, apparent victims of a strange plague. - Is this a late visitation of myxomatosis or something different?
July 24: Charlton Heston is selected for the role of Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings. - Still mixed feeling about this but he should have the screen presence.
July 25: France defeats Germany 2-1 in extra time to win an extraordinarily controversial World Cup semi-final. - Well that makes for a different and very tense final. Guessing the Germans get at least one decision going against them?
July 26: A young wizard is arrested for levitating the museum battleship HMS Dreadnought above Portsmouth for a dare. - That's a natural treasure boy!
July 29: Belgium and the Netherlands conclude an extensive arms modernisation order with Britain worth hundreds of millions of pounds. -
July 30: England defeats France 4-2 to win the World Cup in front of a crowd of almost 200,000 at Empire Stadium. - Different opponent but the same result. Does Geoff still get his hat trick?
July 31: European and North American sorcerers report a distinct instability in known gates between the planes. - Generally not a good sign.
August
August 2: Argentina and Bolivia sign a new reinsurance treaty, increasing the entangled web of the South American alliance system. - Not good for Chile I suspect.
August 3: 12 USAF fighter-bombers are shot down over North Vietnam in a single day, leading to calls for a tactical reappraisal. - Definitely sounds like a need for some changes.
August 9: In an interview with Time, the Shah of Persia declares that his country will be a first world economy within 25 years. - It will need different policies to OTL.
August 12: Chile begins negotiations for the acquisition of a large arms package from Britain in response to Argentine and Peruvian moves. - You have Bolivian above rather than Peruvian.
August 13: An Indonesian Mig-19 strays into British airspace near Singapore and is immediately shot down by a Blue Envoy missile. - That will go down well.
August 14: The United States and Soviet Union begin negotiation on a vaguely termed 'Outer Space Treaty'. - Depends on what their actually discussing and also what about the other space powers.
August 16: Signing of the League of Santiago, an economic and strategic alliance agreement between Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia and Chile in opposition to the Bogota Pact of Peru, Argentina, Colombia and Paraguay. - You now have Bolivia on the opposing side to Argentina so was the comment on the 2nd an error? Also assuming something historical with the Pacific war of OTL it would be difficult to see Bolivia and Chile on the same side.
August 17: The House Un-American Activities Committee begins extensive investigations into communist links with individuals protesting against the Vietnam War. - Damn those scum are still active.
August 20: New Zealand commandos ambush and destroy an Indonesian infiltration patrol after in lands in remote New Guinea. -
August 21: Thor Heyerdahl announces a new trans-Atlantic expedition to test his theories on the prehistoric movement of peoples. - Is this going to be the Ra mission?
August 22: Austro-Hungarian Imperial Police discover that a monstrous spider the size of a doubledecker bus lurking in the sewers of Vienna is responsible for a wave of mysterious slayings. The beast is subdued thanks to the valour of a talented police dog. - That's one hell of a police dog. Do the film team know that Shelob has left the set?
August 27: Francis Chichester, 65, sets off from Plymouth on a solo round-the-world yacht voyage. -
August 28: USN and RN submarines and underwater detection assets identify a consistent pattern of Soviet SSBNs patrolling in deep water to the east of Bermuda approximately 1200nm off the Eastern Seaboard of the United States. - Makes sense for the Soviets but probably not a good sign for them that they can be tracked.
August 29: Opening of the first limited operations at a specialist dinosaur park on an island off the coast of Costa Rica. - What could possibly go wrong?
August 31: Opening of the first nuclear power plant in the West Indies at Port Royal, Jamaica. - Suspect this is not something that happened OTL.
September
September 1: Dag Hammarskjold announces that he will not seek a fourth term as Secretary-General of three League of Nations. - So he's still alive and avoided his OTL fate.
September 2: Stanley Barton calls for British military power in the defence of freedom around the world to be matched by a ‘Land Fit for Heroes’ at home in a major speech in Sheffield. - Good move
September 4: Tourist visits resume to the Galapagos National Park, after British authorities temporarily suspended such voyages on grounds of security in 1964. This is seen as a welcome step by nature lovers, with the islands being considered one of the natural treasures of the world. - So Britain has the Galapagos here.
September 7: A fourth Egyptian businessman involved in the illegal overseas smuggling and sale of Ancient Egyptian antiquities is found desiccated and dismembered in his Cairo penthouse apartment, an apparent victim of the vengeful mummy of Ramesses the Great. - Some payback.
