1949 Ambato earthquake, Damage and casualties
The earthquake demolished buildings in rural hamlets; closer to the nearest mountains of the Andes, landslides destroyed roads and blocked rivers. The village of Libertad near Pelileo sank 460 m (1,509 ft) into a huge hole about 800 m (2,625 ft) in diameter with all of its 100 inhabitants. Shaking up to intensity IV extended as far away as Quito and Guayaquil.


1949 Ambato earthquake, Damage and casualties
Initial reports (around August 7) estimated the death toll at 2,700 people. The cities of Patate and Pelileo suffered the most with 1,000 and 1,300 dead respectively. In Ambato reports of the death toll ranged from 400 to 500, and the  Ecuadorean Embassy in Washington, D.C., estimated that 1,000 to more than 2,000 people were injured. The town of Pillaro, destroyed by the quake, had more than 20 dead, and in Latacunga, 11 were killed and 30 injured; 50 homes, two churches, and the local government building were also ruined. Fifteen other towns and cities were also badly affected, including Guano which was devastated.


1949 Ambato earthquake, Damage and casualties
Later counts assumed around 3,200 casualties in Pelileo; the total death toll estimates were adjusted to around 4,000 people. Officials reported that many of the dead had been inside buildings as they buckled or were killed by flooding brought about by the blockage of a  drainage canal. Others were crushed by landslides from nearby mountains. No homes in the city of Pelileo were left standing, many buildings were flattened, and large cracks formed in the ground. In Ambato alone 75 percent of the homes still standing had to be demolished. On August 8, an aftershock with "considerable strength" struck near Ambato.


1949 Ambato earthquake, Damage and casualties
The final death toll according to the United States Geological Survey was 5,050. The earthquake severely affected some 30 communities and left approximately 100,000 people homeless.


1949 Ambato earthquake, Relief efforts
Ecuador's President Galo Plaza Lasso flew to Ambato to take personal charge of the primary relief efforts. Plaza directed rescue efforts for two days as airlifts from Quito dropped supplies. A group of Red Cross volunteers and medical supplies were sent on American aircraft. The United States Army sent two relief teams equipped with serum and blood plasma. The mayor of Miami along with seven other politicians began a fund-raising campaign for medical needs and clothing and coordinated the distribution of  69 kg (152 lb) of Rexall drugs. Several nearby countries sent airplanes carrying medicine and food. A local fund-raising effort collected 250,000 Ecuadorian sucres (approximately US$14,815 1949) within two hours of its launch. Plaza said "We have not lost our courage. Neither Ambato nor Ecuador shall cry any more, but begin to work."


1949 Ambato earthquake, Relief efforts
On August 7 a plane carrying 34 rescue workers from the Shell Oil Company crashed 32 km (20 mi) from Ambato leaving no survivors. Disease began to spread in Pelileo within days of the earthquake, which prompted a team of American soldiers, acting as relief workers, to order water purification devices and DDT airdrops to cleanse the area of airborne agents. Sick victims were quarantined and prevented from leaving the city.


1949 Ambato earthquake, Aftermath
The earthquake considerably impacted a number of cities: it destroyed Guano, Patate, Pelileo, Pillaro, and one-third of Ambato. The city of Ambato was a "scene of anguish and pain" described by "scores of little funerals winding their way through the debris". The brand-new hospital had been reduced to four walls, and most of the buildings in town were demolished. In Pelileo relief workers found victims feeding buried people through holes in the ground. In the days following the earthquakes aftershocks occurred and torrential rains ensued.


1949 Ambato earthquake, Aftermath
In an effort to help the inhabitants a festival of fruit and flowers was held on June 29, 1950. The festival was a success and became an annual event that is celebrated each year during Carnaval and is now an important tourist attraction. Ambato was completely rebuilt after the earthquake. The city's main church, the Iglesia Matriz de Ambato, was replaced by a new cathedral known as Iglesia La Catedral in 1954. Pelileo was rebuilt on a new site 2 km (1.2 mi) from its previous location.


1949 Ambato earthquake, Current situation
Ambato is frequently visited by tourists traveling on the Pan-American Highway. The city is well known for its extensive market, which sells a wide array of items, including local delicacies and flowers, and for its  quintas — old estates that serve as historic parks —  some of which pre-date the earthquake.


1949 Ambato earthquake, Current situation
Ecuador is still at risk from earthquakes: Both intraplate (such as those in March 1987) and interplate earthquakes are possible. Intraplate seismicity poses a more formidable threat, as it can be much more powerful than interplate seismicity and is usually associated with landslides, subsidence, and even soil liquefaction.


1949 Argentine Primera División
The 1949 Argentine Primera División was the 58th season of top-flight football in Argentina. The season began on April 24 and ended on February 16, 1950.


1949 Argentine Primera División
Atlanta and Ferro Carril Oeste returned to Primera, while Lanús was relegated. Racing won its 10th league title.


1949 Argentine Primera División
For the first time, the AFA established as mandatory the use of squad numbers for Primera División matches. Displayed on players' backs, shirts had to be numbered from 2 to 11 so this rule was not mandatory for goalkeepers. The system entered into force since the 9th fixture on June 26.


1949 Arizona State Sun Devils football team
The 1949 Arizona State Sun Devils football team was an American football team that represented Arizona State College (later renamed Arizona State University) in the Border Conference during the 1949 college football season. In their third season under head coach Ed Doherty, the Sun Devils compiled a 7–3 record (4–1 against Border opponents), lost to Xavier in the Salad Bowl, and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 342 to 204.


1949 Arizona State–Flagstaff Lumberjacks football team
The 1949 Arizona State–Flagstaff Lumberjacks football team was an American football team that represented Arizona State College at Flagstaff (now known as Northern Arizona University) in the Border Conference during the 1949 college football season. In their first and only year under head coach Emil Ladyko, the Lumberjacks compiled a 1–6–1 record (0–3 against conference opponents), was outscored by a total of 261 to 102, and finished last of nine teams in the Border Conference.


1949 Arizona State–Flagstaff Lumberjacks football team
The team played its home games at Skidmore Field in Flagstaff, Arizona.


1949 Arizona Wildcats football team
The 1949 Arizona Wildcats football team represented the University of Arizona in the Border Conference during the 1949 college football season. In their first season under head coach Bob Winslow, the Wildcats compiled a 2–7–1 record (2–4 against Border opponents) and were outscored by opponents, 298 to 118. The team captains were Max Spilsbury and Roy Rivenburg. The team played its home games in Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Arizona.


1949 Arkansas Razorbacks football team
The 1949 Arkansas Razorbacks football team represented the University of Arkansas in the Southwest Conference (SWC) during the 1949 college football season. In their fourth and final year under head coach John Barnhill, the Razorbacks compiled a 5–5 record (2–4 against SWC opponents), finished in sixth place in the SWC, and were outscored by their opponents by a combined total of 175 to 167.


1949 Arkansas Razorbacks football team
The 1949 season included the first football game between Arkansas and current Southeastern Conference opponent Vanderbilt. Geno Mazzanti was the Razorbacks' leading rusher in 1949 with 757 rushing yards on 123 carries (6.2 yards per carry). Don Logue led the team in passing, completing 31 of 79 passes for 374 yards. Future NFL player and college football broadcaster Pat Summerall, a freshman, led the Razorbacks in receiving categories in 1949 with 17 catches for 298 yards. Summerall also played defensive line and placekicker.


1949 Armistice Agreements
The 1949 Armistice Agreements are a set of armistice agreements signed during 1949 between Israel and neighboring Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria to formally end the official hostilities of the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, and establish armistice lines between Israeli forces and Jordanian-Iraqi forces, also known as the Green Line.


1949 Armistice Agreements
The United Nations established supervising and reporting agencies to monitor the established armistice lines. In addition, discussions related to the armistice enforcement, led to the signing of the separate Tripartite Declaration of 1950 between the United States, Britain, and France. In it, they pledged to take action within and outside the United Nations to prevent violations of the frontiers or armistice lines. It also outlined their commitment to peace and stability in the area, their opposition to the use or threat of force, and reiterated their opposition to the development of an arms race. These lines held until the 1967 Six-Day War.


1949 Armistice Agreements, Agreements, With Egypt
On 6 January 1949, Ralph Bunche announced that Egypt had finally consented to start talks with Israel on an armistice. The talks began on the Greek island of Rhodes on 12 January. Shortly after their commencement, Israel agreed to the release of a besieged Egyptian brigade in Faluja, but soon rescinded their agreement. At the end of the month, the talks floundered. Israel demanded that Egypt withdraw all its forces from the former area of Mandate Palestine. Egypt insisted that Arab forces withdraw to the positions which they held on 14 October 1948, as per the Security Council Resolution S/1070 of 4 November 1948, and that the Israeli forces withdraw to positions north of the Majdal–Hebron road.


1949 Armistice Agreements, Agreements, With Egypt
The deadlock culminated on 12 February 1949 with the murder of Hassan al-Banna, leader of the Islamist group Muslim Brotherhood. Israel threatened to abandon the talks, whereupon the United States appealed to the parties to bring them to a successful conclusion.


1949 Armistice Agreements, Agreements, With Egypt
On 24 February the Israel–Egypt Armistice Agreement was signed in Rhodes. The main points of the armistice agreement were:


1949 Armistice Agreements, Agreements, With Lebanon
The agreement with Lebanon was signed on 23 March 1949. The main points were:


1949 Armistice Agreements, Agreements, With Jordan
The agreement with Jordan was signed on 3 April 1949. The main points:


1949 Armistice Agreements, Agreements, With Jordan
In March 1949 as the Iraqi forces withdrew from Palestine and handed over their positions to the smaller Jordanian legion, 3 Israeli brigades maneuvered into positions of advantage in Operation Shin-Tav-Shin and Operation Uvda. The operations allowed Israel to renegotiate the cease fire line in the southern Negev (giving access to the Red Sea) and the Wadi Ara area in a secret agreement reached on 23 March 1949 and incorporated into the General Armistice Agreement.


1949 Armistice Agreements, Agreements, With Jordan
The Green Line was then redrawn in blue ink on the southern map to give the impression that a shift of the Green Line had been made. The events that led to a change in the Green Line was an exchange of fertile land in the Bethlehem area to Israeli control and the village of Wadi Fukin being given to Jordanian control.


1949 Armistice Agreements, Agreements, With Jordan
On 15 July when the Israeli Army expelled the population of Wadi Fukin after the village had been transferred to the Israeli-occupied area under the terms of the Armistice Agreement concluded between Israel and the Jordan Kingdom the Mixed Armistice Commission decided on 31 August, by a majority vote, that Israel had violated the Armistice Agreement by expelling villagers across the demarcation line and decided that the villagers should be allowed to return to their homes. However, when the villagers returned to Wadi Fukin under the supervision of the United Nations observers on September 6, they found most of their houses destroyed and were again compelled by the Israeli Army to return to Jordanian controlled territory.


