21 September

September 21 is the 264th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar; 101 days remain until the end of the year.

We have some interesting facts & historic events all about September 21^st, including areas in religion, crime, health and more.

Keep reading for more interesting facts about September 21^st in history!

Global Celebrations

World Gratitude Day
National Miniature Golf Day
International Peace Day
World Alzheimer’s Day
Get Ready Day

Historic Events

What Happened On This Day – September 21

2013: The Westgate Mall is attacked in Nairobi, Kenya

In a daring siege, militants of the extremist group al-Shabaab took over the Mall. 63 shoppers were killed during the attack that lasted a few hours, and before the Kenyan security forces rescued the hostages, 4 terrorists were also killed. Al-Shabaab declared that it had undertaken the attack as retaliation for the presence of Kenyan armed forces in Somalia.

1964: Malta gains its independence from the UK

The southern European island country came under British control in 1814 as part of the Treaty of Paris. The country initially retained the Queen of England as its head of state but declared itself a republic on December 13, 1974.

1961: Boeing CH-47 Chinook takes flight for the first time

The American-made helicopter has been used by the US military in a variety of conflict-related operations including during the recent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. It has also been often used for medical evacuation and search and rescue operations during natural disasters around the world.

1942: Boeing B-29 Superfortress flies for the first time

The bomber was used extensively by the US in World War II and the Korean War. The two planes – Enola Gay and Bockscar – that dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were from the silverplate series of Boeing B-29s.

1937: JRR Tolkien’s The Hobbit is published for the first time

The Hobbit, or There and Back Again is a young adult fantasy novel that follows the adventures of the hobbit Bilbo Baggins as he traverses through Middle Earth to find treasure guarded by a dragon named Smaug.

1942: the Boeing XB-29 made its maiden flight.