September 8: The Admiralty orders four nuclear submarines, two battlecruisers, six cruisers and twenty destroyers in the first of three states of the Barton Government's naval expansion programme. -
September 10: Reverend Presley leads his redoubtable posse into the suspicious carnival, uncovering a horrific plot by devil worshippers to turn unwitting victims into entrapped robot soldiers. With the aid of his trusty power blade and wise-cracking Allosaur sidekick Lucky, Reverend Presley and his men put the Luciferians to the sword and free the wretched 'cyber-men'. - Now there's an interesting reference.
September 13: A German submarine on operations in the Norwegian Sea goes missing. - Could be accident, hostile action or given this is DE even a monster.
September 14: Researchers report a new breakthrough in the formulation of a means of communication with dumb beasts. - Now that could be interesting, especially if they realise their not so dumb.
September 18: Austrian researchers uncover a lost operas by Richard Wagner whilst examining the estate of a recently deceased wizard in Salzburg. - That could be interesting.
September 19: The German brigade in South Vietnam begins an intensive sweep and clear operation in Gia Dinh Province. - So their involved as well.
September 20: Two dendrological sorcerers claim in a paper submitted to The Journal of Forestry that they have discovered the long lost “wives” of the Treelords in the boreal wilds of Northern Canada. -If that's the connection I think it is then its a good advert for the film. Mind you are the Ents still about to be reunited with their other halves?
September 24: Japanese scientists propose an anti-typhoon engine that would help protect their vulnerable nation. - That would be very useful for them and other threatened nations. Provided there are no long term consequences.
September 28: Two Argentine ultra-nationalists hijack a plane to the Falklands, where they attempt to spark a revolt after landing on a racecourse. The farcical situation continues for two hours before the arrival of police and Centurion tanks from the British Army garrison, whereupon they surrender. - Well that would be a total farce given how much the islander love Argentina - NOT. Also markung a hell of a much more powerful garrison, with centurion tanks as part of it.
September 29: Imperial Airways takes delivery of its 50th Concorde. - Distinctly more successful that OTL.
September 30: Independence of Ivory Coast from Britain - Interesting as that was a French colony OTL.
October
October 1: Release of former Nazi leaders Albert Speer, Karl Donitz, Rudolf Hess and Baldur von Schirach from Kerguelen. - Well that's different from OTL.
October 3: The Imperial Council begins deliberations on proposals for an expansion of the House of Lords across the Empire. - That would be a huge change but would require a lot more interest in the idea from the Dominions.
October 4: The Royal Israeli Air Force takes the delivery of the first of 24 additional Supermarine Eagle TSR-2 strike bombers. -
October 5: Atomic disaster is narrowly averted as the Fermi 1 experimental nuclear reactor in Detroit suffers a partial meltdown that is resolved by the intervention of a dashing man in a bat costume. - Well that was close but again a superhero saved the day.
October 6: Launch of Operation Rampart, a massive British and Commonwealth offensive in South Vietnam across three provinces involving over 100,000 troops. - Ouch! That's a hell of a commitment.
October 9: Monthly oil production in the North Sea reaches its highest point to date, with 236 million barrels being extracted in September. - How long will it last at this rate may be the issue.
October 10: Convening of the World Conference on Communication with Extraterrestrial Intelligence. - Which has a new importance now.
October 11: The Child Nutrition Act is signed into law by President Kennedy, establishing a School Breakfast Programme for children in need. -
October 14: The 900th anniversary of Battle of Hastings is marked by a number of ceremonies at Battle, East Sussex. - Yes a tragic reminder of what disasters can occur with a bit of bad luck.
October 16: Arab and Persian oil ministers meet in Baghdad to discuss the establishment of an international organization to influence oil prices. - OPEC
October 20: King Farouk of Egypt is killed by evil wizard who devastates a military parade in a flying attack. - That will not help stability in the country.
October 21: A colliery spoil tip collapses in the Welsh village of Aberfan, demolishing a number of houses and destroying the local primary school, killing 12 people. The tragedy could have been substantially worse had the local schoolchildren and many other villagers being in Merthyr Tydfil for a Royal visit by Queen Elizabeth II; Her Majesty visits the site of the accident in the late afternoon. - Think your missing a "not" here but that has saved a lot of lives compared to OTL. Hopefully the warning about old coal tips is noticed.