1949 Armistice Agreements, Agreements, With Jordan
The United Nations Chairman of the Mixed Commission, Colonel Garrison B. Coverdale (US), pressed for a solution of this issue to be found in the Mixed Armistice Commission, in an amicable and UN spirit. After some hesitation, this procedure was accepted and finally an agreement was reached whereby the Armistice Demarcation Line was changed to place Wadi Fukin under Jordanian authority who, in turn, agreed to transfer of some uninhabited, but fertile territory south of Bethlehem to Israel control.


1949 Armistice Agreements, Agreements, With Syria
Armistice talks with Syria started at Gesher B'not Yaacov, on the River Jordan, in April 1949, after the other armistice agreements had been concluded. The agreement with Syria was signed on 20 July 1949.


1949 Armistice Agreements, Agreements, With Syria
Syria withdrew its forces from most of the territories it controlled west of the international border, which became demilitarized zones. The territory retained by Syria that lay west of the 1923 Palestinian Mandate border and which had been allocated to the Jewish state under the UN partition plan comprised 66 square kilometers in the Jordan Valley. These territories were designated demilitarized zones (DMZs) and remained under Syrian control. It was emphasised that the armistice line was "not to be interpreted as having any relation whatsoever to ultimate territorial arrangements." (Article V)


1949 Armistice Agreements, Iraq
Iraq, whose forces took an active part in the war (although it has no common border with Israel), withdrew its forces from the region in March 1949. The front occupied by Iraqi forces was covered by the armistice agreement between Israel and Jordan, and there was no separate agreement with Iraq.


1949 Armistice Agreements, Cease-fire line vs. permanent border
The new military frontiers for Israel, as set by the agreements, encompassed about 78% of mandatory Palestine as it stood after the independence of Transjordan (now Jordan) in 1946. The Arab populated areas not controlled by Israel prior to 1967 were the Jordanian ruled West Bank and the Egyptian occupied Gaza Strip.


1949 Armistice Agreements, Cease-fire line vs. permanent border
The armistice agreements were intended to serve only as interim agreements until replaced by permanent peace treaties. However, it took three decades to achieve a peace treaty between Israel and Egypt, and it took another 15 years after that to achieve a peace treaty between Israel and Jordan. To this day, no peace treaty has been signed between Israel and Lebanon nor between Israel and Syria.


1949 Armistice Agreements, Cease-fire line vs. permanent border
The armistice agreements were clear (at Arab insistence) that they were not creating permanent borders. The Egyptian-Israeli agreement stated "The Armistice Demarcation Line is not to be construed in any sense as a political or territorial boundary, and is delineated without prejudice to rights, claims and positions of either Party to the Armistice as regards ultimate settlement of the Palestine question."


1949 Armistice Agreements, Cease-fire line vs. permanent border
The Jordanian-Israeli agreement stated: "... no provision of this Agreement shall in any way prejudice the rights, claims, and positions of either Party hereto in the peaceful settlement of the Palestine questions, the provisions of this Agreement being dictated exclusively by military considerations" (Art. II.2), "The Armistice Demarcation Lines defined in articles V and VI of this Agreement are agreed upon by the Parties without prejudice to future territorial settlements or boundary lines or to claims of either Party relating thereto." (Art. VI.9)


1949 Armistice Agreements, Cease-fire line vs. permanent border
As the Armistice Demarcation Lines were technically not borders, the Arabs considered that Israel was restricted in its rights to develop the DMZ and exploitation of the water resources. Further that as a state of war still existed with the Arab nations, the Arab League was not hindered in their right to deny Israel the freedom of navigation through the Arab League waters. Also it was argued that the Palestinians had the right of return and that the Israeli use of abandoned property was therefore not legitimate.


1949 Armistice Agreements, Cease-fire line vs. permanent border
In the Knesset then Foreign Minister and future Prime Minister Moshe Sharett called the armistice lines "provisional boundaries" and the old international borders which the armistice lines, except with Jordan, were based on, "natural boundaries". Israel did not lay claim to territory beyond them and proposed them, with minor modifications except at Gaza, as the basis of permanent political frontiers at the Lausanne Conference, 1949.


1949 Armistice Agreements, Cease-fire line vs. permanent border
After the 1967 Six-Day War several Israeli leaders argued against turning the Armistice Demarcation Lines into permanent borders on the grounds of Israeli security:


1949 Armistice Agreements, Cease-fire line vs. permanent border
The internationally recognized border between Egypt and Israel was eventually demarcated as part of the Egypt–Israel Peace Treaty. The border between Israel and Jordan (except for Jordan's border with the post-1967 West Bank) was demarcated as part of the Israel–Jordan peace treaty. This occurred after Jordan had recognized Palestine, which had not declared its borders at the time. In its application for membership to the United Nations, Palestine declared its territory to consist of the West Bank and Gaza, implying that some of Jordan's previous border with Israel is now with Palestine.


1949 Armistice Agreements, Violations
In each case Mixed Armistice Commissions (MACs) were formed under the auspices of the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization, (UNTSO) which investigated complaints by all parties and made regular reports to the UN Security Council.


1949 Armistice Agreements, Violations
As part of its dispute with Syria over use of the Demilitarized Zone created by the Israel-Syria Armistice Agreement, Israel from 1951 refused to attend meetings of the Israel/Syria Mixed Armistice Commission. The U.N. Security Council, in its resolution of 18 May 1951, criticized Israel's refusal to participate in Mixed Armistice Commission meetings as being "inconsistent with the objectives and intent of the Armistice Agreement".


1949 Armistice Agreements, Violations
The discussion of complaints by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan/Israel Mixed Armistice Commission during the year 1952 resulted in:


1949 Armistice Agreements, Violations
Statistics Taken from The Official Records of The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan/Israel Mixed Armistice Commission Period from 1 January 1953 Through 15 October 1953:


1949 Armistice Agreements, Violations, Specific Incidents
On 28–29 January 1953 Israeli military forces estimated at 120 to 150 men, using 2-inch (51 mm) mortars, 3-inch mortars, PIAT weapons, bangalore torpedoes, machine-guns, grenades and small arms, crossed the demarcation line and attacked the Arab villages of Falameh and Rantis. At Falameh the mukhtar was killed, seven other villagers were wounded, and three houses were demolished. The attack lasted four and a half hours. Israel was condemned for this act by the Mixed Armistice Commission.


1949 Armistice Agreements, Violations, Specific Incidents
22 April 1953, firing broke out at sunset within Jerusalem along the demarcation line on a length of about 4 kilometres. It lasted two hours, until the cease-fire arranged by United Nations observers came into effect. On the following day, there were isolated shots in the early morning and in the afternoon. There were twenty Jordanian casualties—ten killed and ten wounded. Six Israelis were wounded. The Jerusalem incident was investigated by United Nations observers. After studying the evidence collected, General Riley, in a report to the Security Council on the violation of the cease-fire [S/3607], stated that it appeared impossible to determine who fired the first shot.


1949 Armistice Agreements, Violations, Specific Incidents
On 25, 26, and 27 May, the two parties submitted complaints alleging violation of the General Armistice Agreement by civilians and military personnel in the Al-Dawayima area. In an emergency meeting of the Mixed Armistice Commission, both parties agreed to a mixed investigation. United Nations observers accompanied the representatives to the demarcation line to establish the facts. Despite the cease-fire which had been previously arranged, heavy firing broke out during the investigation.


1949 Armistice Agreements, Violations, Specific Incidents
Israel troops had fired across the demarcation line at Jordanians in Jordan territory in response to illegal border trespassing by Jordanian farmers and Israeli soldiers were suspected to have burned crops in Jordan territory. The origin of the incident was the illegal cultivation by Jordanians of land in Israel territory. Armed Jordanians had penetrated Israel territory to harvest crops, and other Jordanians had fired across the demarcation line to protect the harvesters. The Jordanian government took no action to encourage or prevent the actions taken, though later considerations were made.


1949 Armistice Agreements, Violations, Specific Incidents
During the latter part of May 1953, incidents took place which cost the lives of three persons and in which six others were wounded. On the night of 25–26 May, an armed group from Jordan attacked two homes in Beit Arif, wounding two women. The same night, armed Jordanians attacked a home in Beit Nabala, killing a woman and wounding her husband and two children. Jordan was condemned for all three of these attacks.


1949 Armistice Agreements, Violations, Specific Incidents
On the night of 9 June, armed Jordanians blew up a house in Tirat Yehuda, killing one man, and two nights later an armed band struck at a house in Kfar Hess, killing a woman and seriously wounding her husband. Jordan was again condemned by the Mixed Armistice Commission for these attacks. Both governments were greatly concerned over the happenings during this fortnight, and a great effort was made to stop the work of these groups, which seemed bent on creating tension along the border.


1949 Armistice Agreements, Violations, Specific Incidents
11 August 1953, Israel military forces using demolition mines, bangalore torpedoes, 2-inch mortars, machine-guns and small arms attacked the villages of Idna, Surif and Wadi Fukin, inflicting casualties among the inhabitants and destroying dwellings. The body of an Israel soldier in full uniform with identification tag was found in the village of Idna after the attack. The Mixed Armistice Commission condemned Israel for these attacks.


1949 Armistice Agreements, Violations, Specific Incidents
2 September 1953: Arabs, infiltrated from Jordan, reached the neighbourhood of Katamon, in the heart of Jerusalem where they threw hand grenades in all directions. Miraculously, no one was hurt.


1949 Armistice Agreements, Violations, Specific Incidents
3 September 1953: Sovereignty over the DMZ (Demarcation Zone) between Syria Israel is questioned when Israel start a creeping border attempt by using a water diversion in DMZ; USA threatens to end aid channelled to Israel by the Foreign Operations Administration. Israel moves intake out of DMZ.


1949 Armistice Agreements, Violations, Specific Incidents
In September 1953 the General Headquarters orders Unit 101 to drive Bedouins out from the Negev and push them southward to Sinai. Unit 101 soldiers act aggressively: they raid the Bedouin camp, shooting aimlessly, confiscating arms and burning tents. The Bedouins run away, leaving many wounded behind. For a few days Unit 101 pursuits the Bedouins until they are out of the Negev.


1949 Armistice Agreements, Violations, Specific Incidents
2 October 1953: The explosion of a land mine on the Israel railway north of Eyal derailed an Israel freight train. The Mixed Armistice Commission has held Jordan responsible for this act of violence which fortunately caused no loss of life and relatively little damage, as the train was made up of empty tank cars.


