Today in Tech History: May 2, 2008 Video

Today in Tech History: May 2, 2008 Video Transcript

Hey there, I'm Molly Wood. Its May 2, 2008. Here's what happened today in tech history. The Brits have a lot of landmarks on May second. For example, in 1952, the British-designed de Havilland Comet 1 made its maiden voyage and became the world's first jet airliner. That first flight went from London to Johannesburg. Unfortunately, after it went into commercial production, Comet aircraft were involved in several disastrous and some fatal accidents as a result of metal fatigue. It was pulled out of service, but future Comet models had successful careers. May 2, 1969 saw the maiden launch of the British Ocean Liner Queen Elizabeth 2, to New York City. And 2002 brought the death of W.T. Tutte, the British codebreaker who made a major breakthrough on German codes during World War II that significantly advanced the Allied invasion of Europe. Meanwhile, back in America, on this date in 2005, the last car was produced at the 100-year-old Lansing Car Assembly plant -- and it was a Pontiac Grand Am. The plant was the longest-operating in the U.S. when it closed four days later, and it was also the plant that built the last Oldsmobile (back on April 29th). And that'll do it for today, my friends. See you tomorrow for more tech throughout the ages.