September 27 in history — What Happened Today in History

The Sukhumi massacre takes place in Abkhazia.

Palestinian prisoners went on a 15-day hunger strike.

The National League for Democracy is formed by Aung San Suu Kyi and others to fight dictatorship in Myanmar.

Japan Airlines Flight 715 crashes on approach to Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang, Malaysia, killing 34 of the 79 people on board.

The last use of capital punishment in Spain sparks worldwide protests.

Texas International Airlines Flight 655 crashes into the Black Fork Mountain Wilderness near Mena, Arkansas, killing all 11 people on board.

The British TSR-2 aircraft XR219 makes its maiden flight.

The Yemen Arab Republic is established.

Rachel Carson's book Silent Spring is published, inspiring an environmental movement and the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Typhoon Vera kills nearly 5,000 people in Japan.

USAF Captain Milburn G. Apt becomes the first person to exceed Mach 3. Shortly thereafter, the Bell X-2 goes out of control and Captain Apt is killed.

Zeng Liansong's design is chosen as the flag of the People's Republic of China.

World War II: The Kassel Mission results in the largest loss by a USAAF group on any mission during the war.

World War II: Last day of the Matanikau action on Guadalcanal as United States Marines barely escape after being surrounded by Japanese forces.

World War II: The Greek National Liberation Front is established with Georgios Siantos as acting leader.

The SS Patrick Henry is launched, becoming the first of more than 2,700 Liberty ships.

World War II: The Tripartite Pact is signed in Berlin by Germany, Japan and Italy.

The ocean liner Queen Elizabeth is launched in Glasgow.

Bobby Jones wins the (pre-Masters) Grand Slam of golf.

The Republic of China is recognized by the United States.

King Constantine I of Greece abdicates his throne in favor of his eldest son, George II.

Iyasu V is proclaimed deposed as ruler of Ethiopia in a palace coup in favor of his aunt Zewditu.

Production of the Model T automobile begins at the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant in Detroit.

"Wreck of the Old 97": an American rail disaster, in which 11 people are killed; it later becomes the subject of a popular ballad.

The merchant sailing ship Ellen Southard is wrecked in a storm at Liverpool.

The paddle steamer SS Arctic, owned by the Collins Line of New York, sinks off the coast of Newfoundland, following a collision with a smaller vessel, the SS Vesta. Only 88 of over 300 people on board survive. About a dozen of the occupants of the Vesta are killed when their lifeboat is hit by the Arctic.

The world's first public railway to use steam locomotives, the Stockton and Darlington Railway, is ceremonially opened with the engine Locomotion pulling wagons with coal and passengers from Shildon to Darlington to Stockton.

Jean-François Champollion officially informs the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles Lettres in France that he has deciphered the Rosetta Stone.

Vinnie Sunseri, American football player

Lachlan Burr, Australian rugby league player

Sam Lerner, American actor

Ryan O'Shaughnessy, Irish singer-songwriter and actor

Granit Xhaka, Swiss footballer

Ousmane Barry, Guinean footballer

Simona Halep, Romanian tennis player

Thomas Mann, American actor

Anete Paulus, Estonian footballer

Rio Uchida, Japanese model and actress

Dion Lewis, American football player

Park Tae-hwan, South Korean swimmer

Lisa Ryzih, German pole vaulter

Syed Ahmed, Indian author and politician, 16th Governor of Manipur (born 1945)

Pietro Ingrao, Italian journalist and politician (born 1915)

Kallen Pokkudan, Indian activist and author (born 1937)

Frank Tyson, English-Australian cricketer, coach, and journalist (born 1930)

Gaby Aghion, French fashion designer, founded Chloé (born 1921)

Wally Hergesheimer, Canadian ice hockey player (born 1927)

Abdelmajid Lakhal, Tunisian actor and director (born 1939)

James Traficant, American lawyer and politician (born 1941)

Oscar Castro-Neves, Brazilian-American guitarist, composer, and conductor (born 1940)

Mauricio González-Gordon y Díez, Spanish sherry maker and conservationist (born 1923)

Eddie Bert, American trombonist (born 1922)

Herbert Lom, Czech-English actor (born 1917)

David Croft, English director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1922)