1949 Armistice Agreements, Violations, Specific Incidents
14 October 1953: Qibya massacre – 130 Israeli troops crossed the demarcation line into Qibya village, attacking the inhabitants by firing from automatic weapons and explosives. Forty-one dwelling houses and a school building were destroyed. Resulting in the murder of forty-two lives and the wounding of fifteen persons and the damage of a police car, and at the same time, the crossing of a part of the same group into Shuqba village, breaching article III, paragraph 2 of the General Armistice Agreement. A number of unexploded hand grenades, marked with Hebrew letters and three bags of TNT were found in and about the village.


1949 Armistice Agreements, Violations, Specific Incidents
24 November 1953: Resolution 101 the Security Council is passed which "took note of the fact that there is substantial evidence of crossing of the demarcation line by unauthorized persons, ten resulting in acts of violence and requests the Government of Jordan to continue and strengthen the measures which they are already taking to prevent such crossing." The Security Council condemned Israel for the operation in Qibya.


1949 Armistice Agreements, Violations, Specific Incidents
December 1953: The Jordanian authorities carried out the following measures:-


1949 Armistice Agreements, Violations, Specific Incidents
16 December 1953, two Israeli soldiers were killed while on patrol inside Israel territory (approximate M. R. 1433–1097). On 21 December, the Mixed Armistice Commission condemned Jordan for this incident.


1949 Armistice Agreements, Violations, Specific Incidents
18 December 1953, a car was ambushed on the Hebron road (approximate M.R. 1658–1221) inside Jordan and an Arab Legion medical officer was killed. Israel was condemned by the Mixed Armistice Commission for this incident (21 December).


1949 Armistice Agreements, Violations, Specific Incidents
21 December 1953, an armed group attacked a Bedouin camp near Tarqumyia (approximate M.R. 1512–1092) wounding one man. Israel was condemned by the Mixed Armistice Commission for this incident (23 December).


1949 Armistice Agreements, Violations, Specific Incidents
21 December, an armed group, using explosives and automatic weapons, attacked a house near Hebron (approximate M.R. 1591–1066) killing one pregnant woman and two men, and wounding another man. Israel was condemned for this incident (24 December). The last three incidents were apparently reprisal attacks for the killing of the two Israeli soldiers on 16 December. Two Arabs responsible for this crime were arrested by the Jordan police a few days later.


1949 Armistice Agreements, Violations, Specific Incidents
14 February 1954, an Israeli villager on guard duty at Mahasyia, near Deiraban, (approximate M. R. 1510–1282) in the central area, was killed. No evidence was introduced to indicate that Jordanians were guilty of this crime and on 18 February the Chairman voted against the Israeli draft resolution condemning Jordan.


1949 Armistice Agreements, Violations, Specific Incidents
17 February 1954: the Israel delegation complained that five armed persons dressed in khaki crossed the demarcation line during the night and, on the morning of 16 February, stole a flock of 260 sheep belonging to an Israeli kibbutz. According to the complaint, the Israeli shepherd and his flock were taken into caves and kept there till 5.30 p.m. when the shepherd was released and the marauders returned to the Gaza Strip with the flock crossing the demarcation line at M.R. 1067–1024. The Israel delegation considered that "the above was a carefully planned action ordered by the Egyptian authorities and carried out by a well-trained military unit."


1949 Armistice Agreements, Violations, Specific Incidents
17 February 1954: the Israel delegation complained that two Arabs crossed the demarcation line into Israel at M.R. 1018–0992, on 16 February. According to the complaint, they started to escape when challenged by Israeli guards, and fire having been opened on them, one was hit and was dragged over the demarcation line by the second.


1949 Armistice Agreements, Violations, Specific Incidents
18 February, the Mixed Armistice Commission condemned Israel and Jordan for firing across the demarcation line on 14 February near Deir el Ghusun (approximate M. R. 1575–1955) in the northern area. This firing resulted in the killing, of one Jordanian.


1949 Armistice Agreements, Violations, Specific Incidents
18 February: the Israel delegation complained that on 18 February at 1 p.m. two armed Egyptian soldiers crossed the demarcation line at M.R. 10884–10486. According to the complaint, the Egyptian soldiers refused to stop, when challenged by an Israeli patrol; two warning shots were fired; one of the Egyptian soldieries escaped, and the other was killed 15 meters inside Israel territory


1949 Armistice Agreements, Violations, Specific Incidents
18 February: the Israel delegation complained that on 18 February four armed infiltrators crossed the demarcation line into Israel and that when challenged by an Israel patrol at M.R. 1023-1123 they started to escape while firing on the patrol. During the exchange of fire one of the infiltrators was killed.


1949 Armistice Agreements, Violations, Specific Incidents
19 February: the Egyptian delegation complained that on 18 February, at M.R. 1087–1050, a patrol of two Egyptian soldiers in Egyptian territory was attacked by armed Israelis hiding in ambush. One of the Egyptian soldiers was kidnapped and killed inside Israel-controlled territory, close to the demarcation line (Cf. sub-paragraph (c) above summarizing an Israeli complaint dated 18 February).


1949 Armistice Agreements, Violations, Specific Incidents
19 February: the Egyptian delegation complained that on 19 February armed Israelis opened automatic fire across the demarcation line at an Arab working in his field at M.R. 0952–0931. The Arab was seriously injured.


1949 Armistice Agreements, Violations, Specific Incidents
24 February One Arab was reported killed and another wounded by the Egyptian delegation.


1949 Armistice Agreements, Violations, Specific Incidents
16 March 1954, Israelis of the Ein Gev colony began ploughing 130 dunums of land situated near the colony and belonging to the Arab population of demilitarised Nuqeib, in violation of the verbal agreement concluded at Samara in 1950 to the effect that the two parties should retain and work the said land until the problem was settled.


1949 Armistice Agreements, Violations, Specific Incidents
17 March 1954: Ma'ale Akrabim [Scorpion Pass]. Terrorists ambushed a bus traveling from Eilat to Tel Aviv, and opened fire at short range when the bus reached the area of Maale Akrabim in the northern Negev. In the initial ambush, the terrorists killed the driver and wounded most of the passengers. The terrorists then boarded the bus, and shot each passenger, one by one. Eleven passengers were murdered. Survivors recounted how the murderers spat on the bodies and abused them.


1949 Armistice Agreements, Violations, Specific Incidents
The Israeli claimed that the terrorists could clearly be traced back to the Jordanian border, some 20 km from the site of the terrorist attack. The MAC investigation found that the claim could not be substantiated and that the attack was more likely to have been by Bedu tribesman from within Israel and the Israeli complaint was not upheld.


1949 Armistice Agreements, Violations, Specific Incidents
23 March 1954: The Israel Government has severed all connections with the Mixed Armistice Commission. It has also discontinued attendance at the local commanders' meetings provided for under a separate Israel-Jordan agreement. Israel communications referring to alleged violations by Jordan of the General Armistice Agreement have been addressed to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, with the request that they should be circulated to the members of the Security Council.


1949 Armistice Agreements, Violations, Specific Incidents
The Chief of Staff of the Truce Supervision Organization in Jerusalem has been informed of such alleged violations of the General Armistice Agreement only on receiving from New York a copy of the Security Council document. The non-co-operation of the Israel Government has prevented the investigation of such alleged violations in conformity with the provisions of the General Armistice Agreement.


1949 Armistice Agreements, Violations, Specific Incidents
On 29 March 1954, at 07.00 hours, local time, the Jordanian delegation presented to the Chairman of the Mixed Armistice Commission a verbal complaint dealing with an incident which had occurred on 29 March 1954 at 07.00 hours, local time, at Nahhalin village, some 35 kilometers from the demarcation line "an Israel armed force, well equipped, surrounded the village from three directions and penetrated inside the village and opened fire from different automatic weapons, threw hand-grenades and placed mines at some houses, including the mosque of the village.


1949 Armistice Agreements, Violations, Specific Incidents
As a result of this brutal attack, 9 persons—8 men and 1 woman—were killed, and 14 others were injured and taken to hospital. Fire lasted for about one hour and a half, and was returned by the village guards. Then the aggressors withdrew. Mines, grenades and other warlike materials bearing Hebrew markings were found on the spot. This complaint was upheld by the Mixed Armistice Commission


1949 Armistice Agreements, Violations, Specific Incidents
30 June 1954, two Israeli armoured launchers attacked the Syrian post of El Koursi, situated on Syrian soil, with their 20-mm. and 57-mm. guns, this time with the support of Israel field artillery sited in the defensive area. This artillery continued firing for approximately one hour and 45 minutes, causing material damage to the post.


1949 Armistice Agreements, Violations, Specific Incidents
5 December 1954, at approximately 16.30 hours, a group of 8 armed Israel State policemen stationed approximately at MR 209600 233400 opened fire on two Arab farmers at approximately MR 209600 233450 in the southern demilitarised zone (Tawafiq). The fire was returned by the two Arabs. One of them was hit by a bullet and immediately taken to hospital. The MAC Decided that the presence of a regular Israel police force in the southern demilitarised zone is a flagrant violation of article V of the General Armistice Agreement and requested that the Israel authorities to pay to the wounded Arab civilian an appropriate compensation.


1949 Armistice Agreements, Violations, Specific Incidents
A list of 29 complaints are alleged in the 27 October 1953 Report by the Chief of Staff of the Truce Supervision Organization. See appendix I, II and II for a tabulated list of Israel and Jordanian complaints to the MAC the number of condemnations given to each country as a result of MAC investigations infractions of the agreement by Jordan was submitted on April 6, 1954.


1949 Armistice Agreements, Violations, Specific Incidents
These alleged infractions included alleged Jordanian attacks on an Israeli civilian bus, killing 11 people (see 17 March above), attacks on Israeli farmers and Bedouin shepherds, sniping at Israeli civilians from the Old City of Jerusalem, kidnappings, shooting at civilian aircraft, ambushing roads and laying mines. In violation of the agreements, the Jordanians denied Jewish access to the holy places in Jerusalem, prohibited visits to Rachel's Tomb and vandalized the Jewish cemetery on the Mount of Olives, using tombstones for construction of pavements and latrines.