October 22: Scotland Yard detectives arrest 11 alleged members of a Soviet spy ring in London in a series of predawn raids. - Any relation to the OTL escape of George Blake from prison?
October 23: A strike team of the International Revolutionary Army lead by Che Guevara kidnaps the US Ambassador to Germany in a daring operation in Nuremberg. - Speak of the devil, so he's not in Bolivia here.
October 24: Spain threatens to close the border with Gibraltar after increasing difficulties over long-running trade talks. - Notice there was a Spanish complaint about RAF a/c flying to Gib, which was of course rejected.
October 26: A fire aboard USS Oriskany in the Gulf of Tonkin kills 44 crewmen, with disaster narrowly avoided by jettisoning of several hundred bombs from the ship's arsenal. - Sounds largely as OTL?
November
November 3: A revolutionary new anti-aging drug is approved for testing in the United States. - Well that would have a big impact on population if it proves reliable and easily producable in large numbers.
November 4: 149 people are killed in a flash flood of the Arno River in Italy. - Was it as nasty OTL. Wiki mentions floods here and at Venice but mentions 101 deaths for the Arno floods.
November 5: Several suburbs of Liverpool experience pitch darkness at noon for 4 minutes. - That is definitely not natural.
November 7: Five men digging a grave in Clendenin, West Virginia see a moth-like humanoid creature flying above them. - Odd and potentially worrying.
November 9: Initial shooting begins on the first film of The Lord of the Rings. - That was quick. Where is shooting occurring?
November 11: The Welshman reports that the Welsh economy is enjoying is greatest and most protracted period of growth on historical record, driven by the automobiles, coal and steel of South Wales, the electrical power generation and slate industries of North Wales, the petrochemical sector around Pembroke and Swansea and the shipbuilding of Haven. -
November 13: An article in Nature on sharks highlights the problems faced by the endangerment and extinction of some species. -
November 17: Southport, Queensland is struck by horror as swimmers at the popular beach are attacked by a savage megalodon. 12 people are killed in the frenzied attack, which is followed by a massive mobilisation of RAN vessels and aircraft in the area to hunt and destroy the maneating beast. - Very nasty. Do they manage to catch and kill it?
November 18: A national conference of Roman Catholic cardinals in the United States agrees on the continuation of meatless Fridays. - Did this occur OTL?
November 19: US Marines in Haiti face extremely heavy attacks from zombies in the central mountains, countered by heavy firepower and dragonstrikes. - Useful to have some large and powerful allies.
November 20: The Royal Space Force allows women to enlist in spacegoing roles. -
November 21: Godzilla is spotted by an RNAS skyship near Pitcairn, but disappears beneath the waves before it can be attacked. In response, the Admiralty orders that all patrolling aircraft and flying machines be equipped with nuclear depth bombs as a contingency. - he's back again.
November 24: Princess Bonjella of Andorra is rescued from a dastardly gang of Nazis by famed adventurer Ace Rimmer. -
November 25: The significant smog enveloping New York City is blown away by a hastily prepared wind enchantment. -
November 26: Australian Prime Minister Sir Robert Menzies' Liberal-Country Coalition is returned to office in the Australian Federal Election and, across the Tasman, Sir Keith Holyoake's National Party increases is majority in the New Zealand election. - Just noticed who Calwell's OTL replacement was, Gough Whitlam.
November 27: Independence of Dahomey from France. - Again several years later than OTL.
November 29: Sinking of the Great Lakes ore freighter SS Daniel J. Morrell on Lake Huron, killing 28 of its 29 crew. - Think this is OTL?
December
December 1: A flying saucer flies over downtown Manhattan and New York Harbor in broad daylight, witnessed by hundreds of thousands. - Well if its not an optical illision then someone's making a clear statement.
December 2: HMS Ark Royal returns to Devonport, completing a 70 day around-the-world cruise escorted by the atomic battlecruiser HMS London. - Its like the days when Britain had a navy.
December 3: The US Atomic Energy Commission conducts an underground nuclear test in Mississippi as part of Project Plowshare. - Risky.
December 6: A 27 year old New Jersey man vandalises several valuable portraits in the United States Capitol before being frozen by Capitol police employed new ray guns. - Well that's a change.
