- Aug 1 "Medium & The Telephone" opens at Barrymore Theater NYC for 211 performances
- Aug 2 Greek-American soprano makes her Italian debut in the title role of Amilcare Ponchielli's "La Gioconda" at the Verona Arena
- Aug 4 The Supreme Court of Japan is established
- Aug 4 American boxer Ike Williams knocks out Bob Montgomery in 6 rounds in Philadelphia to unify the world lightweight title
- Aug 5 Netherlands ceases political action in Indonesia, due to UN pressure
- Aug 6 1st performance of Villa-Lobos' "Bachianas Brasilieras No 8"
- Aug 7 The Bombay Municipal Corporation formally takes over the Bombay Electric Supply and Transport (BEST)
Historic Event
Aug 7 Thor Heyerdahl and the crew of the Kon-Tiki crash into a reef in the Tuamotu Islands, French Polynesia after 101 days crossing the Pacific Ocean
- Aug 8 Pakistan's National Flag is approved.
Sports History
Aug 14 Babe Didrikson Zaharias gives up amateur status for $300,000
- Aug 14 Pakistan gains independence from Great Britain
- Aug 15 India gains independence from Great Britain, remains a dominion until 1950
- Aug 15 India becomes a sovereign and democratic nation, independent from the United Kingdom
- Aug 16 Future Baseball HOF outfielder Ralph Kiner hits 3 successive HRs for host Pittsburgh Pirates in a 12-7 win over St. Louis Cardinals; both clubs smash a then MLB record 10 homers
- Aug 17 The Radcliffe Line, the border between Union of India and Dominion of Pakistan is revealed
- Aug 18 Naval torpedo & mine factory explodes at Cadiz, Spain killing 300
- Aug 19 J Arens & D van Dorpen synthetise vitamin A
- Aug 20 Boston Braves hit a million attendance for 1st time
- Aug 20 Turner Caldwell in D-558-I sets aircraft speed record, 1131 kph
- Aug 22 14th NFL Chicago All-Star Game: All-Stars 16, Chicago Bears 0 (105,840)
- Aug 23 1st Baseball Little League World Series, Williamsport, Pennsylvania: Maynard Midgets beat Lock Haven All Stars, 16-7
- Aug 23 US President Truman's daughter, Margaret's 1st public singing concert
- Aug 23 8th Venice Film Festival opens (first since the start of World War II)
- Aug 25 Marion Carl in D-558-I sets world aircraft speed record of 1,047 kph
- Aug 26 Dodgers' Dan Bankhead, MLB's 1st African-American pitcher, homers in his 1st MLB at bat in 16-3 loss to Pittsburgh, at Ebbetts Field, Brooklyn, NYC
- Aug 29 Constantine Tsaldaris succeeds Maximos as Greek premier
Appointment of Interest
Aug 29 B.R. Ambedkar is appointed chairman of the drafting committee for the Indian constitution