1949 Armistice Agreements, Violations, Specific Incidents
The 'Uja al-Hafeer demilitarized zone on the Israeli-Egyptian border was the site of numerous border incidents and armistice violations. In September 1955, Ariel Sharon's paratroopers entered the United Nation sector of the demilitarized zone. Benny Morris writes that Sharon "didn't realize that the UN area was off limits for his men." On May 28, 1958, Israel reported a shooting incident in the demilitarized zone on Mount Scopus in which 4 Israel police officers patrolling the botanical gardens of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, along with the United Nations observer sent to extricate them, were killed by Jordanian fire from Issawiya. Israel sent soldiers into Jordanian territory to conduct raids in retaliation for incursions by armed persons into Israel. From their positions on the Golan Heights Syrian forces shelled Israeli settlements in the demilitarized zone, attacked fishing boats on the Kinneret and fired on agricultural workers.


1949 Armistice Agreements, Texts
The complete texts of the Armistice Agreements can be found at


1949 Armistice Agreements, Texts
A  at the United Nations web site for "Mixed Armistice Commission" will reveal many of the reports made to the UN by those commissions.


1949 Army Cadets football team
The 1949 Army Cadets football team represented the United States Military Academy in the 1949 college football season. The Cadets scored 354 points, while the defense allowed only 68 points. Arnold Galiffa was the starting quarterback, ahead of Earl Blaik's son, Bob. Johnny Trent was the team captain. The Cadets won the Lambert-Meadowlands Trophy as the best college team in the East. At season’s end, Red Blaik confessed that he thoughts of retiring.


1949 Army Cadets football team, Offseason
Sid Gillman left Army to become the head coach for the University of Cincinnati. Head coach Red Blaik interviewed Vince Lombardi, but harbored doubts that Lombardi's background as a high school coach would prepare him for the job.


1949 Army Cadets football team, Coaching staff
Besides Lombardi, Murray Warmath of Tennessee was the other new face on the coaching staff. Lombardi would focus on offense, while Warmath worked on the defense. They were the only civilian coaches on the staff. In November 1934, Lombardi (with Fordham) faced off against Warmath (playing for Tennessee) with Fordham winning the game 13-12. The other members of the staff included Doug Kenna, Paul Amen, and John Sauer.


1949 Army Cadets football team, Accusations of dirty play
There were accusations that Army played dirty. Against the University of Michigan, Wolverine’s halfback Chuck Ortmann was knocked unconscious. The accusation was that Army player Gil Stephenson kicked him. The matter was escalated when Michigan professor of Geology, WH Hobbs was interviewed by the Michigan Daily and commented on the play. The press continued to establish Army’s notoriety as bullies after convincing wins over Harvard 54-14, and Columbia 63-6. Army hosted Vince Lombardi’s former team, the Fordham Rams at Michie Stadium.


1949 Army Cadets football team, Accusations of dirty play
One of the members of the Rams was Vince’s brother, Joe Lombardi, who transferred to the school after Lombardi left. Tim Cohane, writer of Look Magazine was a Fordham alumnus, and a friend of Army coach Red Blaik. He pressured both teams to play each other. Cohane felt the game would help Fordham rise to national prominence. Herb Seidell, the Fordham captain, lost a tooth in the game. Several fights ensued and the media named the match, the Donnybrook on the Hudson. There were multiple penalties for unnecessary roughness.


1949 Arrow Air DC-3 crash
The 1949 Arrow Air DC-3 crash was an aviation accident that occurred on December 7, 1949, near Benicia, California. The aircraft, a Douglas DC-3 operated by Arrow Air, was flying from Oakland, California to Sacramento with 9 occupants, when it crashed. The cause of the crash was never confirmed, but evidence pointed towards pilot error. Everyone on board were killed in the crash.


1949 Arrow Air DC-3 crash, Accident summary
The flight departed from Burbank at 2:20 PM, bound for Oakland. In command was captain James Garnett, and the co-pilot Joseph Meade Dillon. The flight to Oakland was uneventful, and when it arrived, 10 passengers disembarked. The plane then departed from Oakland at 4:46 PM, and was scheduled to arrive at Sacramento 5:33. It was carrying 9 occupants, including 3 children. Among the passengers was the wife of George E. Batchelor, the founder of Arrow Air. There were reports of bad weather on the flight that night. After takeoff, the flight reached its cruising altitude of 4,000 feet. At 5:08 PM, the flight made a call with the radio station in Richmond, and was assigned to make radio contact with the radio navigation center in Fairfield, 15 minutes later. The call was never made however.


1949 Arrow Air DC-3 crash, Accident summary
When the flight was reported missing, a search was launched to find the missing aircraft. It was found the next morning on a hillside north of Benicia. All the occupants were reported dead. It was discovered that the flight had descended to 800 feet when it was assigned to maintain 4,000. However, why it did so was never determined.


1949 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1949 Atlantic hurricane season was the last season that tropical cyclones were not publicly labeled by the United States Weather Bureau. It officially began on June 15, and lasted until November 15. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin. The first storm, a tropical depression, developed in the northern Gulf of Mexico on August 14. The final system, Tropical Storm Sixteen, dissipated in the southwestern Caribbean Sea on November 5. It was a fairly active season, featuring 16 tropical storms and seven hurricanes. Two of these strengthened into major hurricanes, which are Category 3 or higher on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale.


1949 Atlantic hurricane season
The most significant storm of the season was Hurricane Two. It caused up to $52 million (1949 USD) and two deaths after making landfall in Florida as a Category 4 hurricane. Another storm inflicting severe impact was Hurricane Ten. Striking Texas as a Category 2 hurricane, this storm brought heavy rainfall, strong winds, and storm surge to the state, with damage reaching about $6.7 million. In late September, Hurricane Nine caused 15 deaths and over $1 million in damage in Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic. The third tropical storm caused seven fatalities from drowning on Barbados. Several other systems brought minor impacts to land. Overall, storms during this season caused about $59.8 million in damage and 26 fatalities. This season also had the  most active September on record at that time, with seven cyclones attaining tropical storm status.


1949 Atlantic hurricane season, Season summary
The Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 15, 1949. However, tropical cyclogenesis did not begin until August 14, over two months after the start of the season. Overall, there were 16 tropical storms, seven of which strengthened into hurricanes. Three of these intensified into major hurricanes, which are Category 3 or higher on the modern day Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale (SSHWS). Four hurricanes and three tropical storms made landfall during the season, causing 26 deaths and $59.8 million in damage. The last storm of the season, Tropical Storm Sixteen, dissipated on November 5, about 10 days before the official end of the season on November 15.


1949 Atlantic hurricane season, Season summary
Activity began on August 14 with a short-lived tropical depression that developed in the northern Gulf of Mexico and struck the Florida Panhandle, then dissipated the following day. The next system was first observed north of the Lesser Antilles on August 21. The hurricane later threatened the Outer Banks of North Carolina, where it caused two deaths and about $50,000 in damage. By August 23, the Florida hurricane developed near the Lesser Antilles. It later peaked as a low-end Category 4 hurricane on the modern day Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale and struck South Florida at that intensity.


1949 Atlantic hurricane season, Season summary
The storm severely impacted the Florida peninsula and left two deaths and approximately $52 million in losses. On August 30, the third system of the season struck the Leeward Islands, causing some impact and seven deaths by drowning on Barbados. A fourth system was first observed near Puerto Rico on September 3. It peaked as a Category 3 hurricane while passing east on Bermuda. After becoming extratropical, the remnants of this storm struck Newfoundland. Tropical Storm Five also developed on September 3, in the southern Gulf of Mexico and struck Louisiana on September 4. It caused minor damage in Mississippi and Louisiana, totaling less than $50,000.


1949 Atlantic hurricane season, Season summary
Neither the sixth or seventh tropical storms impacted land. The eighth hurricane was initially observed in the Gulf of Mexico on September 20. It meandered erratically for several days, until eventually making landfall in Veracruz. The system produced above normal tides and locally heavy rains in Texas and Louisiana. Hurricane Nine was initially spotted near the Leeward Islands on September 20. It struck Dominican Republic on September 22, shortly before dissipating. The storm left over $1 million in damage and 15 deaths in Dominican Republican and Puerto Rico.


1949 Atlantic hurricane season, Season summary
On September 27, the tenth hurricane developed in the Pacific Ocean offshore Guatemala. The system eventually reached the Gulf of Mexico and struck Texas as a Category 2 hurricane on October 4. The adverse effects of this storm resulted in two deaths and $6.7 million in damage. No impact was reported from the final three storms, the last of which dissipated on November 5.


1949 Atlantic hurricane season, Season summary
The season's activity was reflected with an accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) rating of 96. ACE is, broadly speaking, a measure of the power of the hurricane multiplied by the length of time it existed, so storms that last a long time, as well as particularly strong hurricanes, have high ACEs. It is only calculated at every six-hour interval that a tropical cyclone is at or exceeding 39 mph (63 km/h), the threshold for tropical storm intensity.


1949 Atlantic hurricane season, Systems, Tropical depression
Historical weather maps began indicating the presence of a tropical wave to the east of the Windward Islands on August 4. Moving westward, the wave reached the Caribbean Sea three days later. The wave had entered the northeastern Gulf of Mexico by August 11, when it spawned a broad low-pressure area. A closed circulation likely formed on August 14, and thus, the wave became a tropical depression. The system soon made landfall in the western Florida Panhandle and dissipated over Alabama by the following day. A thunderstorm wind event associated with the depression produced a sustained wind speed up to 32 mph (51 km/h) in New Orleans, Louisiana.


1949 Atlantic hurricane season, Systems, Hurricane One
A tropical storm was first observed about a few hundred miles north of the Lesser Antilles on August 21. The storm moved west-northwestward and was upgraded to a hurricane 12 hours later, after various surface vessels reported winds of 80 mph (130 km/h). It paralleled The Bahamas and turned northward on August 23. Further intensification continued until August 24, with the storm approaching major hurricane status. At 00:00 UTC it peaked with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (175 km/h). The eye of the cyclone later passed over the Diamond Shoals Lightship, which recorded a minimum central barometric pressure of 977 mbar (28.9 inHg) while located offshore of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. The cyclone became extratropical on August 25 and dissipated near Iceland on August 30.


1949 Atlantic hurricane season, Systems, Hurricane One
In the Hatteras area, sustained winds reached 73 mph (117 km/h), while rainfall up to 4 in (100 mm) was observed. Thousands of trees were destroyed in Buxton. Damage was estimated at $50,000, mostly in the Buxton area. Additionally, the storm was attributed to two fatalities. Later on August 24, the storm curved east-northeastward and began to slowly weaken. By 00:00 UTC on August 26, it transitioned into an extratropical cyclone while located well south of Newfoundland. It was known as Hurricane Harry in newspapers.


