June 18 in history — What Happened Today in History

SALT II is signed by the United States and the Soviet Union.

Staines air disaster: One hundred eighteen people are killed when a BEA H.S. Trident crashes minutes after takeoff from London's Heathrow Airport.

Vietnam War: The United States Air Force uses B-52 bombers to attack guerrilla fighters in South Vietnam.

Benjamin Britten's one-act opera Noye's Fludde premieres at the Aldeburgh Festival.

Carlos Castillo Armas leads an invasion force across the Guatemalan border, setting in motion the 1954 Guatemalan coup d'état.

The Egyptian revolution of 1952 ends with the overthrow of the Muhammad Ali dynasty and the declaration of the Republic of Egypt.

A United States Air Force C-124 crashes and burns near Tachikawa, Japan, killing 129.

Columbia Records introduces the long-playing record album in a public demonstration at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City.

Britain, France and the United States announce that on June 21, the Deutsche Mark will be introduced in western Germany and West Berlin. Over the next six days, Communists increasingly restrict access to Berlin.[citation needed]

Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia, a Socialist, calls for a Direct Action Day against the Portuguese in Goa.

William Joyce ("Lord Haw-Haw") is charged with treason for his pro-German propaganda broadcasting during World War II.

World War II: Appeal of 18 June by Charles de Gaulle.

World War II: The "Finest Hour" speech is delivered by Winston Churchill.

Police in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, clash with striking longshoremen, resulting in a total of 60 injuries and 24 arrests.

Aviator Amelia Earhart becomes the first woman to fly in an aircraft across the Atlantic Ocean (she is a passenger; Wilmer Stultz is the pilot and Lou Gordon the mechanic).

The Troubles in Ulster (1920–1922) begin with a week of sectarian violence in Derry.

Japanese immigration to Brazil begins when 781 people arrive in Santos aboard the ship Kasato-Maru.

The University of the Philippines is established.

Most resistance societies in Santiago return to work, bringing an end to the 1907 Chilean general strike.

Sultan Abdelaziz of Morocco ratifies the agreement reached in the Algeciras Conference in a personal decree.

The Reinsurance Treaty between Germany and Russia is signed.

Susan B. Anthony is fined $100 for attempting to vote in the 1872 presidential election.

First ascent of Aletschhorn, second summit of the Bernese Alps.

Charles Darwin receives a paper from Alfred Russel Wallace that includes nearly identical conclusions about evolution as Darwin's own, prompting Darwin to publish his theory.

St. Joseph Mutiny: African soldiers in the 1st West India Regiment – led by former slave trader Daaga – launch a rebellion in the British colony of Trinidad in an attempt to escape to Africa.

Konstantinos Kanaris blows up the Ottoman navy's flagship at Chios, killing the Kapudan Pasha Nasuhzade Ali Pasha.

Napoleonic Wars: The Battle of Waterloo results in the defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte by the Duke of Wellington and Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher, forcing Napoleon to abdicate the throne of France for the second and last time.

The United States declaration of war upon the United Kingdom is signed by President James Madison, beginning the War of 1812.

Dennis Lloyd, Israeli musician, producer, singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist

Luke Adam, Canadian ice hockey player

Sandra Izbașa, Romanian gymnast

Derek Stepan, American ice hockey player

Christian Taylor, American triple jumper

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, French-born Gabonese footballer

Chris Harris Jr., American football player

Elini Dimoutsos, Greek footballer

Josh Dun, American musician

Omar Arellano, Mexican footballer

Moeen Ali, English cricketer

Edgars Eriņš, Latvian decathlete

Richard Gasquet, French tennis player

Jeppiaar, Indian educationist, founder and chancellor of Sathyabama University (born 1931)

Phil Austin, American comedian, actor, and screenwriter (born 1941)

Ralph J. Roberts, American businessman, co-founded Comcast (born 1920)

Danny Villanueva, American football player and broadcaster, co-founded Univision (born 1937)

Allen Weinstein, American historian and academic (born 1937)

Stephanie Kwolek, American chemist and engineer (born 1923)

Johnny Mann, American singer-songwriter and conductor (born 1928)

Claire Martin, Canadian author (born 1914)

Vladimir Popovkin, Russian general (born 1957)

Horace Silver, American pianist and composer (born 1928)

Brent F. Anderson, American engineer and politician (born 1932)

Alastair Donaldson, Scottish bass player (born 1955)

Garde Gardom, Canadian lawyer and politician, 26th Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia (born 1924)