Historical Events in May 1948

May 3 Pulitzer prize awarded to James Michener & Tennessee Williams

May 3 1st broadcast of "CBS Evening News" - longest running network news show in the US
May 4 The Hague Court of Justice convicts Nazi SS officer in the Netherlands Hans Rauter of Crimes against Humanity (executed 24 March 1949)
May 5 1st squadron of jet aircraft aboard a carrier
May 6 "Sally" opens at Martin Beck Theater NYC for 36 performances
May 7 Nazi collaborator V-Mann Antonius van de Waals sentenced to death

May 8 Cricketer Don Bradman scores 146 Aust v Surrey, 174 mins, 15 fours

May 14 Israel declares independence from British administration
May 14 Israeli Radio Station Kol Yisrael's 1st broadcast
May 14 Jordan's Arab League captures Atarot, north of Jerusalem
May 14 US grants Israel de facto recognition
May 14 US performs atmospheric nuclear test at Enwetak
May 14 WBEN (now WIVB) TV channel 4 in Buffalo, NY (CBS) begins broadcasting

May 14 Golda Meir [Goldie Meyerson] is one of the signatories of Israel’s independence declaration

May 15 28 year old British Mandate over Palestine ends
May 15 73rd Preakness: Eddie Arcaro wins aboard Citation, 2nd leg of successful Triple Crown
May 15 Australia scores 721 runs in one day v Essex, world record
May 15 Bradman scores 187 Aust v Essex, 124 minutes, 33 fours 1 five
May 15 Troops from Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Saudi Arabia attack Israel
May 16 First chess world championship since WWII; Russian player Mikhail Botvinnik wins a 5-player tournament to begin 20-year Russian domination
May 16 CBS news correspondent George Polk's body is found in Greece
May 16 Chaim Weizmann elected 1st President of Israel
May 16 Egyptians enter Gaza
May 16 Israel issues its 1st postage stamps
May 17 Israel liberates Acre, Nebi Yusha & Telel-Kadi
May 17 Soviet Union recognizes Israel
May 18 "Ballet Ballads" opens at Music Box Theater NYC for 62 performances
May 18 Arab Legion captures fort on Mt Scopus during Arab-Israeli war
May 18 Saudi Arabia joins invasion of Israel
May 18 The First Legislative Yuan of the Republic of China officially convenes in Nanking
May 20 Cleveland Indians tie AL record of 18 walks (beat Red Sox 13-4)

May 21 NY Yank Joe DiMaggio hits for cycle (single, double, triple, HR)

May 25 30th PGA Championship: Ben Hogan at Norwood Hills CC St Louis

May 25 Polish war hero Witold Pilecki is executed by communist police after a show trial in Warsaw

May 26 Entire Hagana-arm forces sworn-in as Israeli soldiers
May 26 South Africa elects a nationalist government under D. F. Malan with an apartheid policy
May 27 Arabs blow up Jewish synagogue Hurvat Rabbi Yehudah he-Hasid

May 27 Hank Greenberg buys an interest in the Cleveland Indians

May 28 Israeli Air Force is officially founded shortly after the start of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War
May 28 Iraq captures Ge'ulim settlement
May 29 French Championships Men's Tennis: Frank Parker wins 1st of 2 straight French titles; beats Jaroslav Drobný 6-4, 7-5, 5-7, 8-6
May 29 47th Women's French Championships: Nelly Landry beats Shirley Fry (6-2, 0-6, 6-0)

May 30 Schenectady Blue Jays Tom Lasorda strikes out 25 in 15-inning game

May 30 A dike along the flooding Columbia River breaks, obliterating Vanport, Oregon within minutes. Fifteen people die and tens of thousands are left homeless.
May 31 Tommy Lasorda strikes out 25 Amsterdam Rugmakers (in 15 innings)
May 31 Indianapolis 500: Mauri Rose wins in 4:10:23.286 (192.822 km/h)