1949 Atlantic hurricane season, Systems, Hurricane Two
A tropical storm developed east of the northernmost Lesser Antilles on August 23. It moved west-northwestward and strengthened, becoming a hurricane on August 24. Moving through the Bahamas, the storm rapidly strengthened over the warm sea surface temperatures of the Gulf Stream. It became a major hurricane on August 26 and then passed just north of Nassau. At 18:00 UTC on that day, it peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (210 km/h). Five hours later, the storm made landfall in Lake Worth, Florida, at the same intensity.


1949 Atlantic hurricane season, Systems, Hurricane Two
On August 27, the hurricane weakened quickly after moving inland over Lake Okeechobee, but otherwise maintained hurricane intensity as it curved northward into southern Georgia. At 00:00 UTC on August 28, it degenerated into a tropical storm. It later ejected northeastward and tracked rapidly across the Southeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic, and New England. On August 29, the storm became extratropical over New Hampshire.


1949 Atlantic hurricane season, Systems, Hurricane Two
In Florida, the storm produced strong winds, with highest official observations being sustained winds of 110 mph (180 km/h) at the Palm Beach International Airport and gusts of 155 mph (250 km/h) in Palm Beach. The most severe damage in South Florida occurred in Palm Beach, Jupiter, and Stuart; hundreds of homes, apartment buildings, stores, and warehouse buildings lost roofs and windows. Interior furnishings were blown through broken glass into the streets. Approximately 90% of homes and buildings were damaged in Stuart, leaving about 500 people homeless.


1949 Atlantic hurricane season, Systems, Hurricane Two
Additionally, heavy rainfall caused water to enter numerous homes in Martin and Palm Beach Counties. Significant damage to crops also occurred, particularly to citrus. In Florida alone, the hurricane caused two deaths and at least $52 million in damage, $20 million of which was to agriculture. Minor impact was reported in other states, with local flooding and light wind damage in Georgia, The Carolinas, and Maryland.


1949 Atlantic hurricane season, Systems, Tropical Storm Three
A tropical depression formed to the east of the Lesser Antilles on August 30. It moved steadily west-northwestward, passing over Barbados as a weak tropical storm. Seven people drowned on the island and 27 houses were destroyed in Bridgetown. After entering the Caribbean Sea on September 1, hostile conditions weakened the storm, and the third tropical cyclone of the season degenerated into a tropical wave on September 3 to the south of the eastern tip of the Dominican Republic.


1949 Atlantic hurricane season, Systems, Hurricane Four
A tropical wave developed into a tropical storm east of Puerto Rico on September 3. It moved northward and strengthened to a hurricane later that day, but then weakened to a strong tropical storm the next day. At the same time, the system halted its forward motion and began to drift eastward. Early on September 5, it re-intensified into a hurricane, and it became a major hurricane on September 6. The storm turned to the north on September 7 and passed about 65 mi (105 km) east of Bermuda on September 8. The hurricane weakened as it accelerated northeastward over cooler waters, and became extratropical on September 10 near Atlantic Canada. Shortly after becoming extratropical, it passed over Newfoundland, and ultimately dissipated on September 11 near southwestern Greenland.


1949 Atlantic hurricane season, Systems, Hurricane Four
The hurricane produced gale-force winds on Bermuda, though overall, no damage was reported. In Newfoundland, the storm brought rainfall up to 2 inches (51 mm) in many areas. The Bayfield was smashed into pieces along the rocky shores, though all of the crewmen swam to safety.


1949 Atlantic hurricane season, Systems, Tropical Storm Five
Early on September 3, a tropical storm developed in the south-central Gulf of Mexico. Throughout much of its duration, the storm headed north-northwestward, gradually intensifying into a moderate tropical storm. At around 12:00 UTC on September 4, the storm made landfall near Cocodrie, Louisiana, while at its peak intensity. While moving inland, it passed west of New Orleans and east of Vicksburg, Mississippi. The storm curved northeastward and slowly weakened across the Southern United States. Late on September 5, it dissipated over Tennessee. Damage was minimal in Louisiana and Mississippi, likely amounting to less than $50,000.


1949 Atlantic hurricane season, Systems, Tropical Storm Six
The sixth tropical storm of the season was first observed on September 5, while located about half-way between the northern Lesser Antilles and the Azores. The storm moved to the northwest and reached its peak intensity early on September 12. It then became extratropical, turning to the northeast before curving southeastward. It dissipated on September 16.


1949 Atlantic hurricane season, Systems, Tropical Storm Seven
An extratropical system developed into a tropical storm offshore The Carolinas on September 11. The storm moved west-northwestward and strengthened slightly, peaking with winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of 1,006 mbar (29.7 inHg). It then weakened somewhat before making landfall near Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina on September 13 with winds of 40 mph (65 km/h). The storm soon weakened to a tropical depression and curved northeastward. It dissipated over southeastern Virginia on September 14.


1949 Atlantic hurricane season, Systems, Tropical Storm Eight
A tropical storm developed early on September 13, while located about 595 miles (960 km) west of the southernmost islands of Cape Verde. The storm slowly strengthened while moving north-northeastward across the eastern Atlantic Ocean for much of its duration. Late on September 14, the system attained its peak intensity. Thereafter, it began to weakened and fell to tropical depression intensity on September 17. Later that day, the storm dissipated about 475 miles (765 km) south of the central Azores.


1949 Atlantic hurricane season, Systems, Hurricane Nine
A tropical wave entered the Gulf of Mexico on September 18. It moved northwestward and developed into a tropical storm on September 20, while offshore Louisiana. The storm continued northwestward, then turned to the southwest, and erratically looped to the south on September 22. Steadily strengthening as it tracked south-southwestward, the storm intensified into a hurricane on September 24. After turning to the southwest, it reached its peak intensity on September 25. The hurricane weakened as it turned to the south-southeast then south and fell to tropical storm intensity shortly before making landfall between Veracruz and Nautla.


1949 Atlantic hurricane season, Systems, Hurricane Nine
The system dissipated by September 26. Operationally, the storm was treated as two separate storms, due to reconnaissance aircraft being unable to report a center of circulation on September 23. The storm produced 2 to 3 ft (0.61 to 0.91 m) higher than normal tides along the coast of Texas and Louisiana, while its outer rainbands produced locally heavy rainfall.


1949 Atlantic hurricane season, Systems, Hurricane Ten
Hurricane San Mateo of 1949 A strong tropical wave approached the Lesser Antilles on September 20. Reconnaissance aircraft reports indicated the system initially lacked a circulation. However, based on a ship report of westerly winds, it is estimated the system developed into a tropical storm late on September 20, while located about 100 miles (160 km) south-southeast of Saint Croix. A small storm, it quickly strengthened as it traversed west-northwestward, and became a hurricane by 12:00 UTC on September 21. After reaching peak winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) the hurricane weakened, and it made landfall on September 22 on the southeastern Dominican Republic as a tropical storm. The storm rapidly dissipated after moving inland.


1949 Atlantic hurricane season, Systems, Hurricane Ten
Strong winds resulted in heavy damage in Saint Croix. In Puerto Rico, where it was known as the San Mateo Hurricane, wind gusts from the hurricane peaked at 64 mph (103 km/h) in Ramey. Gusty winds disrupted electrical and telephone services between Ponce and Mayagüez. In the latter, residents were evacuated inland to Red Cross shelters. The hurricane dropped heavy rainfall of up to 13.56 in (344 mm) in San Lorenzo, which caused flooding in several rivers in the northern portion of the island. Damage in Puerto Rico totaled to over $1 million, mainly to coffee crops and buildings. In the Dominican Republic, the hurricane killed 15 people, while damage amounted to $12,000.


1949 Atlantic hurricane season, Systems, Hurricane Eleven
A tropical depression formed in the eastern Pacific Ocean just offshore Guatemala on September 27. The depression drifted northwestward and made landfall in Guatemala on September 28. It crossed southeastern Mexico and entered the Gulf of Mexico near Ciudad del Carmen on October 1. Shortly after entering the Gulf of Mexico, the system strengthened into a tropical storm and became a hurricane on October 2. It turned more to the north and intensified to a strong Category 2 hurricane on October 3. Subsequently, the storm made landfall near Freeport, Texas, on October 4 at the same intensity. The hurricane rapidly weakened to a tropical storm as it turned northeastward over land. On October 6, it weakened to a tropical depression over Missouri and later became extratropical. The storm accelerated northeastward and dissipated near Chicago.


1949 Atlantic hurricane season, Systems, Hurricane Eleven
The hurricane produced high tides along the Texas coast, peaking at 11 feet (3.4 m) in Velasco. Galveston was temporarily cut off from the mainland when water surpassed the city's seawall. Several streets were flooded in Galveston and the city pier was damaged. Another pier in Port Aransas was nearly destroyed. Freeport sustained the most damage, totaling about $150,000. The hurricane dropped heavy rainfall in Texas, peaking at 14.5 inches (370 mm) in Goodrich. A tornado was also spawned in Riceville, which injured two children. Damage totaled approximately $6.7 million, primarily to crops. The hurricane also caused two deaths, one from electrocution in Port Neches and another due to drowning in Matagorda Bay. Outside of Texas, impact was mainly limited to minor damage to cars in four other states.


1949 Atlantic hurricane season, Systems, Tropical Storm Twelve
Another tropical storm developed northeast of Puerto Rico on October 2. The system initially moved northward, before curving to the east-northeast on the following day. It slowly strengthened and later peaked with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of 1,007 mbar (29.7 inHg). By early on October 6, the storm began to weaken and became extratropical the next day. Its remnants continued east-northeastward for about 12 hours, before dissipating on October 7.


1949 Atlantic hurricane season, Systems, Hurricane Thirteen
Beginning on October 11, an area of disturbed weather moved through the western Caribbean Sea. Early on October 13, a tropical depression made landfall in Guantánamo Province, Cuba. Continuing northeastward, the storm emerged into the Atlantic over the Bahamas. While located over the southeastern Bahamas, the system intensified into a tropical storm. Further intensification occurred and it became a hurricane on October 14, after exiting the Bahamas. Late on the following day, the hurricane reached its peak intensity. Thereafter, the storm began to deteriorate, weakening to a tropical storm on October 17. It became transitioned into an extratropical cyclone on October 19.


1949 Atlantic hurricane season, Systems, Tropical Storm Fourteen
A tropical storm was first observed about 865 miles (1,400 km) east-northeast of Barbuda. The storm initially moved west-northwestward, until re-curving northwestward on October 14. It strengthened slowly and peaked with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h). Thereafter, the storm began to weakened and fell to tropical depression intensity on October 17. Several hours later, it dissipated while located about 620 miles (1,000 km) south of Cape Race, Newfoundland.


