In 1942 – Germany conducted the first successful test of the V-2/A4 rocket, launched from Test Stand VII at Peenemünde. It traveled 118 miles.
In 1954 – John Bardeen, Walter Brattain, and William Shockley received US patents for circuits what would eventually be called the transistor.
In 1972 – The first USA/Japan Computer Conference was held in Tokyo.
In 1985 – STS-51J lifted off Sending the Space Shuttle Atlantis on its maiden flight. It was the fourth shuttle created and eventually became the last shuttle to fly in July 2011.
Like Tech History? Purchase Tom Merritt’s Chronology of Tech History at Merritt’s Books site.