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This Day in Arkansas History

September 14, 1932

Troops that had been called out to secure the town of Jonesboro (Craighead County) following a series of riots and brawls between competing factions at First Baptist Church withdrew after fourteen days. Governor Harvey Parnell had authorized the use of troops stationed at Arkansas State College (now Arkansas State University) during what would later be called the Jonesboro Church Wars, a veritable civil war between parts of Jonesboro’s Baptist community.

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Jimmie Thach

Pine Bluff (Jefferson County) native John Smith (Jimmie) Thach was one of the most influential naval aviators of the mid-twentieth century and is credited with the creation of the Thach Weave, one of the most significant tactical advances in the history of aerial combat. He was awarded the Navy Cross and Distinguished Service Medal for developing this tactical maneuver, which remains a standard of military aviation.

 

Pine Bluff (Jefferson County) native John Smith (Jimmie) Thach was one of the most influential naval aviators of the mid-twentieth century and is credited with the creation of the Thach Weave, one of the most significant tactical advances in the history of aerial combat. He was awarded the Navy Cross and Distinguished Service Medal for developing this tactical maneuver, which remains a standard of military aviation.

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About the Encyclopedia

The CALS Encyclopedia of Arkansas is a free, authoritative source of information about the rich history, geography, and culture of Arkansas. It is updated regularly to ensure the people of Arkansas have an accurate and accessible resource to explore our heritage. We invite you to browse our text entries and media galleries to learn more about the people, places, events, legends, and lore of the 25th state. We are continually adding new entries, photographs, maps, videos, and audio files, so check back frequently to see what’s new.

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