1949 Atlantic hurricane season, Systems, Tropical Storm Fifteen
A tropical storm developed over the central Atlantic Ocean on November 1. The system moved southwestward and then west-southwestward, strengthening slowly during this time. On November 2, it peaked with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of 1,001 mbar (29.6 inHg). The storm began to weaken while appearing to threaten the Lesser Antilles, but later curved northwestward. On November 4, the system turned northward and weakened to a tropical depression. Early the next day, it became extratropical. The remnants continued northward before dissipating on November 6.


1949 Atlantic hurricane season, Systems, Tropical Storm Sixteen
The final storm developed from a persistent low pressure area in the northwestern Caribbean Sea near Swan Island on November 3. A reconnaissance aircraft reported a well-defined eye feature as the storm reached its peak intensity. The storm drifted south-southwestward and began weakening on November 4. Later that day, it made landfall over northeastern Honduras as a tropical depression. Shortly after moving inland, the system dissipated.


1949 Auburn Tigers football team
The 1949 Auburn Tigers football team represented Auburn University in the 1949 college football season. It was the Tigers' 58th overall and 17th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Earl Brown, in his second year, and played their home games at Cliff Hare Stadium in Auburn, the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery and Ladd Memorial Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. They finished the season with a record of two wins, four losses and three ties (2–4–3 overall, 2–4–2 in the SEC).


1949 Australia rugby union tour of New Zealand
The 1949 Australia rugby union tour of New Zealand was a series of 12 rugby union matches played by the "Wallabies" in 1949. The Australians lost only one match, and won the Test series 2-0.


1949 Australia rugby union tour of New Zealand
At the same time, a 30-man All Black squad was touring South Africa. On 3 September 1949, New Zealand lost two test matches on the same day - one in South Africa, the other at home to Australia.


1949 Australia rugby union tour of New Zealand
"The New Zealand Rugby Union ... decided that the 1949 matches against Australia would have full test status, even though the country's top 30 players were in South Africa. One of the reasons for the decision was to not deprive test caps to three of the All Blacks, Johnny Smith, Ben Couch and Vincent Bevan who were not considered for the South African tour because they were Māori (although Bevan was not regarded as eligible for the Māori All Blacks). All three would surely have otherwise gone to South Africa (also probably Ronald Bryers and Nau Cherrington)."


1949 Australian Championships
The 1949 Australian Championships was a tennis tournament that took place on outdoor Grass courts at the Memorial Drive, Adelaide, Australia from 21 January to 31 January. It was the 37th edition of the Australian Championships (now known as the Australian Open), the 9th held in Adelaide, and the first Grand Slam tournament of the year.


1949 Australian Championships
During the Australian Championships, men's singles and doubles, women's singles and doubles and mixed doubles was played throughout the ten days. In the men's singles, 40 players participated in the tournament to try and claim the title from defending champion, Adrian Quist. After he fell in the quarter-finals, the men's final was played between fourth-seed Frank Sedgman and top seed John Bromwich with Sedgman taking out his first Grand Slam singles title winning in straight sets. In the women's, 30 players attempted to take the title from defending champion, Nancye Bolton.


1949 Australian Championships
In the final it was between American and top-seeded player, Doris Hart and second seed Bolton with the American coming out on top in straight sets. Bolton and Bromwich would take out their respective doubles competitions with partners Adrian Quist and Thelma Coyne Long with Hart and Sedgman taking out the mixed doubles title.


1949 Australian Championships, Finals, Men's Doubles
John Bromwich /  Adrian Quist defeated  Geoff Brown /  Bill Sidwell 6–8, 7–5, 6–2, 6–3


1949 Australian Championships, Finals, Women's Doubles
Thelma Coyne Long /  Nancye Wynne Bolton defeated  Doris Hart /  Marie Toomey 6–0, 6–1


1949 Australian Championships, Finals, Mixed Doubles
Doris Hart /  Frank Sedgman defeated  Joyce Fitch /  John Bromwich 6–1, 5–7, 12–10


1949 Australian Championships – Men's Singles
Fourth-seeded Frank Sedgman defeated John Bromwich 6–3, 6–2, 6–2 in the final to win the Men's Singles tennis title at the 1949 Australian Championships.


1949 Australian Championships – Men's Singles, Seeds
The seeded players are listed below. Frank Sedgman is the champion; others show the round in which they were eliminated.


1949 Australian Championships – Women's Singles
First-seeded Doris Hart defeated Nancye Bolton 6–3, 6–4 in the final to win the Women's Singles tennis title at the 1949 Australian Championships.


1949 Australian Championships – Women's Singles, Seeds
The seeded players are listed below. Doris Hart is the champion; others show the round in which they were eliminated.


1949 Australian Grand Prix
The 1949 Australian Grand Prix was a motor race held at the Leyburn Airfield in Queensland, Australia on 18 September 1949. The race was staged over 35 laps of the 7.0 kilometre circuit, which was laid out on the runways and taxiways of a World War II airbase located six kilometres north of the town of Leyburn. The total race distance was 150.5 miles (242.2 kilometres).


1949 Australian Grand Prix
The race is recognised by the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport as the fourteenth Australian Grand Prix. It was the first Australian Grand Prix to be held in Queensland and the first to feature a mass start of the entire grid. The 1949 Australian Grand Prix was the first Australian Grand Prix to be held with grid positions decided by practice times. The race, which was organised by the Queensland Motor Sporting Club, attracted a crowd of approximately 40,000 people.


1949 Australian Grand Prix
John Crouch won the race driving a Delahaye 135MS. Ray "Laddie" Gordon (MG TC Special) finished second ahead of third placed Arthur Rizzo (Riley Special).


1949 Australian Grand Prix, Event overview
The 1949 Australian Grand Prix was hosted at an abandoned Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) airbase, Leyburn Airfield in Leyburn by the Queensland Motor Sporting Club. The race took place on the old runways of the decommissioned base in the Darling Downs. The use of Airfields for the hosting of Grand Prix events had become common following World War II. Victoria hosted the 1948 Australian Grand Prix at an airfield in Point Cook in the previous year.


1949 Australian Grand Prix, Event overview
The Queensland Motor Sporting Club decided that the official practice on the circuit for the 1949 Australian Grand Prix was to be held on 11 and 17 September. The town of Leyburn has a long history of motor racing which started with the 1949 Australian Grand Prix which coincided with the start of Leyburn Sprints.


1949 Australian Grand Prix, Event overview
There was a total of 28 competitors for the first Queensland held Grand Prix around the 6.92 km track. Out of the 28 racers that began the race only 11 finished without being forced to retire. The eventual winner of the Grand Prix was John Crouch, a motor sales manager in his private life. The 1949 Australian Grand Prix was the tenth Grand Prix Crouch had participated in, and on his 10th attempt achieved his first win in a Grand Prix driving a blue Delahaye 135MS which in 1949 he had owned for fourteen years.


1949 Australian Grand Prix, Event overview
Crouch finished the Grand Prix with a time that was 5 minutes (Approximately 2 laps) faster than second placed Ray Gordon who won the handicap in an MG TC Special that ran in conjunction to the Grand Prix. Behind Gordon finishing in third place was Arthur Rizzo in the Riley Special, followed by Peter Critchley in the MG TB Special in fourth. Alan Larsen finished the 1949 Australian Grand Prix in fifth position driving the Cadillac Special.


1949 Australian Grand Prix, Event overview
The crowd was projected to be an estimated 20,000 people. The crowd on the day of the 1949 Australian Grand Prix exceeded expectations with an overall estimation of 30,000 spectators in attendance. The spectators for the event contributed to the £6,000 (an estimated £217,490.80 or $397,299.01 AUD in 2021) accrued in gate ticket sales.


1949 Australian Grand Prix, Event overview
Prior to the commencement of the main race, the 1949 Australian Grand Prix, the 28 cars participating did one lap of the course while three Mustangs flew over the airfield performing an aerobatic display.


1949 Australian Grand Prix, Event overview
The Grand Prix featured a massed start rather than a handicap start, the latter format having been used for each race from 1931 to 1948.


1949 Australian Grand Prix, Event overview
The 1949 Australian Grand Prix and other events on the programme for the day took place without the occurrence of any crashes despite the heavily gravelled nature of Leyburn Airfield.


1949 Australian Grand Prix, Event overview
The prize money for the 1949 Australian Grand Prix was a total purse of £645(an estimated value of £23,380.26 or $42,709.64 AUD in 2021). With the winner, John Crouch, receiving £150 (an estimated value of £5,437.27 or $9,932.48 AUD in 2021) for his winning performance in the race. Ray Gordon who finished in second place received £75 (an estimated value of £2,718.64 or $5,002.89 AUD in 2021). Arthur Rizzo received £50 for finishing in third place (an estimated value of £1,812.42 or $3,335.25 AUD).


1949 Australian Grand Prix, Event overview
Peter Critchley won £35 (an estimated £1,268.70 or $2,334.69 AUD) for finishing the Grand Prix in fourth place. Alan Larsen won (an estimated £724.97 or $1,334.10 AUD) for finishing the race in fifth place. Crouch's winning time for the 150-mile circuit was 1 hour 49 minutes and 25 seconds at an average speed of 82.5 miles an hour.


1949 Australian Grand Prix, Public reception
It was assumed a crowd of 20,000 spectators would attend the Queensland Motor Sporting Club organised Grand Prix on 18 September 1949. The crowd exceeded expectations with a total of 30,000 spectators, with some accounts stating 50,000 in attendance to watch John Crouch win the Grand Prix in his 10th attempt at claiming line honours.


1949 Australian Grand Prix, Public reception
The full day programme had been finalised on 30 July 1949, with both motor car and cycle racing to take place on the day of the 1949 Australian Grand Prix on 18 September. The first event of the day was scheduled to commence at 10 a.m.


1949 Australian Grand Prix, Public reception
Despite the high attendance of the 1949 Australian Grand Prix from the spectators, the competitors preferred competing on a non-airfield track such as the track in the following 1950 Australian Grand Prix, in the Adelaide Hills at Nuriootpa.


1949 Australian Grand Prix, Public reception
The crowd at Leyburn Airfield for the Australian Grand Prix surrounding the track stretched four people deep for an estimated 2 and a half to three miles (Equating to 4.02336km to 4.82803km).


1949 Australian Grand Prix, Public reception
Periodic encroachment on to the track resulted in a late start to the racing programme that consisted of 6 events and subsequent non-completion of the final event. Police vehicles equipped with speaker systems that were used to attempt to keep the spectators off the track throughout the course of the day of racing. An estimated total of six thousand cars were parked on the grounds of Leyburn Airfield with seven planes landing in the morning transporting spectators to the event.


1949 Australian Grand Prix, Public reception
The significant amount of people in attendance necessitated a variety of seating methods. Including seating consisting of bales of wool and large petrol drums on the backs of a delivery trucks.