December 7: Germany grounds its entire fleet of F-104 Starfighters after a series of aerial accidents. - I think they had problems with this OTL. Wasn't it nicknamed the Widower?
December 8: Greek passenger ferry SS Heraklion sinks whilst crossing the Aegean Sea. 177 passengers are rescued as Greek and British warships and aircraft engaged in an Atlantic Alliance training exercise rush to aid the survivors, but 78 people sadly perish in the disaster. - That's a lot better than OTL where 217 died.
December 9: Arrest of taxi driver Posteal Leakey in Cincinatti. He is later identified as the 'Cincinnati Strangler' and sentenced to death on March 26th 1967. -
December 10: British economic and industrial growth achieves its highest rate in over a decade, with unemployment statistically negligible. -
December 11: King Umberto of Italy grants royal pardons to nine prisoners for their valourous actions during the November floods of the Arno River. -
December 12: Release of Walt Disney's newest animated film, One Thousand and One Arabian Nights. - That's different from OTL when he wasjust about to die while making the Jungle Book.
December 13: Arrival of a large Soviet arms convoy in Jakarta, delivering hundreds of tanks, armoured vehicles, guns, missile boats and aircraft, along with thousands of Soviet troops. This is seen as extremely alarming by Australia, Britain, the United States and other regional states, sparking immediate crisis meetings. - A direct intervention that will spice things up.
December 14: A mass of poisonous snakes are released across central Paris from the air during the midday rush hour, causing a near riot as tens of thousands of Parisians scramble to avoid the serpents. The French Army, the Paris Garde Nationale and wizards take most of the next two days to destroy the beasts. - Supernatural or straight terrorist action?
December 15: British forces in South Vietnam conclude Operation Stellar, a three-week offensive in Long Khanh Province that succeeded in destroying seven major communist guerrilla base areas and killed an estimated 6000 enemy troops. Stellar was notable for its extensive use of coordinated air and naval support, incendiary rocket artillery, combat dinosaurs and new gas weapons. - Well that's a hell of a combination.
December 16: A joint declaration is issued by President Kennedy and Prime Minister Barton announcing that Australia will be supported with reinforcements of men and equipment to counter the Soviet escalation in Indonesia. - Very useful under the circumstances.
December 17: The Soviet Ministry of Agriculture publishes statistics on the records smashed in the latest Soviet grain harvest. This is a cause of some concern to Western observers as it increases the Soviet capacity for both independent action and use of food aid to influence newly independent states. - Presuming its not as accurate as OTL.
December 18: Fighting and civil disturbance flares up in Southern Nigeria as long running tribal and religious differences begin to come to the fore following independence. - Hopefully we're not going to have a Biafa war trategy.
December 21: The War Office issues a specification for a new British Army main battle tank to replace the Chieftain, to be equipped with a new gun and incorporate advanced new armour systems. - That is a definite change given the time it took to replace the Chieftain OTL.
December 22: Back channel discussions between the USSR and United States open in Helsinki on the issue of emigration of Soviet Jews. - That would be a good change if it comes about.
December 23: The USN destroyer USS Hanson is sunk off the coast of the Demilitarised Zone of Vietnam by long range North Vietnamese artillery. - Don't think this happened OTL so suspect the USN won't be happy.
December 26: SS Dreadnought sets out for the Jovian system from the asteroid belt. -
December 27: The RAF deploys a total of 8932 frontline aircraft, its numbers being larger than projected at this date due to the requirements of the Far East Air Force in the Vietnam War. - Not surprising given the huge commitment.
December 28: A USN submarine operating off the Kola Peninsula detects the acoustic signature of a new Soviet fast attack nuclear submarine. - Now could this be a factor in the disappearance of that German sub earlier?
December 29: International astronomers forecast that Orion 4 will be the first manmade craft to reach Jupiter, with their arrival to take place in July 1967 on current projections. - Should be fairly straight-forward but then this is the DE universe so could find anything.
December 30: A Panam Boeing 2707 breaks the trans-Atlantic flight speed record on its maiden flight between New York City and London. - I presume this is also a supersonic a/c?
December 31: TASS and Soviet Central Television report that General Secretary Stalin has suffered a stroke. - As mentioned elsewhere this is probably not an accident. Going to be some changes in Moscow.
Anyway that took a lot longer than expected. Sorry about the length of the post.
Steve
