This day in history

After four days of furious fighting, the Battle of Leyte Gulf, the largest air-naval battle in history, ends with a decisive American victory over the Japanese. With the U.S. liberation of the Philippines underway, the desperate Japanese command decided to gamble their combined naval fleet to repulse the Americans.

On 23 October the enemy fleets collided and hundreds of warships and thousands of aircraft battled for control of the Gulf of Leyte in three simultaneous battles. On 26 October what remained of the devastated Japanese fleet retreated, leaving the Allies in control of the Pacific Ocean. After the Battle of Leyte Gulf, the Allies waged an escalating bombing campaign against the Japanese home islands, finally forcing Japan’s surrender in World War II in August 1945.

Israeli Prime Minister Yitzak Rabin and King Hussein of Jordan sign a peace treaty on the Israeli-Jordanian border.

An American child, known only as 'Baby Fae,' is given the heart of a baboon during a transplant operation.

Park Chung Hee, the President of South Korea, is killed by the Korean intelligence service.

Ngo Dinh Diem proclaims the Republic of Vietnam with himself as its first president.

Winston Churchill once again becomes Prime Minister of Britain as the Conservative Party wins the General Election.