1949 Australian Grand Prix, Public reception
The Queensland Motor Sporting Club booked out all of the available accommodation within a total radius of 40 miles (Approximately 64.3738km) of Leyburn for any competitors travelling from the southern parts of Australia. With any left over accommodation available for members of the public to apply to the club for.


1949 Australian Grand Prix, Leyburn Airfield track
The 1949 Australian Grand was hosted at former airbase and RAAF aerodrome, Leyburn Airfield. The airfield is located in the south eastern Darling Downs region of Queensland, at an approximate distance of 37 kilometres from Toowoomba.


1949 Australian Grand Prix, Leyburn Airfield track
The airfield was selected to host the 1949 Australian Grand Prix due to its features conducive to a racing format. The course was roughly triangular and consists of two main racing straights in the form of runways. The two runways are both 150 feet wide (approximately 1.63km by 45.7m) and connected by a 50 foot wide (approximately 15.24m) perimeter track.


1949 Australian Grand Prix, Leyburn Airfield track
The airfield was tar-sealed and despite the undulating country of the Darling Downs, was almost on flat ground. The flat nature of Leyburn Airfield meant that an unrestricted view for spectators around the entire circuit from all of the vantage points was permitted.


1949 Australian Grand Prix, Leyburn Airfield track
Due to the runways straight disposition, fast speeds were attainable with great safety. On the long straight of 7,000 feet (approximately 2.14km) speeds were estimated to reach maximums of between 130 to 140 miles per hour (approximately between 209.215 kilometres per hour to 225.308 kilometres per hour).


1949 Australian Grand Prix, Competing car manufacturers
Across the range of 28 competitors in the 1949 Australian Grand Prix were a number of car manufacturers including Delahaye, Riley, Studebaker, Hudson and MG.


1949 Australian Grand Prix, Competing car manufacturers, Delahaye
The Delahaye 135MS was a sporting tourer designed by young French engineer Jean François. The 135MS had a racing history, winning the 24 Hour of Le Mans in the year of 1938 and the Monte Carlo Rally in 1937. This included a 2nd-place finish in the 1936 French Grand Prix hosted at Montlhéry.


1949 Australian Grand Prix, Competing car manufacturers, Delahaye
This culminated in the vehicle's participation at the 1949 Australian Grand Prix, where Delahaye raced a 135MS driven by John Crouch.


1949 Australian Grand Prix, Competing car manufacturers, Delahaye
John Crouch finished the first lap of the race in second place behind leader Frank Kleinig who was driving a Hudson Special. Crouch led the race at the end of the seventeenth lap, a whole lap ahead of Kleinig who was in second place in the Hudson Special.


1949 Australian Grand Prix, Competing car manufacturers, Delahaye
John Crouch's 135MS had 160 hp and saw him as the first racer to ever win an Australian Grand Prix in a Delahaye 135MS with a time on the day of 1h 49m 25.2s, finishing two laps ahead of Ray Gordon.


1949 Australian Grand Prix, Competing car manufacturers, Studebaker
A Studebaker Special was raced by Charlie Whatmore in the 1949 Australian Grand Prix. Whatmore was unable to complete the race retiring early due to reporting a leaking fuel tank, only completing a total of 10 laps out of the 35.


1949 Australian Grand Prix, Competing car manufacturers, MG
MG raced the MG TC Midget, the first post-war produced MG with 10,001 being manufactured from the release in September 1945 to November 1949. The MG TC was raced in the 1949 Australian Grand Prix by 2nd-place finisher, Ray Gordon who finished with a time of 1h 54m 12.2s.


1949 Australian Grand Prix, Competing car manufacturers, MG
Ray Gordon was in third position after the seventeenth lap, a lap and a half behind the leader.


1949 Australian Grand Prix, Competing car manufacturers, MG
In addition to the MG TC Midget, MG also raced another model of their vehicles in, the MG Magna. The Magna was driven by Ken Tubman who was forced to retire during the 1949 Australian Grand Prix after completing 12 laps.


1949 Australian Grand Prix, Competing car manufacturers, MG
Many competitors who raced in MG manufactured vehicles were forced to retire during the 1949 Australian Grand Prix. Les Taylor, Vic Johnson, John Nind, Garry Coglan, Dick Cobden and George Pearse all competed in MG vehicles and were forced to retire during the race. None of which completed more than 27 laps, achieved by Vic Johnson. With George Pearse only managing to complete 2 laps in his MG TB.


1949 Australian Grand Prix, Competing car manufacturers, Hudson
In the 1949 Australian Grand Prix a Hudson Special was driven by Frank Kleinig who started the race on pole position. The time for Kleing's first lap was 3 minutes and 1 second or 83.5 miles per hour (approximately 134.3802 kilometres per hour). Kleinig continued to lead Crouch after seven laps, but in the eighth lap was required to pit due to the need for an engine adjustment. Following his engine adjustment to the Hudson Special, Frank Kleinig was more than a lap behind Crouch.


1949 Australian Grand Prix, Competing car manufacturers, Hudson
The Hudson Special was not able to finish the race, being forced into pit lane on two occasions with engine fan problems before being forced to retire after completing 21 laps.


1949 Australian Grand Prix, Competing car manufacturers, Riley Special
Riley Motors was represented in the 1949 Australian Grand Prix by Arthur Rizzo in a Riley Special. Arthur Rizzo was one of the eleven competitors out of the 28 that started to complete the race, finishing in third place. Rizzo's time for the race was 1h 56m 56.8s.


1949 Australian Grand Prix, Retirements
Throughout the 35 lap duration of the 1949 Australian Grand Prix many of the racers were forced to retire for a number of mechanical reasons.


1949 Australian Grand Prix, Retirements
Keith Thallon driving the Jaguar SS100 was forced to retire after completing 10 laps due to trouble with a main bearing. Arthur Bowes retired after 5 laps in the Hudson Special as a result of engine problems. Snow Sefton was forced to retire after completing 11 laps in the Strathpine Special due to an overheating issue. Rex Law was forced to retire from the race after 8 laps in the Buick Special due to overwhelming brake issues. Charlie Whatmore after completing 10 laps was forced to retire due to a leaking fuel tank that he had incurred in the Studebaker Special. Dick Reed who raced in the G Reed Ford Special after blowing a tyre at a corner during the 26th lap of the race.


1949 Australian Grand Prix, Classification, Handicap award
A concurrent handicap award was won by Luke (Bugatti Type 37) with an adjusted time of 1 hour 39 minutes 7.4 seconds.


1949 Australian coal strike
The 1949 Australian coal strike was the first time that Australian military forces were used during peacetime to break a trade union strike. The strike by 23,000 coal miners lasted for seven weeks, from 27 June 1949 to 15 August 1949, with troops being sent in by the Ben Chifley Federal Labor government to the open cut coal mines in New South Wales on 28 July 1949, with the workers returning to work, defeated, two weeks later.


1949 Australian coal strike, Causes
The Australian Coal and Shale Employees' Federation (often known as the Miners' Federation) was heavily influenced at the time by the Communist Party of Australia (CPA), and the strike is widely seen by the Australian community as the CPA applying Cold War Soviet Union Cominform policy in challenging Labor reformism, and promoting a class conflict to promote communist leadership of the working class struggle, at the expense of the Labor Party. The strike was seen as a continuation of the industrial confrontation in the 1948 Queensland Railway strike.


1949 Australian coal strike, Causes
The miners' demands had been lodged over the preceding two years and had included a 35-hour week, a 30-shilling increase in wages, and the inclusion of long service leave as a normal condition of employment.


1949 Australian coal strike, Government response
Two days after the strike began, the Labor government passed legislation that made it illegal to give strikers and their families financial support (including credit from shops). On 5 July, union officials were ordered to hand over union funds to the industrial registrar. On the following day, union officials were arrested and the respective union and CPA headquarters raided.


1949 Australian coal strike, Government response
At the end of July, seven union officials were sentenced to 12 months' jail and one to six months, with fines being imposed on other officials and three unions. Chifley told the Labor caucus, "The Reds must be taught a lesson", while Arthur Calwell threatened to put communists and their sympathisers into concentration camps. On 1 August 1949, 2500 soldiers commenced coal mining at the open cut mines of Minmi (near Newcastle), Muswellbrook and Ben Bullen, with seven more fields operated later.


1949 Australian coal strike, Government response
At the height of the dispute, Labor senator Donald Grant, a former member of the Industrial Workers of the World imprisoned as part of the Sydney Twelve, told the miners: I come to Cessnock for one reason. In 1917 ... everyone was behind the workers [in the general strike], but they got beaten. Why? Because the State was against them. I have come here to tell you you won't beat the State.


1949 Australian coal strike, Government response
It is possible that Chifley's decision to use troops to break the strike was influenced by Cold War hysteria or as a reluctant last-minute solution to a major industrial problem. Chifley received regular reports from the Commonwealth Investigation Service (the forerunner of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation) on the campaigns and policies of the CPA.


1949 Australian coal strike, Government response
Early in the strike, the legality of using troops was investigated, and planning immediately formulated for Operation Excavate during the first week in July. On 14 July the Government was said to be on the point of  enlisting the support of the anti-communist Australian Workers' Union to break the strike, with an agreement of the Australian Railways Union (likewise anti-communist) to transport the coal. It appears that such negotiations amounted to a bluff and a political ploy to distract attention from the military operations being planned. With 1949 being an election year, Chifley wanted to demonstrate his Government's anti-communist resolve, but the tactics proved insufficient, and the Menzies Government was elected in December 1949.


1949 Australian coal strike, Government response
The use of troops to break the 1949 coal strike has been used as a precedent by the Robert Menzies government's intervention on the waterfront at Bowen, Queensland in 1953, and in disputes in 1951, 1952, and 1954 against seamen and waterside workers.


1949 Australian coal strike, Government response
Later, Harold Holt used the navy to break a Seamen's Union of Australia boycott (1967). Malcolm Fraser's government used the Royal Australian Air Force to transport passengers during the 1981 Qantas dispute; Bob Hawke did the same during the 1989 Australian pilots' strike.


1949 Australian federal election
The 1949 Australian federal election was held in Australia on 10 December 1949. All 121 seats in the House of Representatives and 42 of the 60 seats in the Senate were up for election. The incumbent Labor Party, led by Prime Minister Ben Chifley, was defeated by the opposition Liberal–Country coalition under Robert Menzies. Menzies became prime minister for a second time, his first period having ended in 1941. This election marked the end of the 8-year Curtin-Chifley Labor Government that had been in power since 1941 and started the 23-year Liberal/Country Coalition Government. This was the first time the Liberal party won government at the federal level.


1949 Australian federal election
The number of MPs in both houses had been increased at the election, and single transferable vote under a proportional voting system had been introduced in the Senate. Though Labor lost government, Labor retained a Senate majority at the election. However, this ended at the 1951 election. With the Senate changes in place, Labor has not held a Senate majority since.


1949 Australian federal election
Future Prime Ministers William McMahon and John Gorton both entered parliament at this election.


1949 Australian federal election, Issues
The election hinged on the policies of the Federal Labor Government, especially bank nationalisation. Prime Minister Chifley intended to bring all of the banks under Government control, a socialist policy which the Coalition argued was not in the country's interest. The Coalition promised to end unpopular wartime rationing. The election took place against the background of the 1949 Australian coal strike, the developing Cold War and growing fears of communism.


1949 Australian federal election, Issues
Robert Menzies broke new ground in using the radio as his primary method of reaching voters.


1949 Australian federal election, Electoral reform
As of this election, single transferable vote with proportional representation became the method for electing the Senate. This was to try to prevent the Senate from being dominated by one party, which had often occurred previously. For example, coming into this election the ALP held 33 of the 36 Senate seats, whilst the conservatives at the 1919 election held 35 of the 36 Senate seats. In addition, the House of Representatives was enlarged from 74 to 121 seats and the Senate from 36 to 60 members. All 121 lower house seats, and 42 of the 60 upper house seats, were up for election.


1949 Australian federal election, Significance
The Chifley Government was defeated, ending the longest period of Labor Federal Government in Australian history up to that date (1941–49). Labor would not return to office until 1972. Robert Menzies became Prime Minister for the second time, and the Liberal Party of Australia won government federally for the first time.


1949 Austrian legislative election
The elections to the Austrian National Council of 1949 were the second nationwide elections in Austria after World War II. About 500,000 registered Nazis, who were not allowed to vote in 1945, regained their voting rights. A newly created party, the Electoral Party of Independents (WdU) (a predecessor of the Freedom Party of Austria) specifically targeted this group of voters and immediately won a large share of votes. The Austrian People's Party remained strongest party, although losing their absolute majority of seats. Leopold Figl stayed as Chancellor, leading a coalition with the Socialist Party of Austria as junior partner.


1949 BAA Finals
The 1949 BAA Finals was the championship round following the Basketball Association of America (BAA)'s 1948–49 season, its third and last. Later that year, the BAA and National Basketball League merged to create the National Basketball Association (NBA).


1949 BAA Finals
6'10" George Mikan and the Minneapolis Lakers proved dominant. They routed the Washington Capitols in six games. This was the first of several successive NBA titles for the Lakers. It was the beginning of the George Mikan and the Lakers Dynasty.


1949 BAA Finals
As for the Capitols, they would never reach the Finals again, but their coach in Red Auerbach would do so several times over the next two decades, and this represented his only loss in a Final until 1958 (Auerbach would win nine of his eleven appearances in a Final); this would be the first of six overall finals that featured Auerbach against the Lakers, for which he beat them five times, including in 1959 when he beat Kundla in his last game as head coach of the Lakers.


1949 BAA Finals
The six games of the final series were played in ten days – Monday, April 4, to Wednesday, April 13 – with one day off except after game three, the first of three played in Washington (Minneapolis led 3–0). Prior to its start, however, Minneapolis had been idle for five days, having qualified on the preceding Tuesday; Washington idle for only one day, having qualified on Saturday. The entire playoff tournament extended 23 days. This is the earliest NBA championship with a living player, Arnie Ferrin.


1949 BAA draft
The 1949 BAA draft was the third annual draft of the Basketball Association of America (BAA), which later became the National Basketball Association (NBA). The draft was held on March 21, 1949, before the 1949–50 season. In this draft, eleven remaining BAA teams along with the Indianapolis Olympians who joined the BAA, took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players. The draft consisted of 8 rounds and a regional selection period, with 75 players selected. This was the final BAA Draft before the league was renamed the NBA in August 1949. The 75 players selected matched the same number of players selected in the 1989 draft; both drafts have the fewest picks selected prior to 1989 (when the NBA draft was reduced to two rounds ever since).


1949 BAA draft, Draft selections and draftee career notes
Howie Shannon from Kansas State University was selected first overall by the Providence Steamrollers. However, Ed Macauley and Vern Mikkelsen were selected before the draft as St. Louis Bombers' and Minneapolis Lakers' territorial picks respectively. Three players from this draft, Vern Mikkelsen, Ed Macauley and Dick McGuire, have been inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame.


1949 BAA draft, Other picks
The following list includes other draft picks who have appeared in at least one BAA/NBA game.


1949 BAA draft, Undrafted players
These players were not selected in the 1948 draft but played at least one game in the NBA.


1949 BAA playoffs
The 1949 BAA playoffs was the postseason tournament following the Basketball Association of America 1948–49 season, its third and last. Later that year the BAA and National Basketball League merged to create the National Basketball Association or NBA. The tournament concluded with the Western Division champion Minneapolis Lakers defeating the Eastern Division champion Washington Capitols 4 games to 2 in the BAA Finals.


1949 BAA playoffs
The eight qualified teams began tournament play on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 22 and 23, and the Finals concluded on Wednesday, April 13. Minneapolis and Washington played 10 and 11 games in a span of 22 days; their six final games in ten days. Prior to their final series, however, Minneapolis had been idle for five days, Washington for only one day.


1949 BAA playoffs, Division Semifinals, Eastern Division Semifinals, (1) Washington Capitols vs. (4) Philadelphia Warriors
This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.


1949 BAA playoffs, Division Semifinals, Eastern Division Semifinals, (2) New York Knicks vs. (3) Baltimore Bullets
This was the second playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Bullets winning the first meeting.


1949 BAA playoffs, Division Semifinals, Western Division Semifinals, (1) Rochester Royals vs. (4) St. Louis Bombers
This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.


1949 BAA playoffs, Division Semifinals, Western Division Semifinals, (2) Minneapolis Lakers vs. (3) Chicago Stags
This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.


1949 BAA playoffs, Division Finals, Eastern Division Finals, (1) Washington Capitols vs. (2) New York Knicks
This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.


1949 BAA playoffs, Division Finals, Western Division Finals, (1) Rochester Royals vs. (2) Minneapolis Lakers
This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.


1949 BAA playoffs, BAA Finals: (W2) Minneapolis Lakers vs. (E1) Washington Capitols
This was the first playoff meeting between these two teams.


1949 BRDC International Trophy
The first BRDC International Trophy meeting, formally titled the Daily Express International Trophy, was held on 20 August 1949 at the Silverstone Circuit, England. It was the first race meeting to only use the former airfield's perimeter roadways, rather than the main runways. The event was held over two heats of 20 laps and one final of 30 laps of the Grand Prix circuit. The final was won by Italian Alberto Ascari, who would go on to win the World Championship of Drivers twice.


1949 BRDC International Trophy
In addition to the main Formula One-regulation competition, the meeting also contained events for 500 cc racing cars and production cars. The race meeting was attended by over 100,000 people, but was marred by the death of St. John Horsfall in an accident on the 13th lap of the final race.


1949 BYU Cougars football team
The 1949 BYU Cougars football team was an American football team that represented Brigham Young University in the Skyline Six Conference during the 1949 college football season. In their first season under head coach Chick Atkinson, the Cougars compiled a 0–11 record (0–5 against Skyline Six opponents), finished last in the conference, and were outscored by a total of 372 to 105.


1949 Bahamian general election
General elections were held in the Bahamas in June and July 1949, the last entirely non-partisan elections in the country. This was the second election in which the secret ballot was used in New Providence and the first in which the secret ballot was use for the Out Islands.


1949 Ball State Cardinals football team
The 1949 Ball State Cardinals football team was an American football team that represented Ball State Teachers College (later renamed Ball State University) as an independent during the 1949 college football season. In its 14th season under head coach John Magnabosco, the team compiled an 8–0 record.


1949 Baltimore Colts season
The 1949 Baltimore Colts season was their third as a franchise and last season in the AAFC before moving to the NFL. The team failed to improve on their previous season's output of 7–7, winning only one game.


1949 Baltimore Elite Giants season
The 1949 Baltimore Elite Giants baseball team represented the Baltimore Elite Giants in the Negro American League (NAL) during the 1949 baseball season. The team won the NAL pennant. Hoss Walker and Lennie Pearson were the team's managers. The team's owner, Vernon Green, died of a heart attack in late May 1949. The team played its home games at Bugle Field in Baltimore.


1949 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting
Elections to the Baseball Hall of Fame for 1949 followed the rules in place since 1947, which had governed two successful elections of recent players. The Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) voted by mail to select from players retired less than 25 years, with provision for a runoff in case of no winner. This year the runoff was necessary to elect one person, Charlie Gehringer. Meanwhile, the Old-Timers Committee, which met on no schedule and not since 1946, responded again to the continuing calls for election of more of the game's earlier stars. It selected Mordecai Brown and Kid Nichols.


1949 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting
An induction ceremony was held in Cooperstown, New York, on June 13, 1949, for inductees of both 1948 and 1949. Of the five total inductees, Kid Nichols and Pie Traynor attended, while Charlie Gehringer was unable to attend. Mordecai Brown and Herb Pennock had both died in 1948. Dignitaries present included National League president Ford Frick, Hall of Fame founder Stephen Carlton Clark, Hall of Fame president Bob Quinn, and Brooklyn Dodgers president Branch Rickey.


1949 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, BBWAA election, Initial ballot
The 10-year members of the BBWAA had the authority to select any players active in 1924 or later, provided they had not been active in 1948. Voters were instructed to cast votes for 10 candidates; any candidate receiving votes on at least 75% of the ballots would be honored with induction to the Hall. If no candidate received votes on 75% of the ballots, the top 20 candidates would advance to a runoff election.


1949 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, BBWAA election, Initial ballot
A total of 153 ballots were cast, with 1,409 individual votes for 98 specific candidates, an average of 9.21 per ballot; 115 votes were required for election. The results were announced in February 1949. For the first time in three elections following the most recent format change, no candidate received 75% of the vote, and a runoff was necessary.


1949 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, BBWAA election, Initial ballot
As had been true the previous year, a large number of players received votes, though few players were named who had not appeared in the 1948 vote apart from the newly eligible 1947 retirees (prominently, Mel Ott and Hank Greenberg); every still-eligible player who received more than 2 votes in 1948 was again named. 66 of those named received votes on less than 5% of the ballots, with 28 receiving only a single vote; every candidate had been eligible at some point in the past – for some, the 1936 election in which active players